Samaritan Palliative Medical Partners Renews Hope
Posted: May 8, 2013 Filed under: In the News, Inspiration, Patient Stories | Tags: palliative care, Samaritan Hospice, south jersey hospice 1 Comment »Life can change in an instant…
Samaritan’s Palliative Medical Partners Offers Renewed Hope After Devastating Transition
Randy and Janet Bodoff lived a full, satisfying life. Professionally, they owned a well-respected Bala Cynwyd marketing/public relations firm before realizing Janet’s life-long dream to open a Cape May art gallery. Their social life was busy as well. “We had a full circle of friends, subscriptions to Philadelphia theatres…,” said Randy.
Then, in an instant, life as they knew it changed dramatically.
Dr. Goldfine (left) with Randy and Janet Bodoff in their Ventnor, NJ home
In 1999, Randy began to trip and fall. The neurosurgeon he consulted had troubling news: The bones of Randy’s spinal column were too narrow and were compressing his spine. Without surgery, said the specialist, Randy could wind up paralyzed. Before he could undergo the procedure, however, he contracted the flu. During a wracking two-hour coughing spell, Randy pitched forward so violently that he severely damaged his C6 vertebra causing paralysis to 80 percent of his spine. He was 41 years old.
In that moment, Randy went from “being the go-to guy, the guy who did for everyone else to the person who had to ask for everything beyond the reach of my arm.” Through rehabilitation and sheer grit, he started regain the use of his left leg and was getting around with a walker when another setback derailed his progress.
Eighteen months ago, his compromised immune system became allergic to his own bacteria. He contracted double pneumonia and actually died for 70 seconds. Once again, he became bedbound — for 128 days — and totally dependent. “I was in a very dark place,” said Randy tearfully, “I thought I was going to die.” And that’s when a seriously ill friend told him and Janet about Dr. Stephen Goldfine, Samaritan’s Chief Medical Officer, who heads up its Palliative Medical Partners specialty practice.
Samaritan Palliative Medical Partners is a 3-year-old service focused on relieving pain and other symptoms of serious illness or injury. Its focus is on helping patients achieve their care and treatment goals – even while receiving life-prolonging treatments – so they can live each day with a better quality of life.
At that first visit, admitted Dr. Goldfine, “I felt Randy was ready to give up. He was at a bend in the road where he could choose to fight to live on or give up and die. I wanted to offer him some assurance that I could bring him back some quality of life.”
Randy agreed, “I didn’t know if he could help me, but in my heart I knew he was going to try and that made the difference…He was the first person to not just hear me, but to really listen.”
Dr. Goldfine’s first order of business was to find the right mix of medicines to help relieve Randy’s excruciating pain from his spine, his damaged nerves and continual muscle spasms. “Have you ever hit your elbow’s funny bone?” asked Randy. “Well imagine that sharp pain all over your body 24 hours a day. Right now, as my meds are wearing off, my calves and feet feel like they are on fire.” Dr. Goldfine also prescribed the right anti-depressant to enhance Randy’s outlook, ability to function and quality of life.
Both Randy and Dr. Goldfine point out, however, that the consultations involve far more than prescription writing. “He wanted to know what was going on physically, emotionally, spiritually. What was I feeling?” To ease Randy and Janet’s social isolation, for example, Dr. Goldfine suggested that they invite friends into their Ventnor home to play cards since it was so hard to get Randy out, down his steps and into a car.
Though Randy, now 58, still has some “down days,” things are definitely better than before he consulted Palliative Medical Partners. Dr. Goldfine and his staff have been there with him and his family through it all.
“He’s family,” said an emotional Randy. “He took me from a place where I thought it was over and assured me it wasn’t. We didn’t know at the beginning exactly which way to go, but we knew we were going to get there together.”
Because of you, Samaritan Comforts Always
Palliative Medicine consultations are not fully covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurers. Your gift to Samaritan’s annual appeal not only supports our hospice care but also offers comfort and relief to people like Randy – palliative patients who are coping with the pain and symptoms of serious illness or injury but who are not ready for hospice care. Because of you, our program is available to all who need it regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay for this life-enhancing comfort care and support.
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Returning from Uganda — Moved by Love
Posted: April 29, 2013 Filed under: In the News, Inspiration | Tags: Kawempe Home Care, Mission, Samaritan Hospice, south jersey hospice, uganda 2 Comments »By Susan Cedrone, LCSW
Kawempe Home Care….Moved by Love.
Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice…Moved by Love
This morning I got up to the wonderful article written by Sally Friedman in the Courier Post. I looked at the pictures and the story and I was filled with Love for my co-workers who shared the experience with me and for our co-workers at Kawempe Home Care. The patients and the children…oh the children. Truly the most beautiful people on the planet. So easy to Love.
