In the last year of his life, Southland farmer Blair Vining played the cancer card often, according to his wife Melissa.
"He called it the cancer card to get us to do what he wanted in those last 11 months," she said.
Top of his wish list was a charity hospital, a day surgical unit for those who'd been denied treatment through the public health system.
"Blair told me the politicians aren't going to do enough," recalled Melissa. "He said you need to keep your foot on the throat, and you just need to build your own hospital.
"I Googled that night 'how to build and run a hospital' ... and I was fortunate enough to come across the Canterbury Charity Hospital, which showed me it could be done."
(Source: Seven Sharp)
Now, almost five years on from that conversation with her dying husband, Melissa will soon see his vision become reality.
The Southern Charity Hospital is awaiting council code of compliance before an official opening.
On a tour of the new facility with Seven Sharp, Melissa explained that the charity hospital will "look after the people who are unable to access care in the public system.
"A lot of New Zealanders don't understand that there are Kiwis every day denied care in the public system."
Whether it be testing for early signs of bowel cancer — which claimed the life of her 39-year-old husband in 2019 — or dental care, hernia and gynaecological procedures, they'll all, eventually, be available for free at the charity hospital.
Blair Vining lost his battle with cancer in October 2019. (Source: Seven Sharp)
Retired general surgeon Murray Pfeifer, chairman of the Southern Charity Hospital Board, said the hospital would be staffed by medical professionals from around New Zealand who would volunteer their time, and there have been plenty of offers already.
Pfeifer has previously volunteered his own time to help at the Canterbury Charity Hospital run by Phil Bagshaw.
"I guess it was a dream to do something like that down here," said Pfeifer, "but I never really thought it was feasible, so when this opportunity came along, I just had to jump on board."
The Southern Charity Hospital has been a volunteer effort from start to finish, with the local licensing trust gifting the Clifton Inn, remnants of which are still visible in the new facility.
Vining said many local businesses donated services and goods, such as flooring, decking and a kitchen. Sheep farmers gifted bales of wool, which were scoured for free in Timaru and turned into insulation which now lines the walls of the Invercargill facility.
Volunteers also gifted time to the project, including Melissa's father, Rob Jones.
The retired electrician worked full-time wiring the hospital alongside Brett Pearce. Peace said the electrical switchboard was built by a local firm whose staff donated their time.
"It just feels like an amazing effort by the community," said Melissa.
In turn, the community can access the facility if they are referred for treatment in the public health system and subsequently turned away.
The Southern Charity Hospital is soon to be open. (Source: Seven Sharp)
As the hospital prepares to welcome its first patient, Melissa said she is looking forward to some "space" from the project and time with her daughters but intends to stay involved in some capacity.
What would her late husband have made of Melissa's determination to see the massive project come to fruition?
"He would know that if I promised to do something, I would do it."
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