Community Steps Up to "Share the Joy" This Holiday Season

Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Foundation is pleased to share the results from the three “Share the Joy through donation” initiatives from the 2012 Festival of Trees.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our community,” states Kathy Richard, Director of HALO Project, who coordinated the efforts at the Festival. “The generosity that we witnessed made this year’s Festival of Trees even more meaningful.”

Blood Drive

For two weeks leading up to the Festival of Trees and on opening day, Community Blood Services of Illinois collected blood donations from 84 individuals, which has the potential to help 252 people in need of blood.

Veteran Comfort Items

On Veteran’s Day, 1,219 comfort and toiletry items were donated by Festival-goers for our local veterans. In addition, a drive was held for Provena employees at the medical center, which added 622 items, for a total of 1,841 items that were given to the VA Illiana Healthcare System. Some individuals chose to give cash instead of items, and $380 was donated.

Food Drive

On Thursday night, the evening of the Night of Lights parade, visitors donated 2,581 non-perishable food items. Items were grouped into boxes and delivered equally to the Danville Area Food Pantry, the Salvation Army, and Domestic Violence and Transitional Shelter Services of Crosspoint at the Y.

“We thank each and every individual that chose to share the joy through these efforts,” stated Richard. “So many people will be helped--not only through these three drives, but through all the funds raised through the entire Festival of Trees.”

Festival of Trees benefits the year-long outreach programs of Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Foundation. Community programs such as I Sing the Body Electric, the HALO Project, Faith In Action, and Young Women/Men Aware would not be possible without funding through this terrific annual event.






Provena St. Mary’s Regional Dialysis Center Honors Veterans

On November 12 & 13th Provena St. Mary’s Regional Dialysis Center celebrated Veterans Day with their patients who have served our Country. Patients were honored with a thank you card, balloon, red, white & blue pin, cookies and coffee. A poster thanking all of the veterans with their names and branch of service was also on display.

Bruce Kirk, CHT, Air Force Veteran; Eugene Toler, Army Veteran.

Gail Shockey, CHT; Ronald Hooper, Army Veteran; Shelly Black, CHT.

Educator is no ordinary teacher

As seen in the Beacon-News
October 10, 2012
For educator Marissa Happ, a typical teaching day might mean bringing a caterpillar into the classroom, creating its natural habitat and journaling with students about its metamorphosis. Or, it might mean bringing snow into class on a winter day.
But Happ is no ordinary teacher, and her environment is no ordinary classroom. In fact, there really is no typical day for this educator, who works with children who are hospitalized for behavioral health illnesses.
“I always knew I wanted to merge education and social work,” said Happ, who recently was named “2012 Teacher of the Year,” by the Minneapolis-based Kids in Need Foundation.
“I believe that every child can learn and grow, and that education is one of the most important gifts we can offer anyone,” said the Aurora resident, who has been a teacher and community liaison at Provena Mercy Medical Center since 2004.
Teaching in a hospital environment has its distinctions from a traditional classroom. Happ focuses on a teaching method called, “social-emotional learning,” which incorporates issues such as self-esteem, peer relationship issues and identity issues.
“The classroom is never the same 2 days in a row. One day we may have 12 kids. The next day we might have 10 because some children have been discharged. You have to be flexible,” said Happ, who teaches children ranging from four to 17 years old.
“Depression is probably the leading diagnosis we work with,” she said. “I believe that beneath every diagnosis, beneath every behavior, there exists a child who is waiting to be truly discovered. And I learn so much from getting to know these children.”
Sometimes Happ assists children in the hospital with their homework that has been sent from school. But not all patients have homework, due to a short length of hospital stay. Oftentimes, Happ focuses on learning that involves nature. I believe in the therapeutic value of nature, and if I can’t take my students outside into the world, then I will bring the outdoors to them.”
During one particular snowstorm last year, Happ packed coolers full of snow and brought them inside so the children could play. “Kids everywhere were out playing in the snow. But the kids here couldn’t be outside. So it occurred to me that I could bring it inside,” she said.
Unlike traditional teachers in the classroom setting, Happ doesn’t get the reward of seeing her students graduate.
“I don’t get to measure success very often,” she said. “As an educator, I try to get into the community as much as I can. I go to choral concerts, plays, talent shows or sporting events. Sometimes I see kids that were with us 3 years ago and see how well they’re doing. At those times, I think, ‘I couldn’t have hoped for anything more.’”