Then I went to church this morning, Sunday morning. My church….Sacred Heart Church in Camden, New Jersey, located in the poorest city in the United States. The most violent, too! 67 murders in 2012. Over the years, 25 people have been murdered in the three block radius around the church. We visited those spots on Good Friday on our Via Crucis. Jesus murdered again and again!
The gospel lesson at all Catholic Churches this morning: Jesus’s new commandment: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” I experienced that love yesterday at our monthly Food Sharing program. The poor women of our Sacred Heart neighborhood come for food at the end of the month. Poor women. Mostly African-American women. Caring for their own children and other people’s children in need of help. So many of them asked me about my trip to Uganda. So excited that I went to Africa. They told me that they prayed for me while I was gone. They wanted to see my pictures. I told them I would definitely invite them to a program about my experiences in Uganda. Again, moved by Love.
This morning, Fr. Michael Doyle, the Pastor of Sacred Heart, spoke about Love. How we all love “love” when it is easy, kind, friendly, warm, and gentle. But, he said: “That kind of love does not stretch us.” The love that stretches us beyond our selves is usually hard, difficult, unconditional, harsh and not easy. He quoted Fyodor Dostoyevsky who said: “Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.”
I experienced both in Uganda. I experienced the love that stretches one’s own understanding of love, life, and what it means to care for one another in very harsh circumstances. How people there extend themselves to each other day and night. They are poor in possessions but rich in love and a sense of community. Yet, I experienced the comforting love as well.
Every morning since I have been back, I put on my Uganda bracelet, purple band with the word, UGANDA, stitched on it. I then put on the bracelet of Mary, the Mother of God, given to me by one of the community volunteers, Maria Assumpta. I reached out to her because of her name. My grandmother’s name. My most favorite religious feast…the Assumption of Mary. We became quick friends. Greeting each other each morning. Riding together on the bus. Eating lunch and dinner together. She was always by my side. Her life not easy. Raising two of her own children and four others….all with HIV. Her care of her patients, we witnessed on our home visits. Her strength is incredible. Her sense of humor….hilarious! She loves me and I love her. I think of her every day. I am motivated by her every day.
Maria Assumpta moved by Love.
Susan Mary moved by Love.
Since we have been back, I have contacted the two Churches in Camden that blessed us before we left to ask them to have us back for a presentation about what we learned and what our goals are going forward. A presentation at Sacred Heart Church is scheduled for October 20, 2013…World Mission Sunday.
I am working with Antioch Baptist Church for a date that works for them.
All of us….moved by Love.
-SUSAN
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If you’re interested in learning about how you can get involved please contact Joanne Rosen at (856) 552-3254 or email African.Partnership@SamaritanHealthcareNJ.org.
Next Steps: Returning from Uganda
Posted: April 23, 2013 Filed under: In the News, Staff Members | Tags: hospice, Kawempe Home Care, Samaritan Hospice, south jersey hospice, uganda Leave a comment »by Peggy Morgan, Samaritan Volunteer
Since we returned from our amazing visit to our partner, Kawempe Home Care (KHC) in Uganda, we have set our sights on some new goals and renewed our commitment to earlier projects.
To date, Beads for Education has been our primary effort at raising money for and awareness of Kawempe Home Care and the needs of their patient population. Their approach to patient care is extremely holistic and includes sustainable projects that allow their patients to earn money which helps the patients to live a healthier lifestyle and providing education for the patients’ children. During our visit to Uganda we met some of the 25 children who are going to school because of the funds we have sent them in the last 2 years and some of us individually arranged to sponsor 10 additional children. The children are all so eager to attend school that it’s heartbreaking to know that there are still over 50 children on KHC’s waiting list for sponsorship. We now feel an urgent need to raise even more money to sponsor additional children and to continue funding for children whom we are already supporting. We learned that it costs $200 a year to sponsor a child in primary school and $300 a year for secondary school. That includes uniforms, school supplies and usually at least one meal. The staff at KHC cites statistics that children who are educated are less likely to contract HIV; if they are already HIV-positive, they are more likely to stay healthy and not develop complications such as TB and cancer.
We talked with the staff at KHC and asked them what their top priorities are. They felt that a vehicle would be most helpful to them. The Toyota Land Cruiser that they have is used to transport staff members when they visit patients in their homes and to bring to the clinic patients who cannot get there using local transportation. Often, when the vehicle is being used (or out of commission), the staff must use local taxis and motor scooters (boda bodas) to make their rounds. Alternate transportation is both expensive and inefficient. We are looking at ways to raise the estimated $20,000 (used vehicle) to $30,000 (new vehicle) to allow them to purchase the vehicle. In planning stages are another bowling party, a walk/run for Uganda, dining-out evenings at local restaurants and helping KHC to apply for grants. Instead of applying for the grants on KHC’s behalf, we hope to coach Henrieta and Gerever from the KHC staff in the writing of the grant requests. The goal is that they will not only be able to secure the funds they need, but they will also learn more about doing the research and preparing the grant requests in the future.
