OUR PATIENTS. THEIR STORIES. SPRING/SUMMER 2019

A publication of BLESSING HEALTH SYSTEM

BLESSING

PAGE 7 How laser treatments are helping people in pain

PAGE 8 Orthopedic team gets an area policeman back on the beat

PAGE 10 Meet our new doctors

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The lifesaving work of the Blessing Heart &

Vascular team PAGE 4

With all our heart

Happy anniversaryFifteen years ago, the Blessing Heart & Vascular Center performed its first cardiac catheterization procedure and open-heart surgery.

Six years ago, Blessing Physician Services cardiologist Dr. John Hammock brought treatments for abnormal heart rhythms, known as electrophysiology, to the region.

Over those years, thousands of patients and their families have been saved the time, expense and inconvenience of having to leave the area for life-saving heart care.

During the last year, more than 10,000 people sought heart care at Blessing. In this issue of Personal Blessing, you will read the story of a man whose life was saved, against the odds.

Pain relief in new waysPain medications can have side effects and unintended complications. As an alternative, Blessing inpatients can now get a two-minute hand, back or foot massage from a certified massage therapist to relieve stress and tension.

Pain and tension go hand in hand. By helping a patient reduce their tension, we help them better manage their pain.

Massage therapy is part of a new menu of services called “integrative therapies” available to Blessing Hospital inpatients, including:

• Aromatherapy, during which the patient inhales different fragrances to address different physical and psychological feelings

• Relaxation techniques, including guided imagery through Internet-based apps, music therapy and pet therapy

• Distraction techniques, including adult coloring pages and games such as crossword, Sudoku and word search

It’s Blessing callingWe have added a new approach to the way we follow up with our patients after discharge. The making of “follow-up phone calls” has been centralized. One department, staffed by registered nurses, is dedicated to calling every inpatient and Emergency Center patient between 24 and 48 hours after they leave Blessing Hospital.

The purpose of the call is to check in with our patient to make sure they are feeling well and have everything they need, including prescribed medications and follow-up appointments. If not, the nurses will do what they can to assist the patient.

As an example, during a recent call, a Blessing Discharge Call Center nurse learned the patient had not filled their prescription because they could not afford the brand-name version of the drug prescribed. The nurse called the pharmacy, found out there was a less expensive generic form of the medication and called the patient’s doctor who approved use of the generic drug. The patient filled their prescription.

At Blessing, we take our mission seriously—to improve the health of the people in our communities. Thank you for allowing us to do that. ■

By Maureen Kahn, RN, MHA, MSN, President/Chief Executive Officer, Blessing Health System and Blessing Hospital

Celebrating life-changing care

Published by the Marketing, Communications & Community Relations staff of Blessing

Hospital, Personal Blessing provides general information on health-related topics. It is not

intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, which should always be

obtained from your physician.

The Blessing Health SystemMission Statement:

To improve the health of our communities

The Blessing Health System Vision Statement:

We will be the region’s health care leader.

For more information, contact:Blessing Health System

Broadway at 11thPO Box 7005

Quincy, IL 62305-7005(217) 223-8400, ext. 4192

blessinghealth.org

Personal Blessing is sent to residents of the Blessing Health System service area using a

purchased mailing list. If you no longer wish to receive Personal Blessing, please email your

request, name and complete address to steve.felde@blessinghealthsystem.org, or call him

at (217) 223-8400, ext. 4191.

Discrimination is against the law. Blessing Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and state laws. Blessing does not discriminate against, exclude or treat people differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex,

sexual orientation or gender identity. For more information, or to view Blessing’s

Patient Rights & Responsibilities statement, go to blessinghealth.org.

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MEET BLESSING HEALTH SYSTEM’S COMPREHENSIVE HEART CARE TEAM

blessinghealth.org/heart

John Hammock, MD, FACC, FHRS

Invasive CardiologyElectrophysiology

Eliot Nissenbaum, DO, FACC, FCCP

Invasive Cardiology

Sara Baig, MDCardiology

John Arnold, MDCardiothoracic

Surgery

Steven Krause, DO, MHA, FACOI

Interventional Cardiology

Jeffrey Cook, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Interventional Cardiology

Rachana Adhikari, MS, NP, CVNP-BC

Cardiology

Irving Schwartz, MD, FACC

Invasive Cardiology

Shanna Dierker, APRN-BC

Cardiology

Dana Valencia, MDCardiology

Amy Bates, APRN-AGACNPCardiothoracic

Surgery

Andrea Leone, APRN-FNP

CardiothoracicSurgery

Cardiovascular Unit | Cardiac Catheterization Lab | Electrophysiology Lab | Non-Invasive Cardiology

HEART HEALTH

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

blessinghealth.org/hearthealth is the place to go for heart

health information in an instant. From signs of a heart attack

in women, to fitness tips and cardio-friendly recipes, make

blessinghealth.org/hearthealth part of your plan for better heart

health.

