Chris O’Brien Lifehouse | March 2015 newsletter Inpatients in the ‘house’ Chris O’Brien Lifehouse becomes Australia’s first fully operational, integrated cancer hospital. We’re thrilled to announce that inpatient services at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse have commenced. On Monday 2 March we welcomed our very first overnight guests to our ‘house’, the culmination of months of preparation and years of fundraising and work to realise the vision of the late Professor Chris O’Brien and his co-founders for an integrated, world-class cancer hospital for NSW. The commencement of inpatient services includes the opening of 125 overnight beds, eight new state-of-the-art operating theatres and a high-tech intensive care unit (ICU). Our CEO Eileen Hannagan commented: “This is a major milestone for our community and for healthcare in Australia.” The new patient offerings will have a Chris O’Brien Lifehouse CEO Eileen Hannagan significant impact on the lives of those living with cancer as well as their carers and speaks with the Hon. Tony Abbott at the families and also the health system, adding significant capacity with the dedicated Media Launch of inpatient services. beds and ICU for cancer cases. Leaving a legacy of research exacerbated the loss felt by many. my tertiary research studies with a PhD However the research into the various in Psychology at Victoria University, cancers and their treatments must Melbourne. I subsequently worked for continue. many years as a consulting psychologist in private practice established in several Why did you feel it was important to medical clinics in the eastern suburbs leave a gift in your Will? of Melbourne. I am now retired and I feel privileged to be able to financially enjoying the so-called ‘golden years’. contribute by way of a bequest, to two PhD scholarships to be undertaken What do you hope will be the in cancer research at Chris O’Brien outcome of your legacy? Dr Gitta Trexler, a (now retired) Lifehouse. It is gratifying to contribute to I would like to acknowledge the psychologist based in Melbourne, a cause that has high potential to benefit tremendous collegial achievement in recently contacted Chris O’Brien a lot of people whose health is in serious establishing the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. Lifehouse to discuss leaving a gift in her need of help. I hope it may continue to blossom and Will to medical research. Dr Trexler spoke grow into the ranks of a national cancer to Open House about her reasons for Was your family supportive of institution. leaving a bequest to fund two named your decision about leaving a bequest? PhD Medical Research Scholarships. My son Mark Nobel shares this view. I would therefore like one of the two How did you learn about Lifehouse? scholarships to be known as the Mark Chris O’Brien Lifehouse sincerely I became aware of Chris O’Brien’s work Nobel PhD Cancer Research Scholarship. thanks Dr Gitta Trexler for her through the RPA program on television. vision in leaving a gift in her will to I was impressed by Chris’ giving attitude Was there a particular reason you support PhD researchers – a gift and obvious moral commitment to his chose to support PhD students that will keep on giving. For more work with cancer patients. It was surely working in medical research at information about leaving a gift in one of life’s ironies that this man should Lifehouse? your Will contact Alison Muir on contract and succumb to a cancerous My belief in the value of research has (02) 8514 0356 or visit: brain tumour himself and the fact that been a strong motivator for me over a www.mylifehouse.org.au/ it occurred as he was approaching the long period of time. Years after leaving how_you_can_help height of his medical expertise only my home country Germany, I completed L to R: Margie Abbott, the Hon. Tony Abbott, the Hon. Mike Baird, Kerryn Baird at the launch. Highlights from our media launch In February we were joined by several “We are here because the fight against “As an independent, not-for-profit distinguished members of federal, state cancer matters. Every year about hospital, we’ve relied on the generous and local parliament, including the 120,000 Australians receive a cancer donations of our community and the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Tony diagnosis,” Mr Abbott said. “It is centres support of state and federal government Abbott and the Premier of NSW, the Hon. like this which mean … every year to get us to this point” said Eileen Mike Baird, Tanya Plibersek, Member for children flourish who otherwise would Hannagan, Lifehouse CEO. Sydney, NSW State Health Minister, the not, every year, parents get to hold their “What we’ve achieved so far is immense, Hon. Jillian