June/July 2018 Patient Letters

The following are excerpts from a few of the many recent letters, phone calls, and emails that we’ve received from grateful patients and family members. Together, they reflect the outstanding work done each and every day by VNSNY’s entire frontline staff.

Brooklyn—The parent of a child who received care from VNSNY Community Mental Health Services wrote a letter praising the work of VNSNY’s Home-Based Crisis Intervention Service. “Your program was key in supporting us in the time period where we were looking for new doctors in a more structured supportive setting,” she wrote. “Your program, which treated my son at our home, allowed me to continue my employment with minimal disruption, and gave me and my son the tools to think we could get through this. Thank you for being there and for this program. All New Yorkers benefit from these services.”

Manhattan—The sister of a Manhattan hospice patient wrote a letter commending the work of VNSNY Hospice and Palliative Care. “I’d like to especially thank nurses Yana Guzman, Naurda Cameron and Marcia Dubois for the love that was shown,” she noted. “Everyone from VNSNY was wonderful, and my sister could feel the warmth and love. You are all special people.”

The power of attorney for a VNSNY patient wrote to thank Partners in Care home health aide Carla Burke, noting that her performance has been “remarkable” over the two years she has provided care for the patient. “I am very pleased by how Ms. Burke has taken very good care of her,” he added.

“I am writing to let you know how much I appreciate the help of Partners in Care home health aide Fatou Sowe this past week,” wrote a Manhattan patient who recently underwent surgery. “She was always pleasant, took initiative, and worked diligently and without complaint. She always looked out for my welfare, and helped me a great deal during this time.” The patient added, “thank you for enabling Fatou to work with me. I recommend her highly, and I feel any client with whom she works will be very pleased with her, as I was.”

A patient who underwent hip replacement surgery penned thanks for the care provided by physical therapist Al Macuto. “He was an amazing professional in every way,” she wrote. “Al knew exactly what I needed and helped me feel stronger, more comfortable and confident. He is an exceptional human being.” The patient also thanked the additional therapists and nurses who assisted in her recovery. “I highly recommend and support the services of VNSNY,” she concluded. “You have made my life better.”

A patient suffering from an ongoing hip problem wrote to praise the care provided by physical therapist Levi Estrera, noting that Levi is “kind and knowledgeable” and was a “great help” in improving his strength and mobility.

“My husband returned home after spending five weeks in the hospital and two weeks in rehab,” wrote the wife of another Manhattan patient. “We’ve been married 68 years and have never been apart this long. As happy as I was to have him coming home, I was very worried. We were home from the hospital not even an hour when the doorbell rang; I opened the door and there stood nurse Toman Pang.” She praised Toman for his consideration and reassuring words, and for explaining in detail how he would assist her husband. “Tom is still with us but I know sooner or later we will have to say goodbye. My eyes are beginning to tear. I know he has to go onto others. God bless this wonderful man and God bless every visiting nurse and keep them safe. Thank you all!”

Partners in Care home health aide Pearline Gardner “has been so excellent in fostering my recovery after an incapacitating fall that I had to write,” penned another patient. “When Pearline first started five weeks ago, I could barely walk indoors with a walker. Now, with her warm encouragement, I’ve started walking with a cane in the street—far exceeding my own expectations. From the beginning she helped lift my mood and confidence.” The patient praised Pearline for assisting with everything from cooking and showering to helping her set up a new phone. “She was eager to be helpful and quickly learned my routines; again and again she was there, pleasantly supportive while also respectful of my needs. Meeting her was one happy outcome of my accident and I feel fortunate to have had this chance to meet her. VNSNY and Partners in Care are also fortunate to have Pearline on staff.”

Nassau—A Nassau patient’s husband called to compliment nurse Elizabeth Childress for “making a difference with sick patients.” He also noted that she is “wonderful, competent, and represents VNSNY very well.”

Another patient wrote a letter thanking nurse Rosemarie Heutz and physical therapist Dorothea Whalen for demonstrating “care, professionalism, and courtesy,” describing them both as “extremely attentive” and having approached her “with great patience and concern.”

The wife of a patient called to offer praise for nurse Anabell Gulgar, adding that she looks forward to her visits and that Anabell is “calm, professional, and an asset to VNSNY.”

Queens—A Queens resident wrote a letter complimenting the work of nurse Anzhela Maksumova. “Anzhela is professional, competent, pleasant and resourceful. She is understanding of my needs and my limitations, and always acts in an accommodating way,” said the patient. In a separate letter, she added that occupational therapist Felicia Saavedra and physical therapist Manolita Mendoza were also “very nice, professional and helpful.”

Another patient posted a message on VNSNY’s Facebook page thanking nurses Liew-Eng Jim and Florita Santos. “Having Crohn’s disease, I certainly have encountered many nurses in my lifetime, particularly in the last 18 months,” the patient’s note read. “I would have never gotten through without their excellent care.”

“I cannot overstate the remarkable work physical therapist Sheri Zaientz did with me on this phase of recovery,” wrote one Queens patient who had undergone total knee replacement surgery. “The advancement in regaining my mobility is nothing short of extraordinary, owed in no small part to her professional and thorough approach to my case. She is a true credit to your group and should be considered as a prime model of what a physical therapist should do and be, from her expertise, communication and dedication to her outstanding care and concern for her patients.”

One of VNSNY’s own clinical utilization managers, Roberta Walker, sent an email commending the work of social worker Karen Dockett for her outreach to a patient’s mother, who is also the patient’s family caregiver. The patient, a woman in her late fifties, has dementia due to Huntington’s disease. Recognizing that the stress of caregiving was affecting the psychological health of the mother, Karen arranged for her to be referred to VNSNY’s PEARLS program, in which psychologists make home visits to treat depression and provide emotional support. Roberta expressed her gratitude to Karen, and added that she wanted to “applaud the professionalism, advocacy, and concern exemplified by her.”

Westchester—Finally, a Westchester patient called to convey his thanks for the care he received from physical therapist Cliff Scott and nurse Patricia Kilroy, noting their patience despite his “bad” behavior. He was especially appreciative of Patricia catching a potential complication with his surgical site, allowing him to avoid the need for further treatment.