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John Craig has been hospitalized twice in his life; once when he was born and once when he almost died.

A lot took place in the 64 years in between.

“When it comes to medical issues, what a person doesn’t know can hurt them,” said Eliot Nissenbaum, DO, FACC, FCCP, Blessing Physician Services board-certified cardiologist and John’s doctor for the past year and a half.

As occurs in so many other people, unmonitored heart disease risk factors had caused cholesterol plaque to be deposited into John’s arteries over the years. His risk factors included 40 years as a smoker.

“He didn’t feel it until one day a plaque ruptured,” continued Dr. Nissenbaum. “That’s why it is so important to know and manage your risk factors for heart disease—including hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, diet, weight and stress.”

The day heart disease caught up with John was August 29, 2017, around 10:30 pm.

“I went to bed and noticed I was kind of short of breath,” he recalled. “I thought, ‘What’s this about?’ Then, my left arm had numbness and dull pain. Then, I broke out in a cold sweat. Then I thought, ‘Okay, this isn’t right.’ I told Donna (John’s wife) to get up and get dressed, we were going to the emergency room.”

“I applaud him for not just writing it off,” Donna said. “I am thankful he did not just roll back over and go to sleep.”

Residents of Memphis, Missouri, John and Donna arrived in the parking lot of Scotland County Hospital in a matter of minutes.

“I stepped out of the truck and collapsed like a ton of bricks,” John stated.

Dr. Nissenbaum says John experienced a heart attack known as the “widow maker,” caused by a blockage in the heart’s main artery.

“Because of the size of his heart attack, only an estimated 2 or 3 people out of 10 survive,” said the doctor.

After getting what he and Donna described as “excellent care” in the Scotland County emergency room, the Craigs had a choice. The Air Evac helicopter was on the way to take John to one of two locations in the region that could provide the care he needed.

“I told them to take me to Blessing,” John stated. “I had heard good

things about Blessing and knew this is where I needed to be. It was the smartest thing I ever said.”

Over the past year and a half John put his life in the hands of a team that included Dr. Nissenbaum and two other members of the Blessing Heart & Vascular Center staff; John Arnold, MD, open heart surgeon and John Hammock, MD, electrocardiologist.

At Blessing, Dr. Arnold performed triple bypass surgery. Before joining Blessing, Dr. Arnold was a Cleveland Clinic heart surgeon.

“His case was more complicated than most,” observed Dr. Arnold. “It was complicated by significant, ongoing disease.”

The heart attack John Craig survived kills as many as 8 out of 10 people

John Craig

COVER STORY: BLESSING HEART & VASCULAR CENTER

IT WAS THE SMARTEST THING I EVER SAID

—

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Through Dr. Arnold’s skill and the care of the Blessing Cardiovascular Unit, John survived the widow maker.

“Dr. Arnold didn’t quit. He kept his eye on everything,” John stated. “And the nursing staff—things could have gone either way at any time and everyone was on the ball. I cannot tell you how much I think of them all.”

“The Blessing Cardiovascular Unit is phenomenal,” Donna added. “We are lucky to have it.”

John was not out of the woods. The damage his heart sustained from the heart attack left it extremely weak. John’s ejection fraction, the measurement of the heart’s strength each time it contracts – was as low as 20 percent. A normal ejection fraction is 55-65 percent.

John and Donna returned home under the care of Dr. Nissenbaum, who monitored and adjusted his medications. The next two steps in his care were to have a defibrillator implanted by Dr. Hammock to shock his weakened heart and save his life if he were to experience a serious arrhythmia (heart rhythm problem), and for a new member to join his care team—Krissy Siegfried, RN, supervisor of Scotland County Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit.

Krissy guided John through exercises and counseled him on ways to modify his risk factors. With the help of his heart care team, John has strengthened his heart to 35 percent over the past year.

“He has been a pleasure to watch,” said Krissy. “When he first came to Cardiac Rehab, I remember him looking at other patients and saying to me he hoped to be close someday to doing what they were doing. Through his perseverance, determination and support of his wife, he has been successful.”

John continues to do cardiac rehabilitation weekly and credits the Blessing and Scotland County Hospital heart care team for giving him the chance to recover.

“They’ve given me my life back and the opportunity to live it pretty normally,” he said.

Scotland County Hospital and Blessing have partnered on heart health care since 2009. Dr. Nissenbaum, a Blessing Physician Services employee, has a clinic at Scotland County Hospital. Krissy says having quick access to the doctor is invaluable to her.