Congratulations, You’re Having a Baby, and by the way, You have Cancer

How Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center Physicians and Staff Helped a Young Mother Live
Imagine having a loving husband and a one-year-old son at home and finding out you are pregnant with your second child. It would be one of the happiest moments in your life. It should be, but what if you also found out that you have breast cancer?
In 2001, at the age of 30, Colleen Lenz had just received the news of her second pregnancy, and two weeks later found a lump in her breast. Dr. Angela Intili, OB/GYN at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, first did a needle biopsy, then an ultrasound and X-ray.
Within a week from finding the lump, a lumpectomy performed with only local anesthetic (because of the pregnancy) confirmed breast cancer. The next day a nurse from the office of Sarode Pundaleeka, MD, hematologist/oncologist at Provena Regional Cancer Center (formerly Joliet Oncology Hematology Association), called Lenz to arrange an appointment. Within days Dr. Pundaleeka explained her options and arranged for her to have a second opinion. The ultimate decision was to perform a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy.
“It all went so quickly, that I hardly remember it,” said Lenz. Dr. Pundaleeka also had Lenz speak with a psychologist, concerned about how a mastectomy might affect her, “But quite frankly,” she said, “the thought of dying of breast cancer when I had a one-year-old son and baby on the way was all I could really think about.”
Following surgery, Lenz had to wait to start chemotherapy until she was 14 weeks into the pregnancy. She later gave birth to a healthy baby girl, who is now 11 years old. For five years following the surgery, Lenz was on tamoxifen, a drug that is used to treat breast cancers that are hormone-receptor positive, and she has been cancer free and enjoying a normal active life with her family ever since. She is forever grateful to her team of doctors and the people who helped her get through that time. “They cared, that’s all. The anesthesiologist explained what they were doing. Dr. Pundaleeka even visited me in the hospital when my daughter was born. All the nurses, everyone at St. Joes was kind and thoughtful. They cared, and that made it all easier.”
Lenz wants women to know how important it is to detect breast cancer early. “It is treatable. It is curable.”
Now a 12-year breast cancer survivor, Lenz talks openly about her experience and implores women have their check-ups and always perform self breast exams. Now, back to her natural auburn color, Lenz remembers waiting for her hair to grow back. She decided to make that fun, something that her son and daughter find rather odd when they look at baby pictures and their then very “blonde” mom. “Staying positive is really important too.”

Father and Daughters Set for Chicago Marathon. “Let’s Do It!”

…“You know what would be neat? If the three of us ran the Chicago Marathon.” Those statements aren’t exactly normal table talk over holiday dinner. But, early this year, Bruce Breault tossed the idea out to two of his daughters. He didn’t get much of a response.
A couple of weeks later, the 59-year-old brought up the idea again. This time, at least, the three talked about it for a couple of minutes.
A few weeks went by until the next mention of the marathon. This time, there was a bit more discussion and a noted degree of interest from the girls. But, no commitment.
Then, the mail arrived one spring day, and in the bundle of magazines, bills, and catalogs was an application for the 35th Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 7, 2012. “That was the turning point. It was no longer a ‘maybe’ or a ‘we’ll see.’ The three of us decided to give the 26.2-mile distance a go,” Breault, an electrician who lives in St. Anne, says.
For the next 18 weeks, Breault and his daughters – Laura Andersen of Bourbonnais and Jackie Littrell of St. Anne – became training partners, doing their longer runs together on the weekends and running on their own during the week.

Laura Anderson, Jackie Littrell & Bruce Breault

Breault already had the experience of completing a Chicago Marathon in his stride. “I ran the marathon 11 years ago, and I’ll never forget the feeling of accomplishment that I had when I finished. My hope is that this year’s marathon will be just as positive for all of us.”
Andersen is 33 years old and the mother of 16-month-old triplets. Like her father, she’s a seasoned runner, having participated in cross-country in high school and in a variety of local 5ks and two half marathons. The October 7th event, however, will be her first marathon.
Her motivation? “Running is ‘me’ time. It’s a great outlet. Training for the marathon gave me a personal goal and helped keep me on track.”
While their father followed a training program from the Chicago Marathon’s website, Andersen and Littrell opted for the Hal Higdon* 18-week plan for novices. “The plan is based on progressive mileage. In other words, baby steps. You increase your mileage gradually. We worked up to running four days per week, cross-trained one day, and had two full rest days,” Littrell, 37, explains. The Chicago event will be her first marathon as well.
Even though she has participated in several local 5ks, she contends that she didn’t consider herself to be a runner. “In fact, when I told my dad and Laura that I would do the marathon with them, I was really thinking, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’”
For all three, the most difficult part of training was the time component. As Andersen summed it up, “The hardest thing about training was sacrificing all of my precious free time to run.”
But, the time spent together far outweighed the trials. “We did most of our longer runs together at the state park, KCC, and the Perry Farm. Spending this time with my daughters was priceless,” Breault says.

