Corks & Crush virtual fundraising event to benefit stroke care at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital
In 2014, Dale Wilkinson arrived by ambulance at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital after experiencing a seizure. There, an Emergency Department doctor ran several tests, which came back normal. But just before he was sent home, one last test was ordered to check his brain for aneurysms.
“Surprisingly, he found two aneurysms, one behind each eye,” Dale says. “Due to the risk of bursting, I soon had surgery on each aneurysm on consecutive days. That doctor and Good Samaritan essentially saved my life.”
Picking up the cause for increased neurological care
While Dale received post-seizure treatment from a neurologist and neurosurgeon in Bellevue, he would have preferred to continue this leg of the journey closer to his Eatonville home. This wasn’t possible, however, as Dale needed treatment that wasn’t available at Good Samaritan Hospital.
“Pierce County is very large, and a lot of people live in rural areas like us,” he explains. “If a person as far out as we live starts showing signs of a stroke [or other neurological disorder], minutes matter. We need to have access to the best care as close to our homes as possible.”
When Dale and his wife Brigitte learned that MultiCare Good Samaritan Foundation’s annual fundraiser Corks & Crush was focused on raising funds to grow neurological/stroke care at Good Samaritan Hospital, they jumped at the chance to co-chair the event.
“As co-chairs, we want to help influence getting Good Samaritan Hospital to the next level in terms of [treating] neurological issues,” says Brigitte, who served on the Good Samaritan Foundation board for nine years. “We know a lot of people in the community and have children and grandchildren here. It’s important to help in any way that we can.”
Dale lost his father to a stroke. During the Corks & Crush program, he hopes to help people understand stroke warning signs, symptoms and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention.
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the number one cause of hospitalization in the East Pierce County region. Between August 2019 and August 2020, Good Samaritan Hospital treated 592 stroke patients.
With support from the community through Corks & Crush, Good Samaritan Hospital can have a greater positive impact on the health and healing of patients who experience a stroke.
On Saturday, May 15, Good Samaritan Foundation will host a virtual evening of great wine, gourmet food pairings and silent and live auctions. 100 percent of proceeds will help establish much needed neurological care training and education at the hospital. By training care teams in the continuous evolution of stroke and neurological care, patient outcomes will improve and door-to-treatment times will be reduced, decreasing mortality. Education is the first step of the journey towards expanded neurological care at Good Samaritan Hospital.
The program kicks off at 7pm (preshow begins at 6pm), and tiered registration pricing is available for $50 to $1,000.
“Good Samaritan Hospital is currently an award-winning primary stroke center with a reputable rehabilitation center. That means if a patient has a stroke and comes to Good Samaritan Hospital, they’re able to receive acute treatments, be admitted to the hospital for full work up and transition to recovery through rehab,” says Dennis Chuang, MD, PhD. “For Good Samaritan Hospital to elevate to the next level to provide the most comprehensive care, there will need to be additional resources and expanded expertise to achieve this exciting goal.”
You can support neurological care training and education at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital at Corks & Crush on May 15.