Skinner MP, and the Hon. children when otherwise they would today is the culmination of more than Kevin Rudd for a special event hosted in not, [and] every year grandparents a decade of planning, fundraising and the Lifehouse LivingRoom. They joined get to see their children and their working towards this shared goal, honoured guests including some of our grandchildren when otherwise they though in another sense today marks valued colleagues from RPA and Sydney would not.” the beginning of the next phase of our Local Health District as well as members Mr Baird commented that the event was journey. We’re fully operational, we’re of the press, Gail O’Brien and Chris beyond politics, saying “Everyone agrees up and running and that means that O’Brien Lifehouse CEO Eileen Hannagan, ... this is something we should be very now the focus is on enabling the work – Board and Executive members for a proud of … We have been absolutely the research, the education, the support special media launch of our inpatient amazed and inspired by Chris’ work.” services, the uncompromising care that services and a behind-the-scenes look at The event was also an opportunity will transform cancer care in Australia our facilities prior to opening them to for the Lifehouse team to publicly and lead, ultimately, to better outcomes patients in March. acknowledge the generous for people living with cancer.” Mr Abbott and Mr Baird both spoke contributions of the thousands of at the launch, sharing a few words individuals and organisations who about how Lifehouse will contribute to have helped us realise the ambitious healthcare at a state and national level vision of the late Professor O’Brien and in its capacity as a fully operational, his co-founders. independent cancer hospital: Premier Baird stops for a quick selfie with Premier Baird addressing guests at the event. Lifehouse team members. Open Letter Welcome to Open House, your new-look, newly-named supporter newsletter which will keep you in the Lifehouse patient Lyn Harvey (centre) loop and updated about goings-on at with (L to R) Margie Abbott, the Hon. Chris O’Brien Lifehouse each quarter. Tony Abbott, the Hon. Mike Baird and Kerryn Baird at the Media Launch of Our new name is an apt one given that inpatient services. we’ve just officially opened our ‘house’ to inpatients, marking our transition Lyn Harvey: a view from level eight to a fully operational hospital. It also We chatted to Lifehouse patient Lyn Harvey about her cancer journey speaks to our commitment to you – our and her experience testing out our inpatient facilities. community and supporters – to keep the lines of communication open, to “On November 18, 2014, I was as I did – they couldn’t believe the extend an open invitation to all of diagnosed with breast cancer. By standard. you to stay connected to our journey. the 25th of that month I was here at “When we were chatting I commented Lifehouse is, after all, a house you Lifehouse for day surgery to have a lump that even though no one wants to go helped to build and we’d like you to and five lymph nodes removed from my to hospital, if you have to, you might think of it as your house as well. breast. I celebrated New Year’s Eve by as well make it beautiful and open starting my chemotherapy treatment. I On that note I’d like to take this and welcoming like Lifehouse. In fact, was booked in for four sessions. My last opportunity to thank all of you for it doesn’t feel like a hospital at all, one is coming up next Wednesday. After your support and contributions that more like a hotel. I’d like to book in for the chemo finishes I have a one month have helped us to come to this point a weeklong stay (without a medical break and then start daily (Monday- – where we can now celebrate being reason, of course). Even the food looks Friday) radiation therapy for one month. a fully operational, fully integrated delicious, it’s nothing like ‘hospital food’ cancer hospital offering specialised, “No one loves having to come to you might’ve experienced before and uncompromising care on a 24/7 hospital, but as far as hospitals go, I you just order it off the menu when you timetable. It’s a great achievement love this place. I’ve had a very good feel hungry, like room service. and one to be shared by our whole experience – the facilities, the staff, the “Dr O’Brien would be very proud community. volunteers – everything is excellent, you looking down on everything to see can’t fault it. Now the real work begins. We’ve got what a beautiful hospital Lifehouse has so much to do, so much potential to “I recently got to experience some become; an open, bright positive place realise, a huge impact that we can of the inpatient facilities first-hand as with great people behind it.