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healing gifts Building healthier communities through charitable giving — Spring 2014 Rebounding from a heart attack: Meet Joe on page 4 Teen overcomes traumatic brain injury Advocate expertise saves Lombard man Couple exemplifies philanthropic partnership Advocate Children’s Hospital insert: Pediatric orthopedics D234236.indd 1 5/1/14 1:54 AM features h in this issue 2 A team effort Ryan Ranft made a miraculous recovery from a traumatic brain injury thanks to his trauma team and support from his friends and family. 4 Change of heart Joseph Pompa believed healthy eating and exercise kept him in top shape, until a heart episode caught him by surprise. 6 A second chance Facing pancreatic cancer, Jose Velazquez entrusted his life to an Advocate specialist. 10 Better together Advocate supporters Andy Tecson and Nancy Hagen demonstrate the power of philanthropic partnership. departments 1 Letter from the president 12 Making the rounds 16 Make a gift through Advocate Charitable Foundation Visit Advocate Charitable Foundation at advocatehealth.com/giving to make a gift, RSVP for an upcoming special event or learn more about current fundraising priorities. Healing Gifts is the magazine of Advocate Charitable Foundation. Twice a year, it brings you stories of those whose lives are touched by your gifts. D234236.r1.indd 2 Special insert: Pediatric orthopedics at Advocate Children’s Hospital Get connected facebook.com/AdvocateHealthCare youtube.com/AdvocateHealthCare twitter.com/advocatehealth twitter.com/advocategiving 5/2/14 2:04 PM healing gifts welcome to Advocate Health Care, named among the nation’s Top 5 largest health systems based on quality by Truven Health Analytics, is the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest health care providers in the Midwest. Advocate operates more than 250 sites of care, including 12 hospitals that encompass 11 acute care hospitals, the state’s largest integrated children’s network, five Level I trauma centers (the state’s highest designation in trauma care), three Level II trauma centers, one of the area’s largest home health care companies and one of the region’s largest medical groups. Advocate Health Care trains more primary care physicians and residents at its four teaching hospitals than any other health system in the state. As a not-for-profit, mission-based health system affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, Advocate contributed $614 million in charitable care and services to communities across Chicagoland and Central Illinois in 2012. C “ heck your heart.” That’s the message Advocate has been sending via billboards, Facebook and other media, and it’s an important one. Just ask Advocate Sherman Hospital patient Joe Pompa, whose story you’ll read in this issue. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and its symptoms often go undetected. More people trust their hearts to Advocate than to any other hospital or health system in Illinois. When gratitude for care is expressed through gifts from the heart, we are empowered to enhance the care we provide to our patients even further. You and nearly 20,000 generous fellow donors make charitable Advocate BroMenn Medical Center gifts to support Advocate’s hospitals and programs. We send Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn this magazine not only to thank you for your commitment, but Advocate Children’s Hospital – Park Ridge Advocate Christ Medical Center Advocate Condell Medical Center Advocate Eureka Hospital Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Advocate at Home/Advocate Hospice Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center also to share the many heartwarming ways you help others through your kindness. We are grateful for your partnership. Thank you! Randy A. Varju, FAHP, CFRE President, Advocate Charitable Foundation Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Advocate Medical Group Advocate Sherman Hospital Advocate South Suburban Hospital Advocate Trinity Hospital Dreyer Medical Clinic Spring 2014 – healing gifts – 1 D234236.indd 1 5/1/14 1:54 AM a team effort Ryan Ranft made a miraculous recovery from a traumatic brain injury thanks to his trauma J team and support from his friends and family. enny and Jim Ranft were out of town in May 2013 when they received a call from their 16-year-old son’s number. But it wasn’t their son on the other end. It was one of his friends telling them that Ryan had been in an accident and was unconscious and bleeding from his head. Jenny asked if he had called 911 and he said yes. She then told him to make sure they took Ryan to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, and immediately tried to find the fastest way home from California. When Ryan arrived in the emergency department, the trauma team was standing by to assess his injuries. Scans showed that Ryan had a traumatic brain injury that included a crack in his skull and severe swelling. Doctors continued to monitor Ryan and administered medicine to try to bring down the pressure on his brain. The initial prognosis was not good. Back in California while en route to the airport, Jim was able to speak with the physicians at the hospital as well as one of the paramedics. It was then he realized the seriousness of Ryan’s injuries. “I could hear the urgency in the paramedic’s voice,” remembers Jim. “He told me to get there as soon as possible—that Ryan’s spinal fluid was leaking and his head injuries were severe.” The frantic parents boarded a plane not knowing if their son was even going to make it through the night. Because Jim is a Chicago firefighter, he knew that Lutheran General Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center. So they were confident that Ryan would be in the hands of the best trauma physicians and surgeons in the area. The waiting game Ryan’s parents arrived at the hospital the next morning to see about 30 friends and family members gathered and were finally able to learn the extent of their son’s injuries. Traumatic brain injuries can cause a host of physical, cognitive, social, emotional and behavioral effects, and outcomes can range from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. So the physicians were not able to provide the family with any longterm prognosis until they saw how things progressed. Ryan had been transferred to the surgical intensive care unit for continued monitoring. By the next afternoon, Ryan’s brain was still swelling. Doctors decided to put Ryan into a medically induced coma and inserted a drain into his head to try to reduce the cranial pressure. After 36 hours, they started to bring Ryan out of the coma only to have his level start to rise again. He was put back into a coma for more than a week. “Ryan’s caregivers were very supportive and comforting, but very honest with us,” remembers Jenny. “They always explained what they were doing and why. We were so grateful for the care Ryan received.” Critical care nurse Kathy Voss, RN, spent a lot of time with the Ranft family during Ryan's stay at the hospital. “We strive to provide a holistic approach to care for the whole family, not just the patient,” she says. “The Ranfts rarely left Ryan’s bedside. We wanted to make sure that everyone in the family was cared for physically and emotionally.” 