We continue to exchange emails with various members of the KHC team to get information from them and assure them of our continued and renewed commitment.
During our visit we talked w/Dr Sam Guma about visiting the US next year and we hope that he and Sarah and Gerever will all be able to visit us in June, 2014. Dr Holler has thoughts on clinical rotations for them at our various units and home visits. We also hope that we can do a major campaign at that time that would raise the awareness of Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, our partnership w/KHC and allow us to have a fundraiser that would accrue to KHC’s benefit.
Peggy
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If you’re interested in learning about how you can get involved please contact Joanne Rosen at (856) 552-3254 or email African.Partnership@SamaritanHealthcareNJ.org.
Next Steps: Returning from Mission to Uganda
Posted: April 22, 2013 Filed under: In the News, Staff Members | Tags: Kawempe Home Care, Mission, Samaritan Hospice, south jersey hospice, uganda Leave a comment »From Sherri Brake, LSW
“Here we are back from Uganda just over 3 weeks and I still am processing the people, the images, the experiences and the love that we shared during our time there. Every day I am continually amazed that I find something else to be grateful for – daily I cry when I think of the poverty and devastation that we witness and the joy and love that we shared.
I tell my family, friends and anyone who will listen how blessed we are living in this country with so much and how we take so much for granted. I try to stress to others the daily struggles of mothers and children with no running water, no food on the table, no electricity or the constant threats of illness and death. It is all beyond our comprehension, but as we enlighten those who we touch everyday and share the belief that we can all help each other, we will make the connection that Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice set out to do from the beginning of our partnership.
May you carry the love and peace of those less fortunate and help to make a difference in their lives.
Sponsor a child, host a bead party, join a committee, spread the word of our partnership at your place of worship or allow us to do that for you – just step up and help!” – Sherri
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If you’re interested in learning about how you can get involved please contact Joanne Rosen at (856) 552-3254 or email African.Partnership@SamaritanHealthcareNJ.org.
In Photos: Samaritan’s Mission To Uganda
Posted: April 17, 2013 Filed under: In the News, Staff Members, Volunteering | Tags: Kawempe Home Care, Mission, palliative care, Samaritan, south jersey hospice, uganda Leave a comment »Making Home Visits and Reaching Out to The Community
Posted: March 21, 2013 Filed under: In the News | Tags: hospice, inspiration, Kawempe Home Care, Mission, Samaritan Hospice, uganda Leave a comment »Our Samaritan Travel Team spend Day 4 visiting Kawempe Home Care patients and families and the Outreach Center. It was an intimate, emotional and eye-opening day for our team. The photos say it all and were taken by Sue Rogoff, RN.
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We must give a special thanks to Sue! She’s been connecting us to our Samaritan Travel Team’s experience via email and Facebook. After long days of education and visits, she’s spending a couple hours uploading photos from the day. Thank you for making us feel like we’ve been at your side for this journey! Thank you for helping us share your experiences with the South Jersey community!
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Journal Entry
By Sue Rogoff, RN
Another amazing day with KHC. All of traveled with Dr Sam, nurse Herbert and community volunteer Maria Assumpta for two home visits. The care and compassion these pt’s receive is first rate and under the the worst surroundings you couldn’t imagine.
Then on to the Kawempe Outreach Center where we were greeted by Joyce , a patient, community volunteer and head of outreach center. Patients are screened, counseled, fed and meds given if needed. We were served a traditional Ugandan meal Joyce and her staff. Staffed also by the same staff as KHC who open this one day a week.
Journal Entry
By Peggy Morgan, Samaritan Volunteer
Today was extra amazing – we went to Kawempe’s outreach clinic which is about 30 minutes further out. They only see patients (pts) there once a week and there were about 160 people waiting to to see the clinicians, who are nurses. They do the HIV testing on site; TB tests are taken back to the main clinic for processing.
When we arrived the pts who were waiting in plastic chairs under an awning all stood up and applauded – humbling.
Earlier in the day we did two home visits w/one of the community volunteers, a nurse and Dr Sam. The first pt was a 39 y/o woman w/heart failure – our doc and nurses participated in the clinical eval and Dr Sam decided to bring her to the clinic tomorrow to drain fluid from her lungs. At the same location there was a woman who cares for children during the day – 5 little kids running around in the mud wearing scarcely more than rags and two tiny babies. Three more children come to her after school until their parents return. For each child she gets 1,000 shillings/day which is about 40 cents.
The second pt was a 31 y/o man w/Aids and lots of complications – I didn’t actually follow all that was wrong w/him. Our doc and nurses seemed to think that he had a week or two at most. Dr Sam was a little more optimistic.
