Hospital receives biggest-ever donation

LIHU‘E — This is the largest donation Wilcox Memorial Hospital has ever received, Paul Douglass said Saturday.

The chair of the hospital’s Board of Directors joined other dignitaries and guests at the blessing of the new infusion center, a gift from the late David Walters and his family.

The state-of-the-art facility has equipment designed and built especially for it, according to a press release from PAHIO Development.

Some of the features include walls covered with custom works of art, donated by artists Bud Bottoms, Anna Alldin-Maule, Keith Nelson and George Summer; a wash of natural light coming through a long glass block wall; natural wood floors and cabinets; and 10 chairs, each with a personal television set, that provide massage, warmth, and the ability to recline or bring one to a standing position as needed.

Walters, a cancer patient for 12 years, knew what patients experience in cancer treatment. The facility was designed to provide a positive environment for cancer patients receiving treatment at Wilcox.

The project was launched after Walters received care in the hospital’s current facility — a windowless interior room with aging equipment and minimal comforts for patients who often spend four to eight hours in a chair, receiving treatments for cancer and other illnesses.

“This team (affectionately labeled ‘The Chemo Team’) kept me alive for the last 12 years,” Walters said, in the release, of the team of doctors, nurses and aides at the infusion center. “It allowed me to watch the many accomplishments of my daughter, her graduation, to be able to travel all over the world, and complete the development/construction of the PAHIO resorts.”

When Walters was first diagnosed with cancer, his prognoses was for six months.

He decided to fund a new infusion center and become involved in its design.

“I believed we could have a better facility,” he said in the release that was played before the guests through a video. “I did it for the team that has given so much to me.”

During the process, Walters involved oncologist Dr. Aileen Denny, assistant Josh Apana, interior designer Mike Mosko, local architect Marc Ventura and his brother Ron who works with an international architecture firm that builds hospitals.

“I wanted something that would be a very inviting and comforting place,” Walters said. “The infusion center needed a good design and positive ambiance from the furniture to the artwork to the walls, ceiling and floors. You want to be positive in your thoughts. You want to feel ‘up’ when you come in for this.”

The dream facility became reality at a cost of more than $900,000, but Walters never saw it finished. He lost his battle with cancer on Oct. 17.

“The infusion center is just incredibly beautiful,” said Wilcox Hospital Chief Operating Officer Kathy Clark. “His generosity surpasses anything I’ve ever seen. How blessed is this hospital and this island to have had him. What a benefit to people who are very sick.”

Walters, a Kaua‘i resident for 35 years as the developer of housing and the PAHIO resort projects, seldom sought publicity during his life and said he hoped this gift would encourage other people of means to step forward with contributions to their community hospital.

“One of the most important parts of living on Kaua‘i is to say thank you for the many gifts that were given,” Walters said. “Part of living on Kaua‘i is to give back to the community in the way that benefits its people and the environment. We are a part of the community and it is our responsibility.”

Clark said there are so many things the hospital needs, and like all small hospitals, there are cash problems. Some of the areas that need funding include a women’s center, a $1.5 million upgrade to its CT scanner, and $250,000 to $400,000 for an echocardiography machine.

For more information, call the Foundation at 245-1198, the philanthropy director at 245-1157 or e-mail jill.lowry@wilcoxhealth.org.