“With John’s care, I was constantly going to see Dr. Nissenbaum,” she said. “I believe that immediate access played a role in John’s recovery.”

John and Donna are grateful for the doctor’s commitment to providing convenient access to cardiac care for patients in rural areas, and for the working relationship between the Blessing Health System and Scotland County Hospital.

“He really cares,” John said of Dr. Nissenbaum. “If I have a problem, he considers it his problem and does not quit until he has an answer for it.”

“Even though there are many miles between Scotland County Hospital and Blessing, there is a cohesiveness between the two,” said Donna. “It has been pretty seamless.”

“It’s a big deal for us who live around here,” John exclaimed.

For more information on Blessing’s heart care, go to blessinghealth.org/heart. ■

“I applaud him for not just writing it off. I am thankful he did not just roll back

over and go to sleep.”

Donna and John Craig meet with Dr. Nissenbaum in his Scotland County Hospital clinic

IT WAS THE SMARTEST THING I EVER SAID

Donna Craig

John Craig says his heart care team gave him back his life

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COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT

The people and organizations of the Quincy region are known for their generosity and compassion. When they see a need, they respond — through the Good News of Christmas campaign; the annual Salvation Army red kettle drive; support of the United Way and its agencies; or helping a neighbor in need after a fire, flood or devastating medical diagnosis. Blessing is proud to be part of this giving tradition.

For Blessing, the giving tradition has its roots in 1875 with the hospital’s founding by a group of concerned citizens known as the Charitable Aid and Giving Society. The giving continued during the 1930s, when Blessing Hospital received support from the Community Chest – now known as the United Way.

Since then, the Hospital has thrived and earned a place among those who give back to the community.

How Blessing gives backFederal, state and local governments

allow non-profit organizations like Blessing to not pay tax on property used to fulfill its mission. Instead, those dollars must be used for “community benefit.” During the last fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2017 through Sept. 30, 2018), Blessing Hospital invested nearly $63 million in community benefit needs, including the areas highlighted at the right.

Blessing’s community benefit investments extend beyond the balance sheet. We invest in relationships with

other organizations to help them achieve their missions and improve the health and quality of life for all.

Improving the health of our communities — together

“At a time when many community hospitals have closed or narrowed the scope of their psychiatric inpatient capacity, Blessing has continued to show a commitment to making inpatient services available in our area,” said Mark Schmitz, LCSW, Executive Director, Transitions of Western Illinois.

“Chaddock appreciates the chance to partner with Blessing in exploring innovative ways to improve access to behavioral health services in our community,” said Debbie Reed, President/Chief Executive Officer, Chaddock.

“Blessing’s community-based mission has assisted many agencies, including the Health Department, in achieving goals that may otherwise be out of reach,” said Jerrod Welch, Administrator, Adams County Health Department.

See a breakdown of all community benefit investments for the past year at blessinghealth.org/communitybenefit

Blessing Hospital’s latest community benefit

investment is$63 million

including:

$42 millionshortfall between cost

of providing care to more than 17,000 Medicare patients and

payment for that care

$10.2 millionin care provided to patients

who had no ability to pay

$6.6 millionfor support of health

professionals education, including the

SIU Quincy Family Medicine Residency program and

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health

Sciences

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BLESSING CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Eating oatmeal is good for most people. Putting some fresh fruit on top of the oatmeal boosts the nutritional benefit of the meal.

That’s the situation with Deep Tissue Laser Therapy, available at Performance Spine and Sports Center, the practice of Blessing Physician Services chiropractors, Drs. Wes Creech and Erik Nothold. It’s like the fruit on the oatmeal.

“It’s another tool we have in our bag to get people better faster,” said Dr. Nothold.

HOW IT WORKSDeep Tissue Laser Therapy is used with other chiropractic treatments and exercises. It generates a photochemical response, a reaction that takes place by absorption of energy in the form of light. The chemical reaction occurs in the body’s cells, allowing them to more rapidly produce energy and speed the healing process.

“It helps address inflammation and pain,” said Dr. Nothold. “It feels like a little heating pad, providing a deep heat.”

A treatment takes between two and eight minutes, and patients often feel better immediately.

Dr. Nothold says Deep Tissue Laser Therapy can be used “from head to toe” on most patients. It cannot be used on patients with open wounds or those receiving chemotherapy.

A TOTAL TURNAROUNDPam Shepherd is a Blessing Health System employee who dislocated her left knee as a high school student. Over the years she would experience periods of stiffness and soreness in the knee. Over-the-counter

remedies would take care of the flare-ups for years to come.

