Tree of Hope Delivers Two New Lab Microscopes

The Barrhead Healthcare Centre laboratory staff show off one of the new microscopes the hospital bought through the Tree of Hope campaign. From left: Judy Gibbard, MLT, Donna Billey, CLXT, Lori Begert, lab supervisor, Lindsey Cowan, MLA, and Kristy Zelman.

Microscopes arrive at the Barrhead lab 

August 2015, the Barrhead Healthcare Centre laboratory received two brand-new microscopes—funded by the community through the Tree of Hope. The gift came from residents and local businesses who gave across the holidays and beyond, proving (again) how much care starts at home.

What the microscopes do

• Blood work (CBCs & smears): One unit is dedicated to hematology, helping diagnose everything from leukemia and bleeding disorders to malaria with clearer, faster reads.

• Urine & semen analysis: The second unit supports infection detection and related diagnostic work.

Why they mattered

• Sharper images, less eye strain: Staff reported a noticeable jump in image quality and reduced user fatigue.

• Timely replacements: Older units were long past their prime—one had even been propped on textbooks to compensate for poor adjustability.

• Hard to fund through regular channels: Hospital-grade microscopes run ~$15,000–$17,000 each, and procurement backlogs meant Barrhead had been waiting ~2 years. Tree of Hope closed that gap.

Lab supervisor Lori Begert emphasized how often microscopes factor into patient care—“almost anytime anyone visits a hospital, the microscope is used.” Site manager Lois Burletoff previously noted procurement wait times, underscoring the role of community fundraising.

Commissioning note

When the story ran, one microscope was already in use and the second was undergoing testing/calibration (a process of a couple of weeks) to certify accuracy before going live.

Your gifts at work (context)

In recent seasons, Tree of Hope donors also helped fund Panda Warmers and endoscopy scopes—the quiet essentials that clinicians reach for every day.

How Tree of Hope giving worked (2015): Community members “decorated” the hospital tree by purchasing bulbs and decorations, typically from $10 up to $1,000—with every gift appreciated and recognized.