Thanks to the $27,500 donation from the Dorough Lupus Foundation,local patients with a life-threatening illness and their families will have a room to share some private time together.
The singer,who is scheduled to perform with the Backstreet Boys Thursday night in Detroit.,was flown from Chicago thanks to prominent local business man Wes Thompson,who donated use of his companies 6 seat plane.
Howie D.s arrival at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance was delayed by 2 hours after fog at the local airport forced the plane to land in Windsor,Ontario.
The Dorough Foundation,and the local pallliative care room to be created,are in memory of Howie D.'s sister Caroline Dorough who died in 1998 following complications resulting from Lupus.
Although he has no direct ties to Canada,Howie D said he wanted to give something back to his Canadian fans and do something for area residents who might be faced with the loss of a loved one.
Other than signing a few autographs for Hospital staff.,the pop superstar's appearance was a quiet affair. It was only made known to a small group of media who were told to keep the event confidential.
Angie Herring,the singer's sister and the Foundation's executive director,visited Chatham last fall to discuss a proposal by area resident Lisa Fields to create a palliative care room at the hospital.
It was the first Canadian request for funds Herring said.