March 2020 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.
Bronx—A Bronx patient wrote to express her thanks for “the wonderful and compassionate care I received from several nurses and physical therapists after my knee surgery in mid-December”—noting, “it was so smoothly arranged by VNSNY that the nurse and PT came to my home almost immediately and were incredibly kind and helpful.” The patient added, “I particularly want to thank my main physical therapist, Andrea Schloss. She was absolutely fantastic in giving me exercises and really working with me for a long time each session to get me to do as much as I could. She was also very kind and compassionate. I truly value her help in my recovery, and am pleased to write this to thank Andrea for her professional and personal caring.”
A former client of VNSNY’s Bronx Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) recently sent this inspiring letter: “Since graduating the NFP, I went back to school and had the pleasure of obtaining my associates degree in hospitality management. I now reside in Florida where I’ve purchased a home and am working as a marketing and sales manager. I married my husband and have a second child who is seven years old. My oldest is now 12, an honor roll student, and co-captain of her school’s cheerleading team. I’ve often thought about the NFP program and how it assisted in making me the woman and mother I am today. As I type, I have tears in my eyes—not tears of sadness, but tears of joy. I have been reminded of the journey I once took to becoming a mother, to learning about the importance of providing for a better future for my child. That all started with NFP. I am forever grateful to my nurse and those behind the program. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
Patricia Johnson, Branch Director
Manhattan—VNSNY Clinical Support Manager Jeri Goodman recently wrote to “share a wonderful VNSNY Home Care success story that really illustrates interdisciplinary collaboration at work in a very complex case.” The case involved a team from Manhattan Branch 6 who were servicing a 30-year-old bedbound woman with spina bifida. “When the case was opened, the patient was sleeping on a mattress on the floor, which made it impossible to use a Hoyer lift to get the patient out of the bed, let alone out of the apartment, and also made it very difficult to provide care,” Jeri noted. “Due to her young age, the patient was very resistant to using a hospital bed at home. So working with Naomi Bibbins, Manager of Volunteer Services, social worker Lisa Bohmart applied to the Volunteer Council Benefit Fund for funding for an adjustable bedframe and mattress for the patient. To get the bed in place and the patient transferred to the new bed took tremendous coordination on the part of the team, which included Lisa, nurses Daisi Gonzaga and Martine Benoit, physical therapist Ki Chong and occupational therapist Alissa Bonjuklian, with significant management support from Clinical Field Manager Mikelange Herve and Branch Director Patricia Johnson. The team also coordinated to arrange for a visiting MD and assist with long-term care planning. Most significantly, this coordination was done with such a spirit of teamwork, with everyone involved going above and beyond to help improve the patient’s quality of life.”
Ashwini Nagore, Physical Therapist
A VNSNY Home Care patient in Manhattan recently sent the following letter praising the care she received: “I am recovering from a total hip replacement. Upon coming home from Rusk Rehabilitation, I was assigned PT Ashwini Nagole and OT Dina Klein. I want to compliment both of them for their services. They are excellent, caring therapists. They reassured me, put me very much at ease, and pushed me to my fullest extent. I could not ask for anything more. VNSNY, keep up the good work!”
“Recently I had my aortic valve replaced, wrote another patient. “Physical therapy assistant Farouk Khan worked with me on my rehab. Farouk was wonderful! In a short time, he got me up and moving like I never thought I would be able to do. He was so pleasant and encouraging. I looked forward to my time with him. He gave me confidence, and I attribute my accomplishments in such a short time to him. Please give him my thanks.”
A daughter of two Manhattan residents receiving care from Partners in Care wrote, “On behalf of my parents, I’m writing to thank you. Our team, from the aides to the remarkable supervisor Jennifer Luciano and amazing nurse Kamila Dobrzynski, have helped our family in extraordinary ways. Please thank them and know how grateful we are.”
Nassau—A Nassau patient phoned to say, “Physical therapist Monika Glowacka was simply excellent and she did a wonderful job with me!”
Another Nassau patient wrote that the care provided by PT Kelly Ryan and nurse Maria Paul “exceeded my wildest expectations!” She noted that their skills were “superb” and her rehab sessions were “dynamite,” adding, “thanks for the empowerment!”
Nassau nurse Celia Clement-Skeeling and physical therapist Dorothea Whalen were the subject of another phone call from a grateful patient. “They did a wonderful job and were very professional and knowledgeable,” the patient said. “I can’t thank them enough.”
A VNSNY Home Care patient sent in a Gifts of Gratitude donation in honor of his physical therapist, Patricia Vieira. His gift included a note stating: “Patty, I’m just about 100% — both knees. It all started with your PT. Thanks for everything!”
Mitchell Rabinowitz, Occupational Therapist
Queens—A former long-time staff member who was recently a VNSNY patient wrote the following email: “In February, I underwent surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital. Two days later, I was home in pain. With the warmest touch, I was introduced to my VNSNY team: physical therapist Gerardo Balid, occupational therapist Mitchell Rabinowitz, occupational therapy assistant Julia Sterling, nurse Dmitri Abayev, nurse Kusmatie Sakhai, and social worker Elza Moskowitz. The nurse, Dmitri, greeted me, explained my plan of care, called my surgeon and received instructions, took my vitals, and checked my wounds. He then informed me that my PT, OT and SW were in place and to expect a call. I told him I had already received their calls! I didn’t mention I was an employee until my second visit with each staff because I wanted to see if that Gold Standard of care still existed. I smiled, because it surpassed Gold to me—it is now Diamond Standard. Like clockwork each staff visited, applying the TLC, encouraging me, supporting me, listening when I cried, and comforting me. All of which I needed during my time of need, especially when I thought I couldn’t go on from my surgical pain and limitations. Never once was I rushed. They made me feel like a person, not a patient followed by a number. As my services ended, each staff referred me to the appropriate external services for my next level of returning to my daily lifestyle. Over the past few weeks I have gotten stronger mentally and physically because of the great VNSNY team that cared for me. Thank you for taking the time to allow me to praise these AWESOME staff members!”
Another Queens patient sent this note, along with a donation to VNSNY: “It is with great pleasure that I can tell you what I think about VNSNY. They came to my house and established a program to get me back on my feet. They were so nice, kind and effective that it made me feel I was in the best care. That group of talented, skilled and friendly people taught me and changed my attitude like no one would imagine. They are miracle workers! I will be forever grateful I was in contact with such wonderful people.”
Staten Island—The daughter of a VNSNY Hospice patient made a Gifts of Gratitude donation honoring hospice nurse Maria Chauca. In her accompanying card, she wrote: “Maria is a wonderful and compassionate nurse. She stayed Wednesday and Thursday nights, which were the first two nights of Mom’s home hospice care. Maria attend to all of Mom’s needs throughout these first two nights, allowing me to spend Mom’s remaining two nights and one day with her in her home, comforting her. Mom died two days later in the afternoon. Both Maria and the nurse who completed Mom’s final paperwork are of the highest caliber—not only warm in spirit, but also performing at their best. Thank you.”