2 – healing gifts – Spring 2014 D234236.indd 2 5/1/14 1:54 AM Back in action Ryan was slowly brought out of the coma and started responding in small ways—moving his arm, blinking and trying to talk. The family recognized there was a long journey ahead before Ryan would be the active, athletic teenager they knew. “Ryan is a fighter. Not only is he young and strong, but he had so many people pulling for him, including his brother, Ben, and his buddies and teammates from school,” says Jenny. “The day he gave me a kiss on the cheek was one of the best. Even the doctors were surprised to see how much progress he was making.” After 23 days at Lutheran General Hospital, Ryan was ready to move on to the next phase of his recovery at a rehabilitation center, where he spent a month learning to walk and eat again, rebuilding his muscles, and working on cognitive and memory issues. “Ryan was so determined to regain his strength and get back to the life he knew,” says Jenny. “He defied the odds. He will not let this define him.” To the amazement of his doctors and therapists, Ryan went back to school last fall at St. Patrick’s High School on Chicago’s Northwest Side. He works out with the football team, gets good grades and recently got Exceptional emergency care 24/7 As one of Chicagoland’s largest providers of emergency and trauma care, Advocate Health Care stands ready to serve patients with urgent care needs. With the most trauma centers in Illinois—five Level I (the state’s highest designation in trauma care), and two Level II trauma centers—Advocate’s patients have access to some of the best emergency treatment and clinical expertise in the country. Philanthropy plays an essential role in Advocate’s ability to provide lifesaving care across the region— expanding facilities to meet growing demand, funding specialized programs aimed at training the next generation of emergency medicine professionals, and conducting leading-edge research. Advocate currently seeks community support for the following projects and programs: • A renovation project at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital's emergency department will increase capacity by nearly 50 percent, easing his driver’s license. Ryan and his family went to visit the fire station where the first responders work, and no one could believe he was walking and talking. “Things went right,” says Jenny. “A lot of things went wrong that night, but Lutheran General Hospital and the trauma team got it right.” ■ overcrowding and reducing long waits. Advocate Christ Medical Center—the state’s busiest trauma center—is also planning an expansion of their emergency department. • Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Advocate South Suburban Hospital and Advocate Condell Medical Center provide expert, compassionate care for victims of sexual assault. Donated funds help purchase equipment and provide training opportunities for nurses. • Charitable gifts support research projects and continuing education programs for nursing students, residents, x-ray technicians and EMT professionals across the system to improve patient care and health outcomes. For more information or to make a gift, visit advocatehealth.com/giving or call 630.929.6931. Spring 2014 – healing gifts – 3 D234236.indd 3 5/1/14 1:54 AM change of heart Our hearts beat as one Advocate Sherman Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center offered Joe Pompa the very best cardiac care from diagnosis through recovery. An accredited Chest Pain Center with Advanced Certification in Heart Failure, the hospital’s longestablished, award-winning program is focused on preventing, diagnosing and treating a wide array of heart conditions. That focus is shared throughout the Advocate Health Care system. With services ranging from community screenings to pediatric cardiology research to heart transplant surgery, Advocate has earned the trust of the most heart patients in Illinois. Funded in part by generous gifts from philanthropic community members, projects to improve cardiovascular services across Advocate are ongoing. Fundraising is now underway to boost three major projects designed to better serve heart patients by combining convenience and efficiency with the most advanced technology and expertise: • Heart and Vascular Institute expansion at Advocate Christ Medical Center—Christ Medical Center has expanded its facilities for outpatient services within the Heart and Vascular Institute. Charitable funds will also help purchase leading-edge technology and equipment, as well as fund preventive services, community education and outreach. • One-stop heart care at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital—Good Samaritan Hospital is renovating more than 21,000 square feet on the ground floor of its main building to bring together cardiac diagnostics, catheterization, rehabilitation, observation and recovery services into one convenient location. • New Heart and Vascular Center at Advocate South Suburban Hospital—South Suburban Hospital’s new outpatient facility will consolidate all cardiovascular programs, including a dedicated congestive heart failure clinic, into one space to make treatment more convenient and efficient. For more information, please call 630.929.6931. Joseph Pompa believed healthy eating and exercise kept him in top shape, until a heart episode caught him by surprise. J oseph Pompa recalls October 9, 2013, in great detail: He exercised for an hour and a half in the morning, worked in the yard cutting branches, ran errands and enjoyed dinner out with his wife, watched television from 8-9 pm, and then climbed 15 stairs—with no problem—to get ready for bed. As he bent over to squeeze toothpaste onto his toothbrush, he experienced sharp chest pain. Believing it was a pulled muscle, he walked around while massaging the area, but the pain started to radiate across his chest and intensify. At that point, he went downstairs and told his wife she needed to drive him to Advocate Sherman Hospital. State of emergency On the 14-mile drive from Joe’s home in Marengo to Sherman Hospital in Elgin, he realized he should have allowed his wife to call an ambulance. He fought the reality of his increasing pain by thinking about how he had always eaten well, worked out five or six times a week and had not experienced any warning signs of health problems. He was an active 72-year-old. Even when the EKG technician in the emergency department informed him “Sir you are having a heart attack,” it was something Joe could not fully comprehend. “But fear set in when I heard those words,” he explains. “I had been so active all my life. What was my life going to be like if I survived?” That night, Joe underwent angioplasty to open a blocked artery, followed by a nine-day hospitalization. His heart was very weak, so he was discharged with an external defibrillator to wear in anticipation of receiving an implant. His ejection fraction (EF)—an important measure in determining how well the heart is pumping out blood and in diagnosing and tracking heart failure— was less than 30 percent (a normal EF is usually between 55 and 70). After discharge, Joe relied heavily on support from the Heart Failure Clinic and still does today. He repeatedly stresses how wonderful the staff and nurses in the clinic are—always taking as much time as he needs to talk through questions and answers to ensure he has clarity. “Many times medical lingo and having multiple physicians 4 – healing gifts – Spring 2014 D234236.indd 4 5/1/14 1:54 AM can be overwhelming,” explains Christina Hanson, clinical nurse specialist in the Heart