Sandie MacLaurin
Special to Coast Mountain News
On Thursday, May 2, representatives for the family of the late James (Uncle Jimmy) Pearson and the Bella Coola HealthCare Auxiliary joined hospital CEO Gulshan Khudra and nursing staff to officially welcome the new comfort size wheelchair purchased through a donation to the auxiliary from the Pearson family.
The chair is a much needed addition to the aging fleet of wheelchairs at the hospital.
It is a deluxe model and sports a nice thick cushion and a beverage holder (the beverage holder that, with a wink and a nudge, may or may not have held water with Jim…).
The chair is sized to accommodate larger patients – which is pretty appropriate as Jim was a big guy with a big heart. We are grateful that the big heartedness is a trait shared by his family.
Dathan Harris gave us a message that the family wanted to convey to the people of Bella Coola:
“Jim Loved Bella Coola. The valley, the fishing and the people. The chair is a symbol from his family to honour and thank Bella Coola, the place he called home.”
A small plaque was placed on “The Mayor’s Chair” that reads:
Donated in Loving Memory of “Uncle” Jim Pearson AKA the Mayor.
Sandie MacLaurin is the president of the Bella Coola HealthCare Auxiliary
READ MORE: Bella Coola HealthCare Auxiliary fundraising for specialty wheelchair
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