October 2017 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—A patient recovering from a hip replacement procedure sent an email praising the work of physical therapist Thobile Sibanada. “I have been in the care of Thobi for the past three weeks,” the patient wrote. “She has been an exceptionally caring, competent and skilled physical therapist who has accelerated my recuperation.”

Manhattan—“I am writing to thank the VNSNY team who treated my 96-year-old father after he came home from the hospital in early January of this year,” noted the daughter of a Manhattan patient. “Leslie Cohen, RN, Ling-Wai Fung, MSW, Levi Estrera, PT, and Dina Klein, OT, are an exceptional crew who treated my dad with professionalism and gave him expert care. My dad was impressed by their warmth and kindness. I cannot speak highly enough of this team and I hope they know how much we appreciate their effective care and attentiveness.”

Another Manhattan patient penned a letter thanking “the absolutely wonderful” nurses Kei Cheung “Keith” Chow and Diane Dalessandro for the care they provided changing her dressings as she recovered from surgery. “Keith and Diane were cheerful, competent and brightened my day,” she wrote. “Thankfully my incision healed, but I am actually a little sorry that I won’t be seeing them again!”

“I want to call attention to physical therapist Wendy Klansky and the wonderful care she has given me,” wrote another patient. “She has been a life saver! When she arrived I was feeling very discouraged, but I felt immediately that I could trust what she said. From the very beginning, she has motivated and inspired me to keep going and expect more from myself. She deserves to be recognized for her exceptional skill and outstanding work.”

A geriatric social worker with a care management company in Manhattan sent an email to say “how pleased we are with the assistance and expertise provided this past month” by VNSNY to a client who had recently experienced a stroke. In particular, she cited the “incredible skills” of physical therapist Tina Glick. “Our client came home with his entire left side seriously compromised, wheelchair bound and unable to navigate at all,” she wrote. “After only one month, he has graduated to a quad cane and is now able to walk for a short period. He could not have made this incredible advancement without the skills of Ms. Glick. Please express our thanks to her for her enormous help in moving him toward the independence he so greatly desires.”

Nassau—A patient who had recently undergone surgery phoned to express his appreciation and gratitude to physical therapist Dorothea Karen Whalen for providing “excellent services,” adding, “thank you for all that you do.”

Another Nassau patient posted a message on VNSNY’s Facebook page complimenting nurse Lenore Bilger. “I had spinal fusion surgery three weeks ago and VNSNY sent Lenore to see me twice a week,” he reported. “She’s very prompt and very professional. She cleans my wounds, answers my questions and is compassionate and courteous. Thank you, Lenore!”

Queens—A patient’s daughter called to praise nurse Marie Crosswell. “Marie is just fantastic,” the daughter said. “My mother is diagnosed with dementia and is very anxious. Marie took the time to calm and re-orient her, and by the end of the visit, my mother was smiling. I can’t thank her enough for making my mother so comfortable.”

The niece of a Queens patient emailed to state that she was “very happy” with physical therapist Sheri Zaientz.

A former patient phoned to thank nurse Isagani “Gani” Quintos for helping her wound to heal. “With Gani’s encouragement, I realized I could still have a life in spite of my disease,” she said.

Another Queens patient phoned to express her “deepest admiration and appreciation” to nurse Chee Phang for “helping me tremendously with my ostomy.” The patient added, “Chee’s smile brightens my day.”