In 2006, I was sending an urgent email to Ghana on the only available computer in the entire Neuro Department at Vancouver General Hospital.

Just then, a man leaned on the door and asked, “Whatcha doin’?”

I thought, “Oh no, there’s that patient’s crazy husband.” But what I said was, “I’m sending an email to Africa!”

He was interested. “Why?”

I explained that KBNF was shipping containers packed with donated medical equipment and supplies to Ghana.

“Who does your transportation?” he asked.

I said, “Oh, we’re doing it. It’s killing us financially. We’re going bankrupt having to pay for the rental of the trucks.”

“Well, do you know who I am? Do you know what I do?”

I did not know what he did.

He said, “I own Diamond Delivery. We’ll do all of your transportation for you in British Columbia.”

I said, “You will?”

Rick said, “Yeah. We would love to.”

That was the beginning, and he’s never broken his promise.

In transportation costs alone, they have invested nearly $500,000 dollars in our foundation.

Hospitals will donate massive equipment like exquisite neurosurgery microscopes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and Rick’s transportation team brings it over. We ask and it’s done yesterday.

Rick has a partnership with the firefighters in Kamloops and he asked me one day, “Would Liberia like an ambulance?”

“Would they like an ambulance?” I said. “Would I like a lottery ticket that wins?”

That guy. His heart. He lives in his heart.

Our partnership over 15 years is a testament to how heart-powered visionaries can transform a vulnerable world.

Rick’s Heart has given immeasurable hope to people in need of emergency care. On behalf of each patient and their loved ones, we are so grateful.