Then, in 2017, Pam welcomed a granddaughter to the family and noticed that getting on the floor to play with her granddaughter brought her knee pain to a new level. She called the pain excruciating.

“I could hardly put any pressure on it or walk comfortably. I was avoiding all normal activity because of the pain,”

Pam recalled.

“It would not work itself out like it had in the past. I was doing stretches but it was not working. It just hurt so badly.”

Coworkers recommended Performance Spine and Sports Center to Pam. She had her first appointment in August and is amazed by the effects of chiropractic treatment and exercise accompanied by Deep

Tissue Laser Therapy.

“I am back to full use of my knee. I am walking on the treadmill, using a rowing machine and stationary bike, and walking in my neighborhood when the weather cooperates,” the 60-year-old exclaimed.

“I am just amazed at the improvement and the strength I feel in my knee. I used to be afraid of falling because the knee felt so unstable. It is a total turnaround.”

For more information on Blessing’s chiropractic care, go to blessinghealth.org/chiropractic. ■

The blessings of a pain-free knee

Photos above: Pam Shepherd says deep tissue laser therapy contributed to a total turnaround in her knee pain. Dr. Erik Nothold and the deep tissue therapy laser.

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BLESSING ORTHOPEDIC SERVICES

Andrew Abbott remembers one other time he felt the same searing pain he experienced on a beautiful April evening in 2018. It’s when he was training to become a Quincy police officer and was learning about the use of the electroshock weapon, the Taser.“It was kind of like getting tasered,” Andrew recalled with a wince.

But this time Andrew was in a different uniform. On this day he was in his softball uniform for the first game of the season.

“I told my buddy I was going to play hard but not get hurt. I was not going to slide,” he stated.

Famous last words.

With the game tied at 6 in the bottom of the 6th inning, Andrew’s competitive juices were boiling as he launched a shot. With a vision of a double in his head, Andrew went into second base with a slide.

“I felt a painful pop. I knew something wasn’t right. I was rolling around in pain,” he said.

Diagnosis: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear in the right knee. The ACL is a ligament in the middle of the knee that gives it stability, especially during cutting and pivoting movements that are part of sports.

On the recommendation of a Blessing Hospital Emergency Center nurse who cared for him the night of the injury,

Andrew went to see Adam Derhake, MD, orthopedic surgeon, Quincy Medical Group/Blessing Hospital Medical Staff.

“I wanted to stay local and I heard that Derhake is a guru with knees and had worked with the Miami Heat,” Andrew stated.

Dr. Derhake completed a fellowship with the head team physician of the NBA’s Miami Heat.

“Andrew is a Quincy officer. He obviously had a very physically demanding job, one you cannot do with any sort of disability or impairment,” recalled Dr. Derhake. “It was clear from the beginning his priority and concern was to get back to being a police officer.”

As with other patients in Andrew’s situation, Dr. Derhake had him complete two weeks of physical therapy prior to surgery, to strengthen the injured knee as much as possible to better perform during the rehabilitation that would follow surgery.

It worked, maybe too well.

“I told him I was feeling good and asked him if I could start running again,” Andrew said of a conversation with Dr. Derhake during a post-surgical follow-up visit. “He said no, let’s stick to the game plan.”

“Pushing the boundaries in cases like these is a blessing and a curse,” Dr. Derhake stated. “You want to have patients that are motivated to get back into sports or their other activities.”

“Often times it is my job to try and encourage them and reassure them they are going to meet all of their goals, but at the

Surgery gets cop back on the beat without missing a beat

Adam Derhake, MD

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same time, they must do that in a responsible way that is not going to jeopardize their recovery,” he concluded.

“I was starting to overdo it and my knee began to hurt,” an impatient Andrew admitted. “I knew I needed to listen to the doctor.”

Andrew met the goal he and Dr. Derhake set. Six months after that fateful slide into second base, Andrew was back behind the wheel of his Quincy police car and participating in sports.

“I have no regrets staying local,” Andrew stated. He had sought orthopedic care out of town before. He was glad he learned of Dr. Derhake. “When you’ve got someone as good right here in Quincy, there is no reason to leave town.”

“What made Andrew’s case unique for me is the opportunity to be able

to put a police officer back on the street. That went beyond what I did for Andrew. It goes to how can we as a group help a city and community move forward and stay healthy and do the things they are passionate about,” said Dr. Derhake.

Andrew thanks the Quincy Police Department for helping him continue to work in a different capacity during his recovery; and Dr. Derhake and physical therapist Megan Brown of Advance Physical Therapy, for getting him back on the beat without missing a beat and back in the game.

