Tree of Hope 2010: A Community Push for Portable Ultrasound

Tree of Hope 2010 Barrhead portable ultrasound goal exceeded—$43,731.50 raised in two months to equip the ER with faster, non-invasive bedside imaging for care.

It started with a stretch goal and ended with a small shock.

Set at $43,500—the largest target to date—the 2010 Tree of Hope aimed to fund a high-resolution portable ultrasound for use in the Emergency Department and throughout the hospital. By the close of the campaign, the community had pushed past the mark, reaching $43,731.50.

“The community support is overwhelming,” Thompson adds. “We’re excited—and humbled—to see how strongly Barrhead stands behind modern equipment for patients.”

Why a portable ultrasound?

When people hear “ultrasound,” they often think of baby pictures. Thompson notes the reality in a rural ER is broader: bedside ultrasound is a non-invasive tool for faster diagnosis—from cardiac concerns and abdominal aortic aneurysm, to appendicitis, abdominal trauma, and ectopic pregnancy. Bringing imaging to the bedside helps clinicians decide quickly what to do next.

“This machine helps physicians treat trauma patients, identify fluid in the abdomen, and evaluate ectopic pregnancies,” she says. “It’s standard of care in emergency rooms—and we need it here in Barrhead.”

To put it to work safely, physicians will complete additional training, which Thompson says they’re eager to undertake. The unit was ordered and expected to arrive within 6–8 weeks.

How the community lit the tree

• 4 Gold Stars at $2,500

• 11 Silver Stars at $1,000

• 10 Bronze Stars at $500

• 13 Ornaments at $250

• Hundreds of $10 bulbs, adding strings of lights to the tree on the hospital’s west side

Thompson admits she was surprised at how quickly the tree lit up once the campaign launched. “Even small donations make a difference.”

A tradition growing since 2005

The first Tree of Hope launched in 2005. By the end of the 2010 campaign, the tradition had raised approximately $122,000, funding items such as telemetry for remote monitoring, a fetal heart monitor, an OR tourniquet system, a bladder scanner, and a cardiac monitor/defibrillator for ER. The ultrasound set a bigger benchmark—one Thompson initially expected might take two years to reach or require support from the hospital’s general donations. The community had other ideas.

Thank you, Barrhead. Your gifts turned a wish into a working tool for real-time care at the bedside.