Failure Clinic. “We are available to help patients like Joe navigate through it all—to support them by teaching ways to monitor for symptoms of heart failure and to learn about their medications.” Joe also started cardiac rehab three times per week. Although he was doing well during his sessions, later he would randomly experience shortness of breath that had to be controlled with multiple medication adjustments under the close watch of his doctor. In January, Joe underwent another surgery to have three stents placed— opening two arteries that were 70 percent blocked and a third that was “cemented shut.” “I was told it would take six to nine months to recover, and don’t get discouraged by bad days,” remembers Joe. “That is a lot easier said than done. It’s such a humbling and difficult experience having to watch my wife outside clearing the snow; I have felt so helpless and frustrated that I can’t do anything.” Despite the physical and emotional challenges, there have been blessings throughout his journey as well. There was the nurse during his first hospital stay who found a recliner so Joe could sleep sitting up, since he experienced too much pain when he would lie down. There are the neighbors who shoveled his driveway and told him to “worry about getting healthy and we’ll worry about the snow.” There are his family members who continue to visit and call with words of encouragement when he needs it the most. And there is “his angel,” his wife, Maria, who keeps up with the medication and appointments—and is the core of his support system. A new reality Joe’s recovery requires ongoing efforts. He continues rehab and now attends five times per week. After learning that drastic changes could signify fluid retention, he carefully monitors his blood pressure and weight daily for fluctuations. The medication he takes to help his heart heal has yielded progress so he was able to stop wearing the external defibrillator in February. He hopes to continue to make steady progress to ultimately receive confirmation by this summer that he won’t need an implant. “I feel blessed that my care team has brought me this far, but I’m impatient and I want to be fully recovered tomorrow,” says Joe. “I just have to keep working hard to get back to where I want to be—100 percent for my wife, my family, my grandson and my granddaughter who will be born this spring. I need to be here for them.” ■ Spring 2014 – healing gifts – 5 D234236.indd 5 5/1/14 1:54 AM a second chance Facing pancreatic cancer, Jose Velazquez entrusted his life to an Advocate specialist. A surprise attack A retired telecommunications engineer, Jose Velazquez takes good care of his health—and gets up weekdays at 4:30 am to work out. He and Rosemary, his wife of 41 years, live in a lovely home in Lombard with their beloved dog, Charlie. The couple’s children, Melissa and Gabriel, are now successful adults who live close enough to visit their parents often—and they do. Jose has every reason to be content with his life. But less than two years ago, he got some very bad news. It started with the symptoms of a gallbladder attack. Jose saw his primary care physician, Anthony Lin, MD, a member of Advocate Physician Partners. Dr. Lin sent him to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital for an ultrasound of the gallbladder and a consultation with surgeon Mohan Airan, MD, an expert in laparoscopic surgery to remove the gallbladder. Dr. Airan listened carefully, and Jose’s description of pain that radiated around his back made the doctor suspect something else was wrong. A second ultrasound proved him right: Not only did the gallbladder have to go, but there was also a tumor on the pancreas. Upon hearing this, Jose says, “I was devastated, anxious, depressed—a little of everything. Then I started to worry.” In good hands Jose needed a pancreatic surgery specialist, so Dr. Lin referred him to Ajay Maker, MD, at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center’s Creticos Cancer Center. Jose’s very protective son, Gabriel, researched oncology surgeons and went with him to see Dr. Maker. Favorably impressed, Gabriel pronounced, “He’s the one you want, Dad.” Was the tumor on Jose’s pancreas cancerous? Over a few weeks that seemed like an eternity, test after test came back inconclusive. He was wheeled into surgery on August 20—still not knowing if the tumor was malignant or benign. Trusting in Dr. Maker’s judgment and not wanting to have another surgical procedure, Jose authorized him to remove any organs he needed to. That turned out to be his gallbladder, his spleen, and part of the pancreas, along with the tumor. 6 – healing gifts – Spring 2014 D234236.indd 6 5/1/14 1:54 AM Throughout Jose’s hospital stay, he came to appreciate not only the clinical expertise, but also the kindness of his surgeon. “Dr. Maker would come into my room to talk with me. He expressed genuine concern and answered all of my questions, whether it took 10 minutes or an hour,” Jose says. Although he was required to walk twice a day, Jose chose to push himself with a personal goal of six times a day. But he was still on strong medications and hooked up to an IV—and too weak to walk alone. Fortunately, the nursing staff at Illinois Masonic Medical Center responded cheerfully to requests for walking assistance any time of day or night. Jose says, “They were all just great—and so supportive.” Good news at last After several days, Dr. Maker reported that the pancreatic tumor was, indeed, cancerous. Although this was hard to hear, there was also some good news: All of the cancer was removed surgically and no chemotherapy or radiation was required. It was a slow-growing type of tumor, so D234236.indd 7 periodic scans would show whether any further treatment was needed. A changed life Determined to get well and stay well, Jose got on with his life. Just a year after the surgery, he and Rosemary were given a trip to Italy for their 40th anniversary, and he felt well enough to enjoy the attractions of Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Siena, Rome and Sicily. Over the winter of 2014—one of the harshest on record— he kept busy driving a snow plow! Without a gallbladder or a spleen—and only part of his pancreas—Jose must follow certain dietary restrictions (no sugary or greasy foods) and take some special precautions to protect his immune system. But he regards that as a small price to pay for his health. Grateful to be alive, Jose says of his scare, “It changed my life, but it also gave me a second chance. I feel pretty healthy, pretty good.” ■ Spring 2014 – healing gifts – 7 5/1/14 1:54 AM “One-stop” access to coordinated care and services For patients like Jose, one diagnosis may require multiple treatments by doctors from different • Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is renovating 21,700 square feet on the ground disciplines. It can be a confusing and stressful floor of its main building to consolidate experience for patients, which is one reason why cardiovascular care and services—from Advocate Health Care has made new, user-friendly diagnostics through rehabilitation—in one outpatient facilities a priority: easy-to-access location. • Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center is building a new home for its Creticos Cancer • Advocate Christ Medical Center opened a state-of-the-art Outpatient Pavilion on March 31. Center, Center for Digestive Health, and Ambulatory The nine-story building includes dedicated floors Surgery Center. The three-story Center for for the multidisciplinary Cancer Institute, Heart Advanced Care will foster multidisciplinary and Vascular Institute, and Neurosciences collaboration and allow for better-integrated, Institute, among other services. more customized patient care. All of these projects are being partially funded by philanthropic contributions from community members. For more information or to make a gift, please call 630.929.6931. 