“I didn’t know if I would ride again. I didn’t know I would walk again.”
On January 7, 2022, Chris Pennimpede was struck by a semi-truck while on his way to Tofino as part of a trip to Vancouver Island. His injuries were devastating. Broken legs and ribs. A punctured lung. Several cracked vertebrae. Worst of all, both carotid arteries — the main vessels supplying blood to his brain — were torn, triggering multiple strokes. It was too complex to treat locally.
His only hope was VGH.
There, Dr. Manraj Heran reconstructed Chris’s left internal carotid artery using an innovative technique pioneered at VGH, restoring blood flow to his swelling brain. Eventually, Chris was transferred to G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, where his long road to recovery began. Today, Chris credits the world-class health care teams at VGH for saving his life — and G.F. Strong for helping him reclaim it.
“I owe everything to them,” Chris says. “They’re certainly my angels.”
“Without VGH, I’d be dead“
Watch VideoFrom Chris: To the Angels Who Saved Me
About the Angel Campaign
From November to January, the holiday trees at VGH, UBC Hospital and G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre will be filled with hundreds of angels carrying messages of love and gratitude to friends and family, medical teams and hospital staff.
Thanks to generous donors, the Angel Campaign has raised millions since 2001, ensuring patients in BC get the best care when they need it most.
Learn More
+ Vancouver General Hospital
The largest, most specialized hospital in BC
Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) cares for the most complex patient needs across BC. It is the number one adult health care referral centre, with nearly half of all patients coming from outside Metro Vancouver for advanced treatments only available here.
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+ G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre
There for you when life changes in an instant
G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre is the largest, most specialized rehabilitation centre for people in BC and the Yukon with spinal cord and brain injuries. At G.F. Strong, a multidisciplinary team delivers individually tailored care and treatment, helping people restore independence and rebuild their lives.
DonateVGH & UBC Hospital Foundation partners with donors to fuel groundbreaking research, world-class health care teams, and life-saving treatments benefitting everyone in BC. To donate, visit vghfoundation.ca/ways-to-give.
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