Since all three run different paces, they will begin the marathon side by side, but they will eventually split apart. “We’re fine with that. The most important thing is that we have a common goal, and that’s to finish,” Andersen explains.
A good part of their enthusiasm lies in the rich tradition of the Chicago Marathon. The course is fast and flat (only one slight incline in the final mile on Roosevelt Road) and home to four world records, several national records, and countless personal bests. On race day, temperatures are predicted to average 49 degrees when the first wave of runners begins at 7:30 a.m. (The wheelchair start is at 7:20 a.m.) and reach a high of 66 degrees. The Chicago Marathon is also loved for its entertainment and fun value – the twists and turns through various ethnic pockets of the city and the cheering crowds.
But, the absolute best part about it for this team? “The proximity to home,” they agree unanimously.
“Because the marathon is close to home, we can sleep in our own beds the night before the race, and it will be easy for our family and friends to get there so they can cheer us on,” Andersen notes.
Only Littrell had a setback due to injury during training. Tendonitis in both feet forced her to take 10 days off from running. “We were 12 weeks into training. So, it was really hard emotionally to step back,” she explains. “I promised my podiatrist that as soon as I finish the marathon, I’ll take enough time off to allow my feet and ankles to heal.”
Training has been a learning experience for all three as well. For Breault, it was seeing the dedication and determination of his daughters. “For me, training was easy in the sense that I just got ready, left the house, and ran. But, my daughters had to make arrangements for their kids before they could even think about heading out the door.
“After long runs, I went home and recovered. They, on the other hand, still had a household to take care of and chores to do. Without a doubt, they are the real troopers of this journey.”
Littrell adds, “I’ve learned that distance running is not only a physical challenge but a mental one as well. My sister and my dad definitely kept my spirits up and were always encouraging.”
Andersen’s insights are more Mom-centered. “I’ve learned that no matter how busy I may be, there always needs to be time for fitness and wellness. A lot of Moms put their own well-being last on their lists of things to do, but it really should be at the top. There should always be time just for you.”
Post-marathon, the trio plans to continue to run together although they are planning on shorter distances. But, what about the day after the marathon? What will they be doing?
Breault, who is the assistant coach for the cross-country team at Bishop McNamara High School, will be at a meet in Amboy. Littrell, who is an office manager for a Provena Medical Group of physicians, is taking the day off and will take advantage of her daughter’s offer to take care of her all day. Andersen is headed for a massage and a pedicure. All three plan to take a full week off from any type of work-out.
No doubt about it, this group of three is running to victory on Sunday.
* Hal Higdon is one of the founders of the Road Runners Club of America. Born and raised in Chicago, he has completed 111 marathons (four overall victories). He competed in the Olympic Trials eight times and is a four-time world masters champion runner.

Cardinal George Names Rev. William Grogan as Vicar for Health Care

Rev. William Grogan, director of Organizational and Clinical Ethics for Presence Health, has been appointed by Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago, to the Archdiocesan role as Vicar for Health Care. The appointment formalizes work Fr. Grogan was previously doing as the Cardinal’s Delegate for Hospitals and Chair of the Archdiocesan Bioethics Committee.
In this role, Fr. Grogan will represent the Archbishop on all matters related to healthcare. Also, he will continue to act as his chief advisor on ethical issues in hospital ministry and other related fields.
Ordained in 1976, Grogan is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and has ministered in a variety of parish, academic and healthcare assignments.

Diversity Quotes of the Month: September

Diversity Quotes of the Month

September 2011:
National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep 15-Oct 15)
Healthy Aging Month

"I love the diversity of America. I love the plain, normal sense of humor Americans have. It is not wicked, like in some countries. And I also love how new America is." -- Antonio Banderas

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." -- Mark Twain




Learn more about Provena's Commitment to Diversity.