8 – healing gifts – Spring 2014 D234236.indd 8 5/1/14 1:54 AM PHILANTHROPY at Advocate Children’s Hospital News and views for our generous friends Spotlight: Pediatric Orthopedics at Advocate Children’s Hospital For children with bone and joint disorders resulting from birth defects, illnesses or injuries, daily life can be an uphill struggle— physically, socially and emotionally. Orthopedic problems can stunt their growth, restrict their activity and often impair their appearance. Advocate Children’s Hospital is renowned for its exceptional orthopedic care for children and adolescents. The hospital’s pediatric orthopedic experts are specially trained to treat the unique orthopedic needs of children’s active and still-growing bodies. Our team is committed to helping improve children’s musculoskeletal health and function, allowing children to enjoy a more active, carefree childhood. The expertise of Advocate Children’s Hospital staff and the extraordinary breadth of the cases they handle combine to create the perfect arena for pioneering improvements in care that make a big difference for many patients. Philanthropic funds for medical education and research help lead to advances that dramatically improve quality of life for children with orthopedic problems. For more information or to make a gift, visit advocatechildrenshospital.com/giving. To Walk in her shoes Born with a short femur, Claire Jerome waited until a new technology was available to lengthen her limb in a safe and less invasive manner. Like many little girls, Claire Jerome wanted a pair of light-up shoes. However, she was never able to wear them because until recently, Claire had to use a special lift in her left shoe that would only fit in certain footwear. Claire was born with her left femur six centimeters shorter than the right, making her one of the 100,000 people who are diagnosed with limb-length disorders in the U.S. each year. If left untreated, the condition can result in chronic leg and back pain and other debilitating conditions. When Claire was 6 months old, her parents, Marsha and John Jerome, took her to see Andrea Kramer, MD, a pediatric orthopedic specialist at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute who is on staff at Advocate Children’s Hospital – Park Ridge. Dr. Kramer thought it would be best to monitor Claire’s growth and perform corrective surgery— but not right away. “At the time I met Claire the Claire Jerome and her mom, Marsha common treatment option for leg lengthening was an external fixator, which has pins and a frame on the outside of the leg—making the patient more susceptible to infections and potential fractures after the lengthening,” says Dr. Kramer. “We were aware that a new technology was being pioneered that would make the process much easier and safer for the patient. Waiting for that new procedure was the best option for Claire.” continued on the inside... D234236_inserts.indd 2 5/1/14 2:47 PM continued from the cover... Hip Hip Hooray for Brock A toddler tackles a serious infection without ever missing a step. Dr. Kramer compares the before and after results with Claire and her mother. In the meantime, Claire wore a lift in her shoe to allow her to walk and run, as well as to relieve any discomfort caused by the limb-length discrepancy. But she still had a noticeable limp. “People would stare or make comments, but Claire would always just say, ‘This is the way I was born, and the shoe helps me walk better,’” says Marsha. “Nothing was going to stop her from being an active little girl. She loves the outdoors and animals and even played softball.” In 2012, the new technology was proved to be an effective and safe alternative to the external fixator. The surgery is less invasive and less painful, and the equipment is much easier for the patient to manage. During the procedure the surgeon inserts a telescopic rod into the bone. Using a magnet and an external remote control to extend the rod and pull apart the bone allows new bone to fill in. Dr. Kramer performed Claire’s surgery in December 2013, when Claire was 8 years old, at Advocate Children’s Hospital – Park Ridge. Dr. Kramer showed Marsha and John how to use the simple device at home in Charleston, Indiana. The goal was to add 55 millimeters to her leg, so they were instructed to use the handheld D234236_inserts.indd 3 controller to manipulate the bone three times a day, lengthening it 1 millimeter per day for 55 days. Claire’s parents found the machine very easy to use and painless for Claire, and were relieved not to have to deal with the external fixator. “Dr. Kramer is so good with kids. She made us feel so comfortable and explained everything to us so that Claire was never afraid,” shares Marsha. “Dr. Kramer and her staff are like family to us. We had been preparing for this since Claire was 6 months old.” By the time the lengthening process was over, Claire’s bone had grown to fill in the gap making her legs the same size. She still has a slight limp, but continues to work on her gait in physical therapy. Claire was so excited when she recently received the go-ahead to get back to gym class and playing softball. Since Claire no longer needed a shoe lift, Marsha was excited to take her daughter shopping to get any shoes she wanted. “I couldn’t wait to buy her the light-up shoes she always dreamed about,” says Marsha. “But when we got to the store, Claire decided she was too old for the light-up kind and selected a fun pair of Sketchers instead!” Brock Lenzen is everything you would expect in a 2-year-old boy. He loves trucks, helicopters, blocks and cars. All smiles and giggles, he is a happy, healthy toddler who climbs anything he can grab onto and runs around at near warp speed. But just over a year ago, a winter cold and relentless fever resulted in a trip to the emergency room at a local hospital that ultimately led to a serious and scary diagnosis. “They told us Brock had a double ear infection and to follow up with our pediatrician if he didn’t improve,” remembers his mom Jill. “He was very clingy, he wasn’t getting better, and we noticed he stopped putting weight on his left leg so we wound up at our pediatrician’s office.” Thanks to his orthopedic surgeon, Brock Lenzen is now an active 2 year old. 5/1/14 5:47 PM “It was a crazy, scary experience but the doctors and nurses-absolutely everyone at Advocate Children’s Hospital- were amazing.” Jill Lenzen, Brock’s mom Their pediatrician immediately sent them to Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn, where they learned Brock’s ears were not the problem. Blood tests indicated an infection, so he was admitted and just a few hours later underwent a procedure to draw fluid from his left hip. When pediatric orthopedic surgeon Prasad Gourineni, MD, came into Brock’s room that evening, he explained that Brock had a septic left hip requiring emergency surgery. Jill and her husband were shown the fluid taken from his hip, which should be clear but was instead yellow. “Children