INSPIRE, The Sharp HealthCare Campaign for Excellence

Narrator: Inspiration is the essence of philanthropy. Gifts to Sharp HealthCare are inspired by the opportunity to create an enduring legacy, in appreciation of extraordinary medical care or by a small act of great compassion. In turn, these gifts inspire the people of Sharp to achieve ever-greater levels of excellence for the benefit of all.

Together with our philanthropic donors, we begin a new chapter in transforming the health care experience for the people of San Diego. INSPIRE, The Sharp HealthCare Campaign for Excellence — a wide-ranging plan to ensure the highest quality care for our community.

Todd Stichler: Ella was born first, weighed 2 pounds, 10 ounces. Nineteen minutes later, Cameryn was born via C-section. She was 2 pounds, 6 ounces. Both of them came out blue, not crying. They were put on ventilators immediately and you are completely helpless and dependent upon so many others to take care of your children.

Pat Tillson, RN: This is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Sometimes the babies are very sick when they’re first born. Parents need a lot of support, a lot of care. They’re thrown into this. It’s a whirlwind.

Todd Stichler: We were very fortunate to have the nurses that we did, that welcomed us there, that were supportive of us, helped us be there and connected us with our babies. Those were the gifts that those nurses gave us. And we want to give back.

The girls are eight, going to be nine in a few weeks. Loving life. Dancing, playing, riding bikes, doing all the things that normal 9-year-olds should be doing.

Pat Tillson, RN: These little babies would not be able to survive without special intensive care. We do a tremendous job here, and the community needs us.

Narrator: Philanthropic support for this campaign will help bring together the medical advancements of tomorrow and the talents of gifted physicians, clinicians and researchers.

George Hurst: This hospital has become the passion of my life. It was while I was there on the board, that the idea for the cancer center was set forth. And having this specialized center — that David and Donna Long created by their wonderful donation — makes a difference in human lives.

Austin Cameron: It was 2003, they did the chest X-ray. The doctor came back and said, “You know what, I’ve got some bad news, you have cancer.” I was like, "Me? No way. You gotta be kidding me."

I went to renowned clinics that were supposed to be number one in their field. Nobody gave me any more information than what I got at Sharp.

George Hurst: Being able to go home and have the support of your family and the support of your friends makes a big difference. It’s the dedication of the physicians that then brings the donors forth to say, “Yes, we can do that. We’ll help you out.”

And for Austin, he has his full lifetime ahead of him and without this state-of-the-art medicine, it wouldn’t happen.

Austin Cameron: I’ve got a beautiful family, a beautiful wife. And I get to live.

George Hurst: That is the gift. The gift of life.

Narrator: As San Diego’s health care leader, Sharp is dedicated to meeting the needs of our community today and in the future. Through INSPIRE, donors have a unique opportunity to support the aspects of health care that touch them most deeply — to enhance the level of caring for the people of our community, promote learning that will mean better outcomes for patients, underwrite the building of modern medical facilities, encourage the growing and training of our own exceptional caregivers and support Sharp in leading the way with new technologies and medical advancements.

Julie Pardee: My son Stuart four and a half years ago was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Never been to Sharp before. They determined that he needed a heart transplant. He woke up from the heart transplant and within a few days, he actually went into a coma. I just remember one day my mom was with me and saying, “You know, Mom, no matter however this turns out, we have to do something because this has just been an incredible place.”

And he was still in the coma, we didn’t know how it was going to turn out. As it has turned out, it’s been very successful, but if it hadn’t been, we would have wanted to do the same. Unfortunately, because of Stuart’s health all his life, we’ve been involved in many hospitals. And there is no comparison. Sharp is the best.

Dr. Rob Adamson: What inspires me is to see the courage and determination of these patients to recover, to live normal lives, to be productive, to give back to the community and to, in fact, do all of the things that we take for granted.

Julie Pardee: You simply can’t give to everything. So if literally something holds your heart — which this literally held our heart — to be able to be connected and be able to be helpful, it’s a gift for us as well. That’s what we’ve done and it’s been a real privilege for us to be a part of it.

Narrator: We are an organization designed not for profit, but for people. Philanthropists and clinicians, staff and physicians, board members and volunteers. Together, we are dreamers and achievers. Together, we touch more lives that any other health care provider in our community.

Benefactors to Sharp come from all walks of life, but each draws from the same wealth of compassion and richness of spirit that encourages them to contribute to the greater good. They are united by a common inspiration — knowing in their hearts that providing for the health of our community is the greatest gift of all.