"Spirit of Teens" Mentoring Program a Success at Provena

Last year, "Spirit of Teens" - a mentoring program for high school and college students - was launched at Provena's ministries in the Kankakee area. The program provides internships and opportunities for young adults to assist in various departments throughout Provena St. Mary's Hospital and Provena Life Connections, which includes Provena Adult Day Center, Provena Fortin Villa Learning Center, Provena Heritage Village, Provena Heritage Lodge, and Provena Our Lady of Victory. Story continues after video.



"Spirit of Teens is a wonderful way to develop leadership skills and to earn community service hours," explains Ronda Bond, director of Volunteer Services at Provena St. Mary's Hospital. "The combined efforts of our teens and their professional mentors demonstrate Provena's dedication to our community."

Deborah Stampanato, administrative director at Provena Fortin Villa Learning Center (daycare for children age six weeks to 12 years), has mentored several volunteers. "This program (Spirit of Teens) provides students with the unique opportunity to interact and connect with professionals while they are learning job-related skills that will enhance career choices."

Megan Selvey, a member of Spirit of Teens, echoed Stampanato's observation. "I will definitely take the skills that I have learned and use them in my future opportunities." Selvey interned in the Provena Fortin Villa Learning Center.

Depending on their interests, efforts are made to place students in the areas that align with their career goals - from obstetrics to marketing to pediatrics. For example, Kasi Berry plans to become an OB nurse and interned in the Family Birthing Center at Provena St. Mary's Hospital. She said, "It was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn what my future job as an OB nurse will be like."

One of the many success stories from the program occurred at Provena Our Lady of Victory. Robin Gifford, R.N., W.C.C., N.H.A., administrator, explains. "One of our CNAs (certified nursing assistant) mentored a young student who was studying to become a CNA. After she completed her internship, we offered her a full-time position, which she accepted. Now, we're encouraging her to go back to school to become a nurse. It has been a wonderful experience for everyone."

Debbie Caise, R.N., B.S.N., patient care manager for Outpatient Surgery/Post-Anesthesia Recovery/Special Procedures Center at Provena St. Mary's Hospital, welcomes the young volunteers to her departments. "It is very refreshing to see our world through their eyes. It brings a smile to my face and makes me remember when I was just like them, and doing the least little thing meant so much - like holding a patient's hand or checking a patient's blood pressure."

Nicole Rzyski interned in Outpatient Surgery and said, "I learned a lot that I didn't realize about how Outpatient Surgery and post-op work."

Rachel Fritz agrees. "My internship in the Surgical Recovery Room gave me a lot of experience. All of the nurses were great teachers and mentors."

In addition to hands-on experience, Ashlee Demack's efforts in Outpatient Surgery helped define the direction of her career. "Interning in this unit helped me decide to become a surgical nurse. It was a life-changing experience."

There are many volunteer opportunities beyond the hospital. Kimberly Mead, social events coordinator/volunteer coordinator at Provena Heritage Village, praised the benefits of interaction between the teens and senior residents. "They enjoy getting to know each other. I've heard teen volunteers ask the seniors about 'the good ol' days' and about their hobbies 'back then.' Likewise, I've heard our senior residents ask the teens about their interests and plans for the future. The friendships that have grown between the two generations are priceless."

Rebecca Barney, R.N., BS, GC, administrator, Provena Adult Day Center (care for adults during daytime hours), compliments the joy that the Spirit of Teens volunteers bring to the clients of her ministry as well. "It's great to see the teens enjoy the companionship of our (senior) clients and vice versa. The two generations help each other learn new things."

Alyssa Brack completed her internship at the Provena Adult Day Center and reflected on her time there. "It was a fantastic experience. I already miss going (to Provena Adult Day Center) and helping out."

Bond concludes, "The students who participate in Spirit of Teens are the future of healthcare in our community. It's wonderful to see how much they learn and grow during the time that they are with us."

To learn more about the Provena Kankakee Regional Spirit of Teens program, call Volunteer Services at Provena St. Mary's Hospital at (815) 937-2479, or go to www.provena.org/stmarys. Join Provena St. Mary's Hospital on Facebook at www.facebook.com/provenastmarys.  

Provena Mercy Hosts Third Annual ADHD Camp with Special Guests

It appears to be your ordinary summer camp, fun in the sun, children laughing and enjoying one another's company, special games, recreational activities and even arts and crafts.

But, as you take a closer look, this camp is anything but ordinary. Designed specifically to help those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Provena Mercy Medical Center held its third annual ADHD camp.

A disorder that affects up to 10 percent of school aged children, ADHD can coexist with other learning disorders. This camp was designed to help children and their families live with attention deficit disorders and learning disabilities so they can have fuller and happier lives.

