Meet Massimo

This time, it was Massimo who needed saving.

He was working in his backyard when he heard it. Bang.

A car in his neighbourhood had caught fire. As a firefighter, his instincts took over and he rushed to help.

“I’ve seen many car fires,” Massimo said. “But this was really in flames.”

Massimo urged his neighbours to stay calm as he approached the scene. Some offered their hoses. But they couldn’t get the water to turn on.

“I remember looking at the nozzle, no water,” Massimo said. “Then I looked over at the car, and I just started seeing orange and grey come at me.”

The car exploded. Within seconds, Massimo was engulfed in flames. Second and third-degree burns over 41% of his body. At that point, he turned away, tucked, covered, and thought to himself:

“I’m dying over a car fire.”

As one of only two accredited Level 1 trauma centres in BC, Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) became Mass’s lifeline. The Burn Unit at VGH treats the most critically injured burn patients in the province. And for the next six weeks, it became Massimo’s home. The doctors, nurses, and therapists not only treated his burns; they restored his hope.

“They are angels, absolutely,” he said.

Among Massimo’s angels is Dr. Anthony Papp, Medical Director of the Burn Unit at VGH, “because he’s the one who brought me back.” He also highlights Nurses Tom and Steph, VGH Music Therapist Bernice Chu, and his best friend and fellow firefighter, Dino.

Today, Massimo is back doing what he loves: serving his community and fighting fires. But he knows his incredible recovery wouldn’t have been possible without the world-class care he received from his angels at VGH, and the support of donors like you.

“Without VGH, I don’t think I’d be here today,” he said.

This holiday season, honour an angel who has made a difference in your life or that of a loved one by donating to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s Angel Campaign. VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation raises essential funds for specialized adult health care services and research benefiting everyone in BC, supporting the VGH Burn Unit and numerous specialized programs across Vancouver Coastal Health.

Your gift ensures patients like Massimo get the best possible care when they need it most.

About the Angel Campaign

From November to January, the holiday trees at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehab Centre will be filled with hundreds of angels carrying messages of love and gratitude to friends and family, medical teams and hospital staff, and all the Angels in our lives.*

Thanks to generous donors, the Angel campaign has raised over $5 million since 2001. Your donation will fund vital research, recruit, and train world-class health care workers, and equip them with the cutting-edge tools and technology they need to save and improve lives. Donate now.