By Jacob Conde
President Hinckley, Jon Huntsman and Karen Huntsman cut the ribbon together on the new Huntsman Cancer Hospital Monday in front of a crowd of 1,000 people from Utah and surrounding areas.
The new facility is designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and technologically advanced, meeting the needs of cancer patients throughout the intermountain region. In his dedication, President Hinckley prayed the institution would be a place were hope and concern for cancer patients could replace the fear and despair patients struggle with.
“We dedicated this facility to the care of these victims,” President Hinckley said. “May it, through the years to come, overlook this community.”
Also in attendance were Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust, members of the First Presidency, members of the Quorum of the Twelve and various members of the Huntsman family. In addition, Larry H. Miller and Ira A. Fulton were present for the dedication. Both are large contributors to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Dr. Stephen Prescott, the executive director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute, conducted the ceremony.
After a choir sang “America the Beautiful,” Prescott introduced Dr. A Lorris Betz, interim president for the University of Utah and senior vice-president for health sciences.
Betz said the new hospital would take the advances learned at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and apply them directly to the patients in need of care.
“Hope is reflected everywhere in the hospital,” Betz said. “Thank-you for entrusting your dream with us. Thank-you three times over,” Betz said to Jon Huntsman.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the scheduled keynote speaker, was unable to attend the ceremony. Prescott said the senator was in Washington with Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah. Prescott read a few of Hatch”s prepared remarks to the crowd.
“Building this hospital took a lot of courage, commitment and guts,” Prescott read. “We now have one of the best cancer hospitals in the country.”
After President Hinckley”s dedication, Jon and Karen Huntsman said a few words. Karen Huntsman spoke of the family”s decision to fight cancer. Jon Huntsman”s mother, father and stepmother were all killed by cancer.
“It is through adversity that we are caused to reach and to stretch,” Karen Huntsman said. “Through adversity wonderful things happen.
Jon Huntsman said in his remarks that an estimated 550,000 Americans will die from cancer this year, and cancer will soon overtake heart disease as the No. 1 killer in the United States.
“This is only the beginning,” Jon Huntsman said. “There is so much left to do. We must do more. We must join forces. We must do better.”
President Hinckley said the hospital was part of mankind”s fight against suffering and disease. He praised all who worked there to alleviate the suffering of their fellow men.
“The Son of God, when He walked the earth, caused the lame to walk and the blind to see. He came with healing in his wings,” President Hinckley said.
The Huntsman Cancer Hospital is a 276,344 square foot $100 million building. Patients will begin to receive treatment in the hospital the beginning of July. It is joined by bridges to the Huntsman Cancer Institute and sits on the hill overlooking the Salt Lake Valley.
