Former South Lake Tahoe resident donates protective gear to Barton medical staff

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The generosity of a former South Lake Tahoe resident is keeping nurses and other members of the medical team at Barton Health safer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brian Gignoux, who spent grades K-10 and early adult life in South Lake Tahoe, heard how medical personnel across the globe were having problems obtaining life-saving protection items like surgical and N95 masks. His medical field friends in South Lake Tahoe were no different.

He talked to Barton RNs Siobhan Keller and Rachelle Pakes, friends of his from childhood, and asked what they needed.

"When I heard hospitals had trouble [getting masks] I said, I can probably get a bunch," said Brian.

Through his marketing and promotions job in San Diego, Brian has contacts who make the needed supplies overseas and he contacted them. They had what was needed so Brian purchased them and shortly after, 3,200 surgical masks and 500 N95s were on their way to South Lake Tahoe.

Siobhan and Rachelle were on hand this week to receive Brian's gifts.

"It's one of the greatest gifts that could come to our hometown, especially from someone who grew up here," said Rachelle.

"Barton has done a great job of providing protection but with shortages everywhere, these are great," added Siobhan.

Both Siobhan and Rachelle said how very happy they were with the masks from Brian and how appreciative they were of him.

Brian still has a home in South Lake Tahoe, one he bought from his parents. He contributes to the area often with donations to Angela Zajic's juvenile Type 1 diabetes fundraising efforts.

"They are my heroes," said Brian of Siobhan, Rachelle, and Angela. "It feels nice to help them out."

The nurses in the photo above are wearing surgical hats and masks made by Brielle Whitney, a local stylist with Angela's Rah Hair Studio. "The hats add another level of protection," the RNs said.