In her 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 scholarship fund for nursing students.
Liane worked on 6A Fell, the Combined Surgical Unit at TWH, for two years when she passed away at age 24 after a short and unexpected illness on July 12th, 2009. The Acheson Family, Boyd (father), Cathy (mother), Ryan (brother) and Jennifer (sister-in-law) 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 and Cathy Acheson. “We know she would want us to move forward with our lives in a positive and helpful manner.”
Liane was born and raised in London, Ontario and graduated from the Nursing Program at Ryerson University. She is remembered by her friends and colleagues as a kind spirit and caring person, who also had a passion for life. 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 Liane Acheson Scholarship has been established with an initial gift of $6,500 from the Acheson family. The Division of General Surgery has also made a donation of $1,500 for the scholarship in honour of Liane.
The first Liane Acheson Scholarship Award of $1,000 will be given in August 2010. Candidates for the scholarship will be selected from students who have a parent employed by UHN.
To view videos of Liane, visit www.youtube.com and type Liane Acheson in the search area.