Love story leaves a lasting legacy in Mossman
MOSSMAN HOSPITAL
ROGER Gibbons met the love of his life ‘relatively late in life’ and lost her after three short years.
But her memory will live on forever in a little hospital in Far North Queensland due to the care, compassion and empathy she received from the staff there. Marie LeCroy was undergoing cancer treatment through doctors in Dallas, USA and the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, but it was care she received at Mossman Hospital that had a huge impact.
After she died, Mr Gibbons set up a fundraising tribute in her honour, which was finalised this week with the opening of the Mossman Hospital OPG machine.
“We were in Port Douglas for a few days on holidays when Marie became ill and we came to the Mossman Hospital for treatment,” Mr Gibbons explains.
"She had had a special stent installed in her brain to enable methotrexate to be delivered and keep cancer at bay for as long as possible."
But it was while they were in Port Douglas that Marie had some difficulties and was taken to the Mossman Hospital.
“We rang Marie’s doctors in Dallas because of the time difference and they were able to help the Mossman Hospital staff do what they needed to do,” Mr Gibbons said.
“Those staff were so caring and compassionate and had so much empathy for what we were going through.
Sadly, Marie passed away in Brisbane aged just 55 a few weeks later. Mr Gibbons wanted to give something back to the Mossman community that had such much impact on them both. Fundraising was launched through the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation website in March 2016 and by July enough had been raised for the OPG machine – a special facial and dental x-ray device at Mossman Hospital.
“Really, without the 53 individual donors, this would not have happened – no matter how much they donated. Their gift was extremely generous," Mr Gibbons said.
"Marie’s hairdresser made a donation, her family made donations and even people from local businesses in Port Douglas contributed as well. Marie’s memory will live there forever and the patients there will benefit forever because this machine will generate revenue for the hospital, it will help that hospital improve over time as well.
“I was incredibly lucky to meet the love of my life at a relatively late stage of life but we had three beautiful years together,” he said.
Mossman Hospital Multi-Purpose Health Service Director of Nursing, Peter LeGriffon, said when Mr Gibbons approached him for a fundraising idea he thought 'he had maybe a couple of thousand dollars in mind'.
“Roger said to me he was thinking more along the lines of $50,000. I nearly fell off my chair," LeGriffon said.
"The great thing about this OPG machine is that it will save people having to go down to Cairns for this test and it will create a revenue stream for the hospital so we can continue to grow and improve our services."
Foundation CEO Tony Franz said he was grateful that Mr Gibbons had chosen the Hospital Foundation to assist with the fundraising resulting in this wonderful state.
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