“I am thinking about asking Dr. Derhake to meet me on the golf course this summer,” Andrew said. “I don’t want him to beat me, though.”

Andrew’s competitive spirit is healed, too.

For more information on orthopedic care, go to blessinghealth.org/orthopedic. ■

Editor’s note: Andrew Abbott has a relative who works for Blessing Health System.

“I have no regrets

staying local.”

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PROVIDER PROFILES

Welcome Blessing’s new doctorsShanawar Alam, MD, has joined the Blessing Physician Services Department of Behavioral Health.

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Alam earned her medical degree from Thomas

Jefferson School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and completed residency at the University of California San Francisco and Austin State Hospital.

Jeffrey Larson, MD, has joined the Blessing Physician Services Department of Urology.

Dr. Larson earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. He completed an internship

and residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis.

Taofik Nasrat, MD, has joined the Blessing Physician Services Department of Neurology.

Dr. Nasrat earned his medical degree from Tripoli University School of Medicine, Tripoli, Libya. He completed a neurology

residency and fellowship at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Michigan.

M. Ishaqe Memon, MD, has joined the Blessing Physician Services Department of Medical Oncology.

Dr. Memon is certified by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology and the American

Board of Internal Medicine.

He earned his medical degree from Sindh Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan, and completed an internal medicine internship at Yale University, and a residency in hematology and oncology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Annette Oetken, DO, has joined the Blessing Physician Services Hamilton Warsaw Clinic in Hancock County, Illinois.

Certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians, Dr. Oetken earned her medical degree from Des Moines University

– College of Osteopathic Medicine.

She completed an internship and residency at University Community Hospital – Carrollwood in Tampa, Florida.

Tina Schuster, DO, has joined the Blessing Physician Services Department of Urology.

Dr. Schuster earned her medical degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.

She completed an internship at Henry Ford Health System/Horizons Health System in Michigan, a residency at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital Regional Medical Center in Michigan, and a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. ■

During the past 12 months, Blessing

Health System has also added 20

nurse practitioners and other licensed

providers to its care team across

the health system. To learn more

about all Blessing Health System

providers, including office locations

and phone numbers, visit the award-

winning blessinghealth.org, and click

“Doctors” on the menu bar.

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Welcome Blessing’s new doctorsEMPLOYEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Tonya Aeschliman, electroencephalographic (EEG) technologist, Respiratory Services Department, has earned national board-registered EEG technologist

status. EEG is an electroencephalogram, a test that measures and records the electrical activity of brain waves.

Mindy Entrup, MPT, physical therapist, Blessing Home Care, has earned certification as a Tai Chi instructor. She plans to incorporate Tai Chi in her

treatment plan for all patients to enhance balance, coordination, and mindfulness with movement to reduce the risk of falling.

Tai Chi is a form of exercise, involving a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner, accompanied by deep breathing.

Debra Himpsl, RN, clinical manager, Blessing Home Care, successfully completed the Certificate for OASIS Specialist Clinical exam and Sue E. Silman, quality coordinator, Blessing Home Care, met the requirements to retain her Certificate for OASIS Specialist – Clinical (COS-C) designation. OASIS is the Outcome and Assessment

Information Set, a quality measure of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services required for use in home health agencies around the country to measure outcomes and processes and determine reimbursement for home health patients.

Cassie King, RN, BSN, CCM, and Amy St. Clair, RN, CCM, Care Coordination Department, have each earned Certified Case Manager (CCM) status from the national Commission for Case Manager Certification. A CCM is a health professional who has the expertise, knowledge, and professional experience to direct patients

with serious or complex medical conditions, and/or catastrophic injuries and illnesses to the healthcare services they need.

Stacey Linder, registered radiologic technologist and clinical coordinator, Blessing Hospital School of Radiologic Technology, has earned a Master of Business

Administration degree from Ottawa University, Overland Park, Kansas. The emphasis of her degree was in leadership development.

Laura Wietholder, BSN, RN, community outreach coordinator, has earned certified health coach status from the

American Council on Exercise, demonstrating her proficiency in development and implementation of weight-management programs for individuals who have been cleared by their physician to take part in a comprehensive weight-management program. ■

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Since the last Personal Blessing magazine, six more Blessing Hospital nurses have joined the ranks of international DAISY award winner based on nominations received.

Ben Thompson, RN, was nominated for his care of a GI patient: “Thanks to Ben, I had a very good experience. He is truly extraordinary.”

The nomination received for Amber Curry, RN, stated: “She stood in my room and asked me questions, gave me advice and told me she knew other people who had struggled…it gave me some sort of hope.”

