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March 29, 2024

October 2020 Patient Letters

October 21, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to prove the resilience and dedication of our entire VNSNY staff in the face of adversity. 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 that reflect the outstanding work and courage our VNSNY staff demonstrates each and every day.

“So Much Love, Understanding, and Supreme Patience… Courteous, Professional, and Responsible”

Brooklyn— The children of a Brooklyn patient wrote two separate letters to thank home health aides Yolanda Colon and Bibi Sakaanat for providing care to their mother in her final days. “Despite the sadness and mourning we are experiencing upon losing our mother, we would like to take this moment to convey to you what an outstanding home health aide Yolanda is,” read one letter. “Yolanda treated her as she would treat her own mother. She gave her so much love, understanding, and had supreme patience with her as well— for some time now we’ve considered Yolanda a member of our extended family.” In the other letter, the children praised Bibi for being “courteous, professional, and responsible” while providing care to their mother for many years. “We are very fond of her— when our mother had her medical appointments, and we knew Bibi was the person who was going to accompany her, we felt very safe and satisfied— we knew that our mom was in good hands.” In closing, they took the time to thank Partners in Care for bringing both Yolanda and Bibi into their family’s lives.

“Great Work!”

Manhattan— “We have to thank you for the great work!” wrote the daughter of a Manhattan patient in a message to nurse Leslie Cohen, who provided care for her father.

“The Dose of Medication I Needed!”

“Before I was sent home from the hospital to recover from lower back surgery, I sat down with a care coordinator to discuss my discharge plans and requested that the Visiting Nurse Service of New York come to my home and take care of me,” wrote another Manhattan patient. “I really didn’t know exactly what they would do or how I would be treated, until I received a call from nurse Millie Moy-Thompson. She arrived the next day and I was surprised— I expected a stern nurse, but met someone relaxed, calm and casual. Millie was just what I needed at this time, presenting herself professionally and with empathy as she listened to my concerns. She was knowledgeable and courteous, not to mention funny. Millie was the dose of medication I needed! Thank you for what you’ve done for me and continue to do for others.” The patient also thanked “all the great physical therapists at VNSNY” who aided in his recovery. “Through your hard work, I know I will be a much better person both physically and mentally in time,” he noted.” Thank you, VNSNY, for your hard work and dedication to serve, especially during these times.”

“Terrific… Extremely Knowledgeable…Very Positive… Great Sense of Humor”

“I had a knee replacement last August and then had my hip replaced ten weeks later,” a Manhattan patient said in a recent letter. “I then got a stress fracture in the hip several months after the replacement, and due to COVID-19 I couldn’t get the surgery until this September; yet I ended up having nine great visits by three home physical therapists—and of course, they were from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York! Coordinator of physical therapy services Justin Chilesky was terrific and extremely knowledgeable. He gave me some really good tips about how to cut down on my inflammation. Justin then turned me over to physical therapy assistant Vanessa Alland for seven visits. She really got me walking well within two visits. She has a great sense of humor and I really can’t say enough about her. She really kept me very positive and truly helped me to a quick recovery.” The patient also went on to thank physical therapist instructor Sonia Rapaport for helping him through additional orthopedic issues.

“Thank You All for Your Attention and Support”

“No one could have had a more diligent team than I did!” noted another Manhattan patient, commending the work of physical therapist John Casey. “Thank you all for your attention and support. I am certainly feeling better than I did this time two weeks ago, with greater mobility and much less pain than I could have imagined.”

“Really Came Through for Us”

“I’m writing to thank you for all of your kindness and assistance with my mother in her final weeks,” wrote the daughter of a Manhattan Partners in Care client in an email to Melissa Martinez, administrative supervisor for Partners in Care’s Private Care Services. “I know we all got thrown a few curveballs in terms of timing, but you really came through for us with the most capable and lovely women to assist her. Home health aides Mahalia Bennett, Lucienne Joseph and Denise Little were all so kind to her—I will never forget them. My sincerest thanks to the ladies and to yourself!”

“Like a Friend!”

”I am currently recovering from an emergency surgery on my small intestine that could have taken my life, and for the past three weeks I was blessed by a home health aide who works for your agency, Marcia Thompson,” wrote another Partners in Care client. “Marcia was wonderful—she was more like a friend than an aide doing her job! I hate to lose her, but I know she must go and help others in need of her services, as she helped me. Thank you!”

“A Remarkable Teacher and Friend”

Nassau— The daughter of a Nassau patient wrote a heartfelt email praising the work of speech language pathologist Sherri Hughes, who had been making home visits to her mother since July. “My mother is 88 years old and lives alone,” wrote the daughter. “Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, my mother was able to handle most of life’s tasks reasonably well—yet during these past few months, both isolation and natural aging led to my mother experiencing a significant decline in her ability to express her thoughts and words. Now, with Sherri’s help, my mother is on a much better path and is able to process and express herself through the tools Sherri has taught her.” The daughter also offered praise for Sherri’s excellent communication skills, and for providing constant updates on her mother’s progress all while remaining “bright, energetic, and creative” in working with her. “Sherri knows how to reach her with the utmost respect while dealing with the tough and difficult realities of life,” the daughter added. “She is a true asset to your organization and has been a remarkable teacher and friend to my mother.”

“Very Caring and Empathetic”

Queens— “I’d like to express my appreciation and gratitude to VNSNY on behalf of myself and my brother for sending first-class nurse Patricia Clemente to help him with his medical and mental health needs,” wrote the brother of a Queens patient. “He was thrilled with her help and service! She understood his medical and mental health issues and was a very caring and empathetic individual, someone he desperately needs. We would both like to see her continue supporting him with additional visits. Thank you again for sending Patricia to him.”

“Best Skilled, Compassionate and Kind Nurse!”

A Queens patient left a short, yet sweet compliment on Facebook for nurse Marie Bernadel, calling her the “best skilled, compassionate and kind nurse!”

“Professional, Knowledgeable and a Credit to VNSNY!”

Staten Island— “I would like to applaud nurse Michael Guglielmelli for being really great with his transitional care, his communication with us on patients, and for having a good understanding and interest,” wrote a wound, ostomy and continence nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Outpatient Urology Clinic. “My nurses told me they liked talking with him—he is professional, knowledgeable and a credit to VNSNY! We wanted his managers to know we appreciate him.” The nurse went on to add that Michael would make an excellent wound, ostomy and continence nurse himself!

“It Was Just What We Needed”

In an email written to President and CEO Marki Flannery, the daughter of a Staten Island patient thanked nurse Elaine Gillard and nurse Sherry-Ann Caesar for the hospice care provided to her mother in her final days. “Mom passed away peacefully on October 10th, shortly after her 101st birthday. My sister and I greatly appreciated the support and care for her that she got from the hospice staff, especially the lead nurses, Elaine and Sherry-Ann. They also provided critically important support for the live-in aide who had been caring for her for several years. It was just what we needed in the last several months of her very long life.”

“Top Notch!”

Westchester— The daughter of a Westchester patient left a four-star review on Google for nurse Carline Charles. “The care provided by Carline was top notch!” she wrote.

 

To read other Patient Letters and CHOICE Commendations from previous months, click here.