May 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.

Bronx—A patient’s girlfriend phoned to praise occupational therapist Benito Flores for providing her boyfriend with “excellent care” and “going above and beyond the call of duty to meet his needs.” She added, “I’m very grateful.”

Brooklyn—“I’m writing to express my appreciation for the wonderful care I received from physical therapist Thobi Sibanda, social worker Shoshana Averbach and nurse Nancy Edwards,” a Brooklyn patient noted. “I will be forever grateful for the care I received from these three exceptional providers. They were all supportive, caring and informative and became an essential part of my well-being and recovery. Thobi, who was my physical therapist and case manager, continually challenged me to do more, and with her I found the courage and confidence to try and succeed. Shoshana shared her wonderful resources, insights and personal warmth, and Nancy was the person I first met, who always extended herself with great professionalism, respect and concern. I will always remember them fondly.”

A VNSNY staff member wrote nurse Camille Campbell to thank Camille for taking care of her mother. “Recently my mother came out of surgery and you were assigned to take care of her,” she said. “Seeing that my mother’s surgical wound was draining, you took immediate action, telling us and notifying the surgeon and his office. My mother had another surgery several days later to correct the problem. What you did possibly saved my mother life.”

Manhattan—“The care I received from my VNSNY physical therapists following my total knee replacement was extraordinary,” wrote a Manhattan patient. “I can’t emphasize enough how helpful it was to have daily PT! My recovery progress went very well because of the expert and daily care I received. My regular physical therapist, Linton Peixoto, was expert, caring, and encouraging. When I felt I couldn’t do something (or was afraid to), he communicated with firm but gentle sensitivity that yes, I could—and of course, he was always right! He made me feel that he was rooting for me, and I looked forward to the boost in my morale that his visits always gave me—to say nothing of the noticeable improvement in my condition. The other physical therapists I had were also excellent. I would like to mention in particular Po-Ling Hu and Tove Jacobs. My heartfelt thanks for your help!”

Another Manhattan patient wrote “to say thanks and to recommend that physical therapist Jay Doshi be featured as Employee of the Month.”

A Manhattan patient sent an email noting, “Today, I just finalized a magnificent therapy treatment by physical therapist Golda Ibale. She is comprehensive and excellent. I have admired her gentle yet tough therapy sessions, which have helped me tremendously as I recovered from a knee replacement. She is always positive and encouraging. I am most grateful for her excellent assistance.”

A patient who received care from VNSNY following surgery penned a note complimenting his care team. “For several weeks, I was cared for by nurse Tina Wong,” he wrote. “She was wonderful. She did a great job with my wound care and taking care of me overall. When Tina was off, I was visited by occupational therapist Rhonda Kram, who also couldn’t have been better. They were both professional, caring, and did excellent work, and I’m thankful for them.”

Nassau—The granddaughter of a Nassau patient wrote the following email in gratitude for the remarkable care provided by home health aide Janell Bailey: “My grandmother was in the care of Janelle for over a year and a half. There aren’t enough words to say what this young lady went through. I bet she never expected the family to always be around because the patient’s only child (my mom) was passing away upstairs from cancer, and I bet she never expected to have to help a grieving 95-year-old woman who was losing her only child. I bet she never expected that four months later the dad would die too—the only son-in-law her patient ever had—and to see a family she has come to know and care for herself grieve two losses—and grieve those losses herself. But she did—with compassion! When Grandma was resting, she offered friendship to the children. When Grandma cried, she offered a shoulder. When the house was filled with family for funerals, she offered hospitality and helped according to her ability, while never compromising my grandmother’s care. She cared for my grandmother down to filing her nails, creaming her hands and feet smoother than a salon. She bathed her, and cared for her body as well as her mind. She did it all with a smile…meals, desserts, company, friendship, keeping the house nice, and all the while being a beautiful young lady who was trusted from 500 miles away. I just can’t say enough about Janelle Bailey—we love her! She has been a light, a friend… a partner in care!”

Queens— A Queens patient sent a letter of thanks for the care she received from coordinator of physical therapy David Friend, physical therapy assistant Mario Santiago, nurse Nancy Girlando, and occupational therapist Denise Cameron. “David and Mario got me back to my normal way of living,” she wrote, “while Denise helped restore my ability to manage my personal care and cooking, and Nancy was very caring and encouraging.”

A Queens patient called to compliment nurse Chee Phang. “I’m very happy with her care,” she said. “I’m a retired teacher who is older, and I need more time to understand new information. Chee is extremely thorough and patient when explaining things to me.”

Another Queens patient phoned with praise for physical therapist Manolita Mendoza. “Thank you for sending such a wonderful lady,” she said. “Manolita was so patient and so good to me. I enjoyed the sessions and my therapy could not have been better. She gave me the confidence I needed. I will miss her.”

Yet another Queens patient was so pleased with the care provided by nurse Nina Miro and physical therapist Emil Bergado that he wrote the lyrics to a song about them and is now working on the music. “I’ll mail you the CD as soon as it’s done!” he promised.

Staten Island—“Just a quick note to say what a wonderful crew you have,” wrote the wife of a Staten Island patient, referring to physical therapist Ibijoke “Betty” Ayetiwa, occupational therapist Tom Murphy and nurse Vicenta “Betsy” Clemente. “They are caring for my husband with much kindness. Thank you for all you do for him!”