Melanie Stinnett, RN, received the award based on a nomination from a mother of a two-year-old for whom Melanie cared: “She listened carefully to every concern I had and she quickly won my trust.”

Gwen Happel, RN, was nominated by the family of a man to whom she provided end-of-life care: “…there was Gwen…telling me the words I desperately needed to hear: ‘You are doing great; you are a wonderful daughter.’”

Molly Schulte, RN, was also nominated by the family of a patient to whom she provided end-of-life care: “She was very compassionate with the entire family and helped ease us through our own journey.”

Amanda Mixer, RN, Surgical Services/Recovery, was nominated by a patient for whom she cared after a miscarriage: “Amanda made me feel like I had someone who cared about my feelings, more than just the physical ones, but the emotional and mental ones too,” the woman stated. “When it was time to say goodbye to this sweet angel, I had to hug her. I felt a true human connection with her, a bond that I will hold with me for the rest of my life. Someone who was there for me during the worst time of my life. She was more than a nurse. She was a true angel. I will never forget her.” ■

CONGRATULATIONS DAISY AWARD WINNERS!

Recognizing care that goes above and beyond

Ben Thompson, RN Amber Curry, RN Melanie Stinnett, RN Gwen Happel, RN Molly Schulte, RN Amanda Mixer, RN

Jeffrey Larson, MD Tina Schuster, DO Dawn McKenzie, APRN-ANP

MEET BLESSING’S

UROLOGY TEAM

blessingdoctors.com

Led by fellowship-trained physicians, Blessing's Urology program stands out in the region because of our specialized care utilizing the latest technology. We also partner with specialties across Blessing Health System to treat certain kinds of urologic cancers and other conditions.

For appointments in Quincy, call 217.214.3460. For appointments in Hannibal, call 573.231.3222.

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GIVING SOCIETY

Donor Recognition LevelsJuly 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018

Visionaries ($100,000 - $999,999)Anonymous Donor

Associates ($10,000 - $49,999)HIS Ranch, Inc. Marion Gardner Jackson Charitable Trust* Sarah and Friends

Partners ($1,000 - $9,999)Anonymous Donor Dan and Tanna Barry Dr. Tim and Mrs. Tanya Beth Zig Brown Dr. Michael and Mrs. Sharon Bukstein Dr. Malcolm P. Findlater Dennis C. Grimm John H. Hagler Olivia Heinecke Robert and Phyllis Hofmeister Jerry and Mary Jackson Edith Kroencke Elliot and Shannon Kuida Peggy S. Liebig* Lori MacDonald Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Cynthia Meyer Dr. Richard and Mrs. Cheryl O’Halloran Duane and Debra Phillips Dick and Wanda Slight Lawrence and Marcia Swearingen Shawn Valter Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Barry Western High School Girls Volleyball Cell Tech Electronics, Inc. Central High School Girls Volleyball Community Foundation of the Quincy Area Craig Industries, Inc. Dark River Derby Coalition Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors, Inc. Highland Football Mom’s Club HOMEBANK Legacy Martial Arts, LLC Mississippi Belle Distributing Company, Inc. Papa John’s Pizza Peters Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Pittsfield High School Lady Saukees Volleyball QHS Volleyball Booster Club QND Volleyball Booster Club Quincy Fire Department Quincy University Lady Hawks Basketball Refreshment Services Pepsi Reliable Termite and Pest Control, Inc. Southeastern High School Girls Volleyball Sparrow Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Tri-Township Fire Protection District Ursa Christian Church West Hancock Titans Girls Volleyball (Warsaw High School)

Friends ($100 - $999)Anonymous DonorDr. Sandra Ahlum and Dr. Lent JohnsonSilvia Alderman

Mr. Mohamed and Dr. Zakiah AliSteve and Susan AllenAllen AncellJoye AndersonWilliam AndersonDr. Terry and Mrs. Patricia ArnoldMr. Steve and Dr. Kate BarteauDr. Chaka K. BatleyAmelia BaugherPat BeairdEmmet BennettMichelle BickhausBrad and Bonnie BillingsJohn and Paulette BozarthSteven and Vickie BradshawJanet A. BrandmillEarl Bricker and Rob CaneLaTonya BrockLloyd and Ruth BrownCaren S. BusenAlyssa CampbellErica L. CarmeanAngela CarterRobert G. CarterWilliam and Velma ChristisonDan and Jeri ConboyPhil and Bonnie ConoverLuke and Ashley ConradWilliam and Linda ConroyTim and Susan CostiganLisa CrockerDr. Merle F. CrosslandNorma E. CrosslandKatherine DanielsMary E. DavisCarlene (Corky) Davis Duane and Gena DewaldDr. Jay and Mrs. Karen DieckhoffKimberly and Travis DinkhellerRick DowPaul M. Duesterhaus