Children from various areas in the western suburbs joined in on the fun by participating in activities matched by the educational guidelines of Illinois that helped improve their self-esteem and social, communication and problem solving skills.

"We want to make sure camp is a positive experience for everyone. At camp, they learn life skills that will ultimately help them at home, with friends and in the classroom while making it fun for them," said Connie Parr, Camp Director.

The majority of the camp was funded by scholarships which included two from the Kane/Kendall Learning Disabilities Association and donations from Provena Medical Center Employees.

Camp goers enjoyed several skill building activities including time with Pet Therapy dogs where they learned how they are trained, walked them along the "Mercy Mile" and of course the chance to pet, hug and play with the dogs. Using their creative side, camp members made recycled notebooks out of cardboard, shoestring and beads and took time out of each day to journal in the peaceful healing garden setting. They made cities out of cardboard boxes, decorated flower pots, and many other activities constructed to teach them social, communication and team building skills to be used throughout life.

On the last day of camp, the camp attendees got a special surprise visit from the Kane County Cougars and Ozzie, the team mascot. Armed with goodie bags for everyone, the Cougars interacted with the children, signed autographs, posed for photos and helped spread excitement and cheer to all who attended.

Open heart surgery changes nurse’s life

As seen in the Aurora Beacon News

Jo Volkening has spent most of her adult life working in health care. But it wasn’t until she heard a few simple words that her life and career changed forever: “You’ll be going in for heart surgery within 6 months.”

After hearing that news, “my knees went weak,” said Volkening, an RN in Provena Mercy Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Department. “It hits you like a ton of bricks. Open heart surgery is about the biggest surgery you’ll ever face.”

Volkening says this life-changing event was the key determinant in her decision to work as a cardiac rehab nurse. Her own experience as a patient in rehabilitation was so powerful, that she felt a calling to help others through this extraordinary process.

Volkening started as a paramedic, then worked as a medical assistant before becoming a nurse. She discovered at age 20 that she had a heart murmur, and later learned of a leaky valve, known in clinical terms as a mitral regurgitation. When a physician told her that her murmur was a “Grade 4,” she was scheduled for surgery to repair the valve.

“I was 49 years old and had no symptoms,” she said. As an avid bicyclist, exercise enthusiast and health care provider, she says, she’s been committed to health her whole life.

And although she trained to be in peak physical condition prior to surgery in order to cope with the physical trauma, “I came out of that surgery feeling like road kill. It takes 100 percent of your stamina,” she said. “I didn’t realize what a significant event open heart surgery was going to be.”

Her time spent as a hospital patient changed the way she practiced nursing.

“There were things that happened to me in the hospital — things the nurses said to me that I used to say to patients. And I thought, ‘I will never say that to a patient again,’” she said. “And there were other things that nurses did for me that were so soothing and meaningful. I said to myself, ‘I will do that for patients from now on.’“

Volkening believes that her experience helps her relate to patients, set them at ease and provides an added level of trust.

“So many times I see patients who are struggling with loss of control,” she said.

With open heart surgery, there is a 40 percent chance of depression. Patients suffer losses, they’re isolated, and can’t drive.

“I tell people I have a scar, too. I’ve been through this,” she said. “I feel so privileged to be with people in this significant event. I work in a place where you can be so intimate with people on a one-to-one basis. There’s no job like it.”

But why choose to work in rehab rather than as an ICU or surgical nurse?

Volkening says that she’s drawn to the positive aspects of rehab, both as a former patient and as a nurse.

“I used to look forward to rehab,” she said. “Every time I went, I saw progress. Every time I went, I knew I was getting better. I was getting out of the house and felt less isolated. I made friends there. We joked, we told our stories, we compared our scars.”

Exercise is a powerful antidepressant, Volkening says.

“When you exercise, your body releases endorphins,” she said. “You feel better. We all left rehab feeling stronger.”

Moreover, cardiac rehab puts patients in a positive environment with people who love and care for the patients, she said.

“The most important determinant of cardiac health is the feeling of being loved and cared for. And that’s the mission here at Provena Mercy,” Volkening said.

What sets Provena Mercy apart, says Volkening, “is that we are committed to making a connection with the people who walk through this door. You’re not a number. People come in kicking and screaming because they don’t want to exercise, and when they walk out, they don’t’ want to leave. They’re so grateful for us helping to make them stronger.”