In her short time at Toronto Western Hospital (TWH), registered nurse, Liane (Rae) Acheson, earned the respect and appreciation of her colleagues and patients for her dedication and compassion. Her memory and contribution to patient care are being commemorated with the establishment of a new scholarship fund for nursing students.
Liane, 24, worked on 6A Fell, the Combined Surgical Unit at TWH, for two years when she passed away after a short and unexpected illness on July 12, 2009. Her family, shocked and saddened at her loss, wanted to create a meaningful tribute to her that would also help others.
Establishing the scholarship has been "very heart-warming, healing, and encouraging for us as a family," said Boyd Acheson, Liane's father. "We know she would want us to move forward with our lives in a positive and helpful manner."
Liane is remembered by her friends and colleagues as a kind spirit and caring person, who also had a passion for life. At her remembrance ceremony at TWH last fall, Dr. Allan Okrainec, Deputy Head, Division of General Surgery, expressed his confidence in the care that Liane provided for his patients. Her father described her as someone who "loved life, chased her dreams fearlessly, living every day to the fullest and having no regrets. She was our 'Rae' of sunshine."
The scholarship has been established with an initial gift of $6,500 from the Acheson family. The Division of General Surgery has also generously offered a donation of $1,500 for the scholarship in honour of Liane.
In recognition of the generosity of the Acheson Family, and in memory of Liane, a plaque will be placed in the nurses' lounge at TWH.
The first Liane Acheson Scholarship Award of $1,000 will be given in August 2010. Candidates for the scholarship will be selected from nursing students who have a parent who works at UHN. Donations to the fund can be made through the web site, www.lianeachesontribute.ca, or by contacting Sima Shah at Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation at 416-340-4430.