Jerry EdisonClara EhrhartRichard and Laura EhrhartMerlin and Lauri EisenbergMary A. EspeyCarla FiergeD.D. and Janie FischerDawn FleerMike and Cindy FosterMark and Kim FreiburgRich FreseJim and Barbara GayDavid GeorgeBarbara Gates GerdesPatrick and Sue Ann GervelerGeoff GilbertKathryn GoltzDouglas and Gail GoodmanSteven and Jeannie GoodmanJeffrey GraggDolores E. GrahamMildred S. GrahamCarl and Joy GrayRobin A. GregerGene and Kathleen GriffithJoanna GrohMike and Molly GuithuesCarla W. GuthrieNorman and Sally HaerrSabrina HaglerTracy HagmanDr. William and Mrs. Carrie HanshawMike and Lynda HappelRobert and Gloria HarmonyDiana HarrisAnn Elise HarveyPat and Linda HaughRon and Cindy HechlerRodney HeimerSara L. HeineckeKenny and Bonnie HemingGreg and Julie HendricksKellie R. HenkeMarilyn Hermsmeier

Joanne HibbelerGerald and Virginia HolzgrafeConnie A. HoytMichael and Cheri HulsenSusan JacksonDr. Merle and Mrs. Darlene JacobsJames and Rosalie JacobsDr. Michael and Mrs. Joan JenneweinKim and Warren JohnsonDr. Lee and Mrs. Dolor JohnsonTressa JohnstonDave and Ginny KaterRon and Jill KellyTroy and Angie KempEarl L. KempeMarvin and Darlene KerberJohn and Linda KestnerNick and Karen KeysJonathan and Robin KiesAlan and Susan KillGary and Dottie KindhartPaul and Debora KinscherffDale and Jacque KirlinRobert KlimasScott and Tina KoontzTim and Wendy KoontzDale and Donna KoontzJeff and Becky KroegerDr. Jerry and Mrs. Lois KruseMarilyn KupplerPhilip LadnerKelli LangstonAmy LefringhouseDr. Ryan and Mrs. Hilary LeifheitJan LeimbachHeather LeindeckerAbby J. ListerJudy LitchfieldDavid and Sue LockhartAlicia LoganShayna Lowry

Programs, services and new technology featured in this issue of Personal Blessing are made possible in part by donations to Blessing Hospital and The Blessing Foundation. The Giving Society is an honor roll of those showing love through charitable giving of $100 and above. Gifts below were received for the following services: 6400 Pediatrics, Acute Dialysis – 3400, Big Hearts TAPP, Blessed Beginnings, Blessing Hospice (Hancock County), Blessing Hospice (Pike County), Blessing Hospice & Palliative Care, Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing (B-RCN) General Endowment, B-RCN Other Grants Fund, B-RCN Unrestricted, Breast Services, Cancer Center & Radiation Services, Diabetes Patient Care Fund, Heart & Vascular Center, Home Care, Hospice Fundraising & Special Programs, Hospice House Building Fund, Hospice/Palliative Care HOPE Project, Illini Community Hospital (ICH) Growing Our Care Capital Campaign, Illini Oncology Department, Illini Unrestricted Fund, Merrick Family Medical Crisis Fund, Nurse Education Fund, Patient Care Addition Fund, Psych Services, Quincy Hospitality House, Radiology, School of Radiologic Technology Students, Blessing Foundation Unrestricted, and Volunteer Services.

We thank the following donors for their support of quality health care. For information on giving opportunities through The Blessing Foundation, go to blessinghealth.org/blessingfoundation or call (217) 223-8400, ext. 4800.

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Rollie and Jolene LowryCharles F. LubbertLaura LucchettiDoris MalacarneLora MarcollaSam and Lesa MarkertSara A. MartinRobert and Christi MayLaura MaysJoyce McCarthyMerle and Reva McGlassonPatty McGlothlinLaura MeneleyJames MentestiDr. Robert and Mrs. Kay MerrickRich and Linda MettemeyerBilly and Laverne MeyerSarah MichaelsAdam and Michelle MillerAnna Mae MillerDr. Tom and Dr. Mary MillerJudy MixerLinda MooreRobert and Sandra MooreMary MuehlenfeldShirley A. MurphyKirk and Debra NeallyMike NeisenJames and Susan NieburMike and Jennifer NieburJeff and Jane NobleC. David NuessenDaniel J. NuessenSigne OakleyHal and Kathy OakleyLaura OakmanDr. Oluwaseun Odumosu and Dr. Ochuele OdumosuWilliam and Jean OesterreichLee OgleKatie E. O’NealTracy A. OrneNatalie OswaldJune M. OtteKenneth PaitlDebbie, Jason and Nick PapadopoulosBrenda Park