with septic hip, which is a relatively uncommon problem, have bacteria within the hip joint,” explains Dr. Gourineni. “The infection can damage the cartilage permanently; therefore it is critical that surgery is performed quickly to clean out the infection to prevent lasting joint damage.” Within hours Brock underwent hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive method using a scope to flush out the infection through one tiny incision. The procedure was successful. Following an eight-day hospitalization, Brock was discharged to go home with an intravenous line for three weeks of antibiotics. His treatment also included six weeks of oral antibiotics. Brock and his mother, Jill, at home in Orland Park “In the first sets of x-rays post-procedure, there was concern that his left hip bone wasn’t forming,” Jill shares. “His last x-ray showed it is now at 80 percent of what it should be. That said, it hasn’t slowed him down at all. You’d never know there was ever anything wrong.” Thankfully, Brock did not require any physical therapy, and he started walking without delay or complication at 12 months old and hasn’t stopped moving since. He has x-rays taken every six months, all which have been clear thus far. Brock will continue to be followed under the care of Dr. Gourineni until he turns 14. “It was a crazy, scary experience, but the doctors and nurses—absolutely everyone at Advocate Children’s Hospital—were amazing,” Jill says. “We look forward to continuing our care with the orthopedics team there and will go back in a heartbeat if we ever have any other needs for Brock.” Always on the move, Brock scoots around the living room. D234236_inserts.indd 4 5/1/14 2:47 PM Preventing Children’s Sports injuries Participation in any sport, whether it’s recreational bike riding or pee-wee football, can teach kids to stretch their limits and learn sportsmanship and discipline. But sports also carry the potential for injury. You can help prevent your kids from being injured by following some simple guidelines: Use of proper equipment It’s important for kids to use proper equipment and safety gear that are the correct size and fit well. For example, they should wear helmets for baseball, softball, bicycle riding, and hockey. They also should wear helmets while inline skating or riding scooters and skateboards. For racquet sports and basketball, ask your child’s coach about protective eyewear, like shatterproof goggles. Also ask about the appropriate helmets, shoes, mouth guards, athletic cups and supporters, and padding. Protective equipment should be approved by the organizations that govern each sport. Hockey face masks, for example, should be approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Bicycle helmets should have a safety certification sticker from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Also, equipment should be properly maintained to ensure its effectiveness over time. In the United States, the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) sets many of the standards for helmets, face masks and shin guards. Maintenance and appropriateness of playing surfaces Check that playing fields are not full of holes and ruts that might cause kids to fall or trip. Kids doing high-impact sports, like basketball and running, should do them on surfaces like tracks and wooden basketball courts, which can be more forgiving than surfaces like concrete. The team coach should have training in first aid and CPR, and the coach’s philosophy should promote players’ well-being. A coach with a win-at-all-costs attitude may encourage kids to play through injury and may not foster good sportsmanship. Be sure that the coach enforces playing rules and requires that safety equipment be used at all times. Additionally, make sure your kids are matched for sports according to their skill level, size, and physical and emotional maturity. Proper preparation Just as you wouldn’t send a child who can’t swim to a swimming pool, it’s important not to send kids to play a sport they’re unprepared to play. Make sure your child knows how to play the sport before going out on the field. Your child should be adequately prepared with warm-ups and training sessions before practices, as well as before games. This will help ensure that your child has fun and reduce the chances of an injury. In addition, kids should drink plenty of fluids and be allowed to rest during practices and games. © 2014. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Used under liscense. This is an abridged version. For the full article, visit advocatechildrenshospital.com. Adequate adult supervision and commitment to safety Any team sport or activity that kids participate in should be supervised by qualified adults. Select leagues and teams that have the same commitment to safety and injury prevention that you do. KID-Focused Care Learn more about philanthropy at Advocate Children’s Hospital: advocatechildrenshospital.com/giving · facebook.com/AdvocateChildrensHospital Sarah Cutrara at 708.684.5231 (Oak Lawn) or Mary Kozil at 847.723.8144 (Park Ridge) D234236_inserts.indd 1 5/1/14 2:47 PM Leave a legacy of service “I believe in the leadership and vision of my local Advocate hospital, and I want to leave a legacy that helps the hospital continue to grow in quality and service. I can’t think of a wiser investment in the future than the very best health care for my community.” Annette Goetz Donor and Volunteer Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital As a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, Advocate Health Care relies on the generosity of supporters like you to sustain and advance excellence. One way you can help is to include a gift to us in your will or living trust. It is a great way to invest in the future of your favorite Advocate hospital or program. It costs you nothing now—and leaves a legacy of service. If you have already remembered Advocate in your will, thank you for your kindness. Please consider letting us know of your bequest so we can recognize you now for your future gift. Notification does not make your bequest binding or irrevocable. To learn more, please contact Susan or John in Gift Planning at Advocate Charitable Foundation: Susan M. Mongillo, 630.929.6940, [email protected] John C. Holmberg, 630.929.6945, [email protected] Spring 2014 – healing gifts – 9 D234236.indd 9 5/1/14 1:54 AM better together Advocate supporters Nancy Hagen and Andy Tecson I demonstrate the power of philanthropic partnership. f Andy Tecson and Nancy Hagen had never met and gotten married, they would probably still be admired for the way they give of themselves to help others live their best possible lives. Andy would still be sharing his legal expertise to help not-for-profit organizations and faith communities build the systems and support networks they need to fulfill their missions. Nancy would still be meeting others’ basic human needs, both physical and spiritual, whether providing food and shelter for the Chicago law firm distinguished by its commitment to philanthropy. “My parents taught me the importance of giving back to the communities you live and work in, while Nancy’s taught her that we are all citizens of the broader community of the world.” If Nancy has enlightened Andy, he has emboldened her. “Andy’s cheerful and energetic and not afraid of trying anything,” says Nancy, a one-time accountant turned social entrepreneur whose many philanthropic homeless or offering a