Anyway, it’s all very interesting, sobering and wearing.
A Patient’s Home
Inside a home
Discussing a patient’s case before a visit
Dr. Guma with a patient
Clinician counting medications
A look at the town
Dr. Guma — our tour guide, host, partner and friend
Shoes come off before entering a patient’s home in Uganda. With the mud and water — how do you get your shoes back on gracefully?
A beautiful Kawempe woman poses in the window of her home.
Dr. Holler consulting
Dr. Holler
Kawempe Home Care Clinician
Beads for Education; Visiting Patients and Lake Victoria
Posted: March 19, 2013 Filed under: In the News | Tags: beads for education, hospice, Kawempe Home Care, Samaritan Hospice, south jersey hospice, uganda 1 Comment »Journal Entry by
Peggy Morgan, Samaritan Volunteer
This is HARD work – really!
Today we left the hotel at about 8 am – this was the day for education presentations, Sally [Cezo, Volunteer Services Manager] met w/the beaders (*see below) and I spent time w/ Henrietta who does volunteer/intern programs, “development” (such as it is) and is a REALLY lovely person. We tossed around a lot of ideas and when we talked about getting stories in the newspapers, she explained that if you want to get something in their papers, you must pay for it. So much for press releases!
It was an afternoon of exploration so we set off for Jinja which is where the Nile River begins to flow out of Lake Victoria heading for the Mediterrean. For me it was a lot of driving and our timing was such that after lunch we didn’t have time to do a boat trip or rafting or anything else. We just arrived back at the hotel and it’s 9 PM! Weary puppies and we start again w/breakfast at 6:30 a.m. Anyone who thinks we’re here on a lark will be surprised.
Tomorrow we go to the outreach clinic which is about an hour drive from KHC – and from there we will visit patients in their homes; not sure what to expect of that.
A True-life Wonder Story
Today we met one of the beaders at KHC – when we were leaving to go to Jinja she got on the bus w/us. I wasn’t sure what that was about until we drove down a very rutted, winding road and ended up at her house. Story goes that in 2006 she was begging on the streets and was either HIV-positive or AIDS afflicted. She got into treatment at Kawempe (I don’t know the details of how that happened); became a beader,now is one of their most productive beaders and has made enough money to build not one, but two houses. She lives in one and some of her children live in the other. I’m sure that everyone has lots of pix – it’s a true-life wonder story and makes me happy to think that we sold some of her beads and helped her achieve what she has. Isn’t that amazing? — Peggy
Journal Entry by
Sue Rogoff, RN
Just got back to hotel after a longer, but very different day. In the morning we again started with yoga circle and the song Here We Are Joined Together. It was such a positive way to start the day.
Today was our CME day for the clinical staff. Amy presented on massage therapy which the KHC staff was very interested in. Susan and Sherri spoke on both compassion fatigue and mindfulness and Joanne and I spoke on wound care and prevention. It was a lively group and the staff really appreciated our input.
After tea we headed out with some KHC for a ride to Jinga where the source of the Nile starts at Lake Victoria. Along the way we went to a home of a KHC patient who is one of their amazing success stories. She proudly showed off her home she was able to buy for herself from beading. She is the original beader (see Peggy’s story above).
The ride was filled with sights, sounds, changing landscapes and many people. We had a late lunch overlooking Lake Victoria and then got to see and put our feet in the Nile. Much fun was had with the KHC staff and we actually did get to see monkeys in the tree and the road. But Vince scared them away trying to get pics. (Not , I think it was the noisy bus!). Tomorrow we’ll be doing home visits with team. — SUE
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Beads for Education
The group of “beaders” at Kawempe Home Care
Beads for Education is an income generating program for KHC clients who are in need of an income so that they can provide for their family. Having money to pay for their children’s school fees is very important our clients as they want to give their children the opportunity to have a brighter future.
Manager of Volunteer Services Sally Cezo, Volunteer Peggy Morgan and Executive Assistant Joan Grzyb have sold over $20,000 of these unique necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Samaritan staff, volunteers and their friends have enjoyed purchasing and wearing these baubles for a good cause. If you look closely at the Uganda photos, you’ll see many of the ladies wearing them!
Sally even create a small, fun bead boutique in her office. In the near future we hope to make these beads available to more people in the community! For now, you can find a selection at Samaritan Thrift, 33 Haddon Ave. Westmont, NJ.
The Bead Boutique created in Sally Cezo’s office
What They’re Made From
The bead makers collect colorful recycled paper usually in the form of old calendars, cereal boxes, pamphlets or magazines then skilfully cut the paper into a series of small triangular shapes.
These shapes are tightly rolled and glued to form a unique bead shape and color before being strung and coated with a minimum of four coats of quality varnish. The result is a unique piece of jewelry.