William and Lil PerryJacob and Amy PetersGary and Ronda PetersonGary and Emily PetersonGlen and Becky PhillipsJayne S. PieperKimberly L. PolleyBernadette PostleBurgundy RamseyPat RealDr. Venu and Mrs. Sudha ReddyDebbie ReedMary ReeveNorma ReidJoan P. ReillyDr. Adam and Dr. Stephanie ReyburnMike and Brandy RidderJames and Melinda RinellaPatricia RischarPenny RobertsRonna RobertsonKimberly A. RokusekMike and Stacy RoseberryWeiland and Betty RossNora and Kenny RossMartha J. RubottomRon and Sue RushDr. Demir and Mrs. Vicky SakaNora SchnackSusan B. ScholzJudy SchonhoffJulie A. SchuetzJames SchultzDr. Rex and Mrs. Lori SchulzGene and Vickie ScrantonAllen and Alison ShaferChristine ShillestadJayne ShimpGary and Linda ShookMichelle ShortridgeRobert ShubertSteve and Judy SiebersLaura SievertPolly SmithBryan and Donna SmithJessica Snowden Patel

Cindy SpakeBob and Linda SpringerScott and Susan StamerjohnDavid and Jackie StammeyerShelly SteinkampJohn and Dale StevensonTina Stodgel and FamilyMegan StollerMaggie StrongLarry and Beth SwansonJack TeevinSusan TillClaudia TimbrookAnn TitusBrian G. ToenniesLisa TournearGlori L. TraederJamie TraederGreg and Natasha TraneThomas E. TushausLori TuttleMichelle TwittyJudge Chet and Mrs. Barb VahleRylie Van FleetRonald and Colae VecchieCindy VilsickWilliam and Deborah VonderHaarJulie WagerClyde and Sally WakefieldRobin H. WaldenLaura WalkerMart and Diane WardJanet C. WaterkotteSally WesterhoffConard and Nancy WhiteJanice WiemeltBrandy WillerLeroy and Lynn WillerJames F. WilperJulie WilsonKelly L. WilsonRobert WoermanBill and Kathy WoltersEleanor A. YackleyLinda ZakSue ZinnApplebee’s

Bethany United Church of ChristBlessing Radiology DepartmentBrinkman Plumbing Contractors, Inc.Buffalo Prairie Dental Care of Quincy, Inc.The Business Centre of QuincyCakes By KarenCareLinkCentral CUSD #3Central State BankCheerful HomeCommerce BankEmerald City Jewelers, Inc.First Bankers Trust Company, N.A.First Bankers Trust Services, Inc.FSA, LLC (Feeler, S. Architects)Gardner Denver, Inc.Gem City Memorials, Inc.Glass OneGray Hunter Stenn, LLPGully Transportation, Inc.Harrison Monuments, Inc.Heimer & Associates, Inc.J. W. Gardner II FoundationJK Creative PrintersKeck Plumbing, Inc.Knights of Columbus #583Liberty Community Unit #2 SchoolMac’s Limited Electrical ContractorsMark Twain CasinoMembers “First” Community Credit UnionMercantile BankMichelmann FoundationMidwest Paints & Home CenterDr. Paul E. Miller, DDS, PCMoore’s Floors, Inc.Mr. K’s Fabric ShopNetwork For Good

O’Donnell’s Pest ControlThe Optimist Club of QuincyPaddles For A PurposeParallon (Friends and Co-workers)Payson Seymour High School Girls VolleyballPea Ridge Antique Tractor AssociationPeoples Prosperity BankPi Pi Chapter of Sigma Theta TauPittsfield Fire DepartmentPrince Agri Products, Inc.Priority One Printing & MailingQuincy Medical GroupQuincy RecycleQuincy Service LeagueQuincy Storage & Transfer Co.Quincy-Cullinan, LLC (Quincy Mall)Rees Construction CompanyShottenkirk ToyotaState Street Bank & Trust CompanyStroot Heating & Air Conditioning Co.Sunset HomeSweet Apricot Shop, Inc.Titan International, Inc.TownSquare of Quincy/HannibalUnited Community Credit UnionUnited Systems, Inc.United Way of Greater AtlantaV. W. FundraisingWagner Seed and Supply Co., Inc.The Yum Factory

*designates deceased

GIVING SOCIETY

What do all of the people, businesses and organizations listed have in common?They have changed lives as donors to The Blessing Foundation. Please consider joining them. Go to blessinghealth.org/blessingfoundation to learn more about how you can help change lives.

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