comforting presence to grieving children through the Tommy’s Kids program of St. Thomas Hospice. Andy and Nancy did meet and marry, however, and their union helps prove the gestalt theory that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Together they have provided a temporary home for disadvantaged children from around the globe who have come to the Chicago area for medical treatment. They helped a childhood friend of Andy’s develop and fund an organization—Clarke Cares—that has bought 20,000 mosquito nets to protect African villagers from malaria, elephantiasis and other insect-borne diseases. And they have given generously of their time, talent and treasure to support Advocate Christ Medical Center and Advocate Children’s Hospital—Oak Lawn. Just for starters. “I’ve really grown in my sense of service thanks to Nancy,” says Andy, president of Chuhak & Tecson, a Andy and Nancy's partnership with Advocate Health Care includes the health law expertise Andy provides to the system's general counsel, Gail Hasbrouck (left). ventures include founding Hope’s Front Door, a Downers Grove-based ministry that assists community members in financial crisis. “A sense of having no limitations has opened up a lot of things in my mind.” Open minds, open doors One of the first things it opened up was the couple’s Downers Grove home. When their sons Luke and Matthew were young, the Hagen-Tecsons became a second family to Hector, a boy from Dominican Republic, following his brain tumor surgery at what is now known as Advocate Children’s Hospital—Park Ridge. The family ultimately took in a total of four children at different times, for periods ranging from six weeks to six months. 10 – healing gifts – Spring 2014 D234236.indd 10 5/1/14 1:54 AM Partners in caring “Nancy has a compassionate heart, and she’s always had a global perspective,” Andy says. They have also opened their home for some of the many fundraising concerts they’ve organized: Andy assembles a group of jazz musicians including himself, while Nancy serves as conductor and event manager. Both accomplished instrumentalists—Andy composes jazz for the church and plays the saxophone and Nancy plays the oboe and piano—the couple met when they each were part of the music ministry at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest. Their shared passion for music has strengthened not only the bond between them, but also the Church Jazz Ministry of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Chicago, among other churches and not-forprofit organizations. One of those organizations is the Heart and Vascular Institute at Christ Medical Center, which was the beneficiary of a combination house concert–presentation on advances in cardiac surgery they hosted. Andy and Nancy have had many connections to Advocate Health Care many times over the years. Among other things, Andy provides legal counsel to the system—but they had no personal experience of Advocate’s hospitals in Oak Lawn until Vijay Singh recruited Andy to serve in a volunteer leadership role there. “Andy is the kind of person who gets his energy from touching other people and helping them achieve their potential,” says Vijay, a business associate of Andy’s who has served as chair of the medical center’s Development Council. “It is not work for him—he has a passion for it.” That desire to enable others to achieve their potential also inspired Andy and Nancy to make a generous charitable donation to help start a pediatric autism program at Advocate Children’s Hospital—Oak Lawn. Rooted in faith Underneath their countless hours of service, their charitable giving and their enthusiastic championing of causes within their extensive social and professional circles lies a firm foundation of Christian faith. That faith draws them to Advocate Health Care’s mission, which is rooted in a fundamental understanding of human beings as created in the image of God and deserving of dignity and respect. “Advocate’s spiritual and emotional dimension is huge,” Just as Andy Tecson and Nancy Hagen can do more together than they can on their own, each of Advocate’s hospitals is strengthened by groups of volunteers who combine forces and resources to help ensure quality health care close to home: • Development Council members serve as ambassadors in their communities, sharing stories of the impact their local hospitals have and inviting other residents, caregivers and business leaders to join them in supporting Advocate’s health care mission. • Special event committees plan galas, golf outings and other gatherings that raise funds for programs identified as priorities by hospital leadership. Events are also a great way to introduce hospitals to prospective supporters. • Auxiliaries and similar service organizations raise funds through sales and other activities, and then donate the proceeds to support hospital programs they designate. “Miracles happen in our hospitals every day, and we get to see the tangible results of our efforts,” says Terry Graber, who chairs Advocate Charitable Foundation’s Board of Directors. “What could be more rewarding than knowing you are making a difference in people’s lives?” For more information about fundraising volunteer opportunities at Advocate, please contact Jennifer Cosby-Thanos at 630.929.6915 or [email protected]. says Nancy, who wishes that her family had received that kind of support when her father passed away from multiple myeloma. Andy agrees. “The concept that God has power to be a healing force in the world really resonates with us,” he says. “It goes beyond the miracle of modern medicine to become something truly transcendent.” The faith that sustains their commitment to Advocate also explains their joyful spirits. “Andy and Nancy bring a quality of compassion, love and humanity that inspires and transforms others,” Vijay Singh says. “They’re a wonderful team.” ■ Spring 2014 – healing gifts – 11 D234236.indd 11 5/1/14 1:54 AM making the rounds Every day, Advocate Health Care meets the health needs of individuals, families and communities across the Chicagoland area and Central Illinois. A not-for-profit organization, Advocate relies on partnerships with donors to expand access to health care, enhance our patients’ experience, enable innovation and improve health care outcomes. In this section, we report on selected philanthropy-related developments across the Advocate system. Associates help colleagues in time of need been scattered throughout the medical center’s large campus are now under one roof. Parking is attached to the building, and there is a concierge service at every entrance to ensure that patients know exactly where to go in the building to receive care. Donors enjoyed a sneak preview and thank-you reception several weeks before the opening. Attendees included donors Dr. Melvin and Mrs. Nancy Wichter. In recognition of their generosity, the waiting room of the Neuroscience Institute on the seventh floor is named in their honor. Tragedy hit close to home last November when devastating tornados touched down across Central Illinois and impacted several Advocate BroMenn Medical Center and Advocate Eureka Hospital associates and their families. Advocate associates across the system stepped up to support their colleagues by making monetary contributions to an internal associate crisis fund, raising more than $22,000—as well as by collecting clothes, food, gift cards and holiday gifts. “The hearts of the caring associates throughout Advocate are amazing,” says Larance Torman, a radiology technician at Eureka Hospital who was at home in Washington with family when a tornado completely destroyed their house. “To receive such love and support during a time when life was in shambles … I cannot begin to express how very much appreciated your help is.” Condell Rocks the Cure New Outpatient Pavilion delivers “wow!” experience Advocate's executive vice president and chief operating officer Bill Santulli (second from right) attended the Condell Rocks the Cure event with his family. After nearly two and a half years of construction, Advocate Christ Medical Center welcomed its first patients to its stunning new Outpatient Pavilion on March 31. Outpatient testing and procedure areas that had For the second year in a row, Advocate Condell Medical Center associates, friends and donors gathered at Austin's Fuel Room Saloon in Libertyville to raise funds for the medical center’s Cancer Institute and listen to live music. Top sponsors for the event included North Shore Oncology & Hematology Associates Ltd., Surgical Care Associates, Travelliance and Vogue Printers. The Cancer Institute provides patients with the most advanced radiation, infusion and supportive treatments available, delivered with a “whole-person” approach to care. Proceeds will support the new Cancer Resource Center—a place where patients and families can find navigation services, genetic counseling, wig and prosthetic fitting areas, education, demonstrations, and classes. Funds support pediatric bereavement services To help families cope with the loss of a child, Advocate Children’s Hospital uses donated funds to provide 12 – healing gifts – Spring 2014 D234236.indd 12 5/1/14 1:54 AM grief support services at the time of death and beyond. Charitable gifts permit the delivery of support packets to grieving parents, siblings, grandparents and extended family/friends at the hospital, as well as the mailing of tailored bereavement resources to the home for the next 15 months. Funds also make possible a bereavement photographer, available at the parents’ request, and portable carts stocked with artistic and memory-making supplies that patients can use to create positive memories in the midst of grief. Additionally, remembrance services are offered at each campus. “We are so grateful to our donors who support bereavement services,” says Stacey Jutila, vice president of mission and spiritual care at Advocate Children’s Hospital. “They help make it possible for us to support families during a very difficult time.” New name for a special “baby” This winter, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital threw a “baby shower” for a new infant mannequin and its mother. The two are programmed to simulate high-risk childbirth scenarios so caregivers can learn best practices in an environment where it’s safe to make mistakes. At the shower, about 40 guests were invited to participate in a “name the baby” raffle drawing. The winner was hospital auxiliary president Bob Hurdle (pictured), who chose the name Sam (or Sammy). Bob likes that it’s gender-neutral and fits with hospital nickname Good Sam. Sam’s mother is named Maggie to show pride in Good Samaritan Hospital’s designation as a Magnet® facility, the nation’s highest award for nursing excellence. Sam and Maggie reside with Malcolm, an adult male mannequin, at the hospital’s DuPage Emergency Physicians (D.E.P.) Simulation Laboratory in the Lipinski Learning Center. Thanks to a generous gift from the D.E.P. group, Good Samaritan Hospital is the first Advocate site to have a designated simulation lab with the most advanced equipment. It supports an extensive training program that helps clinicians deliver the safest and very best care for the most critically ill patients. Another Advocate hospital earns Magnet designation Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital is the eighth Advocate hospital to achieve Magnet® recognition for excellence in nursing services. Awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program, Magnet is the highest nursing care distinction a hospital can receive and an honor shared by only seven percent of U.S. hospitals. ANCC awards Magnet status for a collaborative, interdisciplinary team approach to care that recognizes nursing as a vital part of the team. “Good Shepherd Hospital truly provides a collaborative environment for all of us to practice and to have the safest and best quality outcomes for our patients,” said Thomas Meyer, MD, president of the Good Shepherd Hospital medical staff. “The outstanding nurses who have led this effort and our entire hospital team truly are to be commended for their accomplishments.” The hospital received Magnet status after a rigorous, two-year evaluation process that was funded in part by charitable giving. Research shows hospitals with Magnet status have better overall patient outcomes, shorter lengths of stay, higher rates of patient satisfaction and greater cost-efficiency. Spring 2014 – healing gifts – 13 D234236.indd 13 5/1/14 1:54 AM making the rounds continued Reaching out to the underserved Many low-income people get health care only when they are quite sick—if then. Advocate Health Care’s Inner City Parish Nurse Ministry brings holistic, preventive health services to residents of neighborhoods besieged by economic hardship and chronic illness. Part of a larger program serving 36 faith congregations across the metropolitan area, parish nurses based in Humboldt Park, Kenwood, Little Village, Logan Square, Roseland and Uptown meet the needs of more than 14,000 Chicagoans a year. The beneficiary of a $90,000 boost from philanthropy, the program offers nutrition education, medication information, walking clubs, health screenings, flu shots and assistance with Public Aid enrollment—along with a listening ear and a healing prayer. Ball brings in support for simulation More than 3,000 babies are welcomed into the world at Advocate Sherman Hospital each year. While most are considered “routine” births, obstetric emergencies do occur in women who have shown no previous signs of complications. To ensure the very best and safest care possible for mothers and babies, Sherman Hospital is committed to utilizing simulation as an important training tool—allowing caregivers to enhance their skills in a realworld, low-stress environment—to prepare for any birthing scenario. The annual Sherman Hospital Auxiliary Gala, The Bond Experience, was held March 1 and raised more than $70,000, which will be used to purchase the Noelle® birthing simulator, as well as bili lights to treat newborns with jaundice. Hospice makes a dream come true Every day, Advocate Hospice caregivers provide comprehensive end-of-life care with a focus on each patient and family’s unique emotional, practical and spiritual needs. Charitable gifts help fund a range of supportive services that are not reimbursed by insurance, but are critical to fulfilling the program’s mission to make every day count. Dedicated care teams deliver those services, but sometimes they also go out of their way to make a special dream come true. Patient Agnes Radzajewski, 85, had a dream of returning to visit the pediatric hospital where she had worked for 31 years as a surgical nurse. Through the combined efforts of her hospice chaplain, social workers and nurses, Agnes got her wish. On a tour of the hospital, Agnes was warmly greeted by longtime employees who remembered her from her working days. Viewing a brand new surgical suite, Agnes said, “I spent my career working with surgeons who took care of children. This was like going home.” (photo above) 14 – healing gifts – Spring 2014 D234236.indd 14 5/1/14 1:54 AM Masons invite others to join them in building for the future One hundred years after the Masons of Illinois first took steps to build or purchase a hospital to serve their community, their continued support of Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center was celebrated at the May cornerstone laying ceremony for the new Center for Advanced Care. A million-dollar leadership gift for the building from the Masonic Family Health Foundation in early 2013 was followed by a second million-dollar commitment—from the Grand Lodge of Illinois—in early 2014. When it opens next year, the three-story outpatient building will provide for an unprecedented level of technological advancement and care coordination. “This facility honors the legacy of the medical center, represents the bright future of our shared endeavors and invites new partners,” says Masonic Family Health Foundation chair Charles Gambill. Advocate physician marries matrimony and philanthropy Advocate Health Care has a strong history of exceptional patient care, medical education and service to the community. Advocate physician Judith Gravdal, MD, rolled those qualities into one when she and her fiancé, Murray Gordon, were planning their wedding. Because they did not need new china, appliances or other household items, they encouraged their friends and family to make charitable donations to honor the couple’s vows. One of the beneficiaries they suggested was the Family Medicine Fund at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Dr. Gravdal joined the Family Medicine Residency faculty in 1987, became the program director in 2004, and was named the Morris M. Goldberg, MD, Chair of Family Medicine in 2006. The Family Medicine Fund supports initiatives of the Family Medicine Residency, faculty development opportunities, and other department needs. “My husband and I are blessed in so many ways, and we wanted to share that with others while giving back to the hospital, my patients, my fellow physicians, and the strong educational programs here at Lutheran General Hospital,” says Dr. Gravdal. Hundreds of volunteers help save young lives Every week in the U.S. 30 young people die of sudden cardiac death resulting from medical conditions they often didn’t know they had. To identify heart conditions that could lead to tragedy on the playing field or elsewhere, Advocate Medical Group’s donor-funded Young Hearts for Life program trained 1,600 parents and other volunteers to perform EKGs on 17,024 Illinois high school students in 2013—many more than could possibly be screened by medical professionals alone. Spring 2014 – healing gifts – 15 D234236.indd 15 5/1/14 1:54 AM making the rounds continued Helping patients navigate the complexities of cancer From diagnosis to treatment through survivorship, cancer is a complicated and sometimes confusing journey. That’s why Advocate ensures our cancer patients have a dedicated partner and adviser—a nurse navigator—to guide them stepby-step through the process. Nurse navigators offer an array of support including Conrad Urban, MD, and Prakash Sane, MD (center L to R), South Suburban Hospital's 2013 Founders Award honorees, are pictured at the Gala with Ram Aribindi, MD, and hospital president Rich Heim. providing educational assistance and materials, accompanying patients to appointments and procedures, and assisting in coordinating care and identifying needed resources. Proceeds totaling more than $100,000 from Advocate South Suburban Hospital’s 2013 Gala benefited the oncology program to provide critical funding for services, including nurse navigators. New program connects chronically ill to community resources With philanthropic support from the G.A. Ackermann Memorial Fund, Advocate Trinity Hospital has launched Project HEALTH (Healing Effectively After Leaving the Hospital) to help patients with common chronic diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, diabetes and sickle cell disease. Patients with these diagnoses who are re-admitted within 30 days of discharge receive a visit from one of six specially trained volunteers. The volunteer makes sure the patient has a medical home and schedules a followup appointment with a physician. Volunteers also provide basic health education and often learn of emotional concerns or practical needs the patient has not shared with anyone else. Project director Jackie Rouse, the hospital’s manager of community health and volunteer services, says, “We provide patients with community support when they return home, whether they need social services, a primary care physician, a call to the pharmacy—or just someone who cares. We’re building enduring relationships that support lifelong health.” ■ Large or small, each charitable gift helps Advocate’s hospitals and programs provide excellent, compassionate care. Giving options include… ■ Cash—Personal checks and credit cards are accepted. ■ Pledge—Pledges can be paid over time in cash or stock. ■ Stock—Receive a tax deduction while avoiding capital-gains tax. ■ Tribute or memorial— Make a gift in honor of a loved one, living or deceased, or to recognize an Advocate caregiver. ■ Matching gift—Some employers will match, double or even triple your charitable gift. ■ Planned gift—Make a gift through a bequest in your will or trust, by establishing a charitable gift annuity or through another type of planned gift. To make a gift to a specific program or hospital, use the enclosed reply envelope, call Advocate Charitable Foundation at 630.929.6900 or give online: advocatehealth.com/giving Healing Gifts is produced by Advocate Charitable Foundation’s communications and donor relations department: Kelly Coffey Angela Hacke Anna McKinley Jeanne Rattenbury Contributing photographers: Warren Browne John Martin-Eatinger Contributing writer: Gina Pryma 16 – healing gifts – Spring 2014 D234236.indd 16 5/1/14 1:54 AM What was your sign to take action? “Dad and I were just having breakfast, and he got me thinking — between his heart attack and our family history, it could happen to me.” If you’re at high risk for heart disease, one of our cardiologists will see you within 24 hours. What is your risk? Find out in minutes with the simple heart assessment at iHeartAdvocate.com. DON’t MISS YOUR SIGN. Check your heart at iHeartAdvocate.com D234236.indd 1 5/1/14 1:54 AM Advocate Charitable Foundation 3075 Highland Parkway, Suite 600 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 630.929.6900 advocatehealth.com/giving facebook.com/AdvocateHealthCare Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Downers Grove, IL Permit No. 638 Advocate Charitable Foundation supports the goals and objectives of the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®). The FSC® promotes responsible environmental behavior and sound forestry management. The paper used in this publication is certified under the FSC® program. face of philanthropy Joanne and Bill Patejdl were among a select group of donors who were the first to tour Advocate Christ Medical Center’s stunning new Outpatient Pavilion, which began welcoming patients on March 31. The high-tech, user-friendly facility centralizes outpatient surgical procedures and patient clinic visits under one roof. D234236.indd 2 5/1/14 1:54 AM