The Spirit to Innovate—The Heart to heal Fall/Winter 2014

LAH VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The Volunteers will provide and assist associates in delivering a superior Patient and

Guest experience in the Hospital

2014 Volunteer Board

President: Joyce Sullivan

Vice President Fund raising Barbara Henigsman

Vice President

Fund Raising Elect Mary Ann Bonsall

Treasurer Susan DeBoer

Treasurer Elect: Kathie Hagge

Recording Secretary: Sandy Slater

Corresponding Secretary: Mary Jo Tierney

Manager Volunteer Services: Catherine Bartley

Committee Chairs

Historian: Pat Pickering

Hospitality: Barbara Bensching, Judy Woodward

Knitting: Sue Hayden

Newsletter/Directory: Dee Beckman

Nominating: Jim Rudy

Parliamentarian: Jack Seuell

Scholarship: Gwen Yaklich

Sewing: Wanda Burns

The President’s Corner

As the 25th President of the LAH Volunteer

Board, it is with great honor and pride that I reflect

with admiration upon the achievements of the past

quarter century of volunteer service to the Littleton

Hospital community. Volunteers have indeed made

valuable contributions and a real difference for pa-

tients, employees and the hospital community with

their time, talent and fundraising efforts. As we cele-

brate this 25th year of Littleton Adventist Hospital, I

would like to personally recognize some of the many

ways in which hundreds of volunteers and 25 Volun-

teer Boards have served the Littleton Adventist Hos-

pital community.

Our first Director of Littleton/Porter Volunteer Ser-

vices and Manager of the Gift Shop, Donna Hoskins,

still remembers 26 Hospital Directors, all wearing

hard hats, at their desks in one large office, with con-

crete floors and overhead pipes, during hospital con-

struction in early 1989. Over 60 volunteers met with

Donna on November 3, 1989 to form an Auxiliary

Board. During the first year, 93 volunteers, 73 of

whom were charter members, helped to formulate

goals for the Auxiliary and draft the Bylaws. Many of

the original functions and annual events have been

continued by the Volunteer Board . Two charter mem-

bers, Dee Blankenship and Pat Roen, having volun-

teered over 10,500 hours each by their 21st year of

service, were honored by Channel 7’s “Everyday He-

roes” in 2009. Two of the charter members, Rose-

marie Johnson and Pat Roen, continue to serve as ac-

tive volunteers. Currently approximately 300 volun-

teers, including junior members, serve 40 hospital de-

partments. This past year, volunteers donated nearly

50,000 hours of service to the Hospital which

(according to the Independent Sector calculations for

Colorado, valuing a volunteer @ $25.10 per hour) rep-

resents a value of $1,252,000.

Over the past quar ter century, the Volunteer

Board has granted approximately one million dollars,

from gift shop revenues and volunteer fundraising

events, to fund requests for many hospital depart-

ments . The first Volunteer Board grants in 1989-

1990 included 9 inch television sets for the OR and

Surgery waiting areas, closed circuit television sys-

tem for Inpatient, Out-patient and Employee Educa-

tion, cassette players for ER, display cases, toys,

books, storage boxes for Pediatrics, and a special baby

bed for the Nursery. This year the Volunteer Board

funded requests for six departments for the purchase

of medical equipment. Employee scholarships averag-

ing over $2,000 yearly have been granted to numerous

hospital employees through the years to provide a

wide range of opportunities for continued education.

Fundraising events in ear ly years included craft

fairs, plant sales, garage sales, used book sales, cook-

book sales, poinsettia sales, and bake sales. Second-

hand Rose Sales and Grandma’s Attic Sales have also

been sponsored through the years. Vendor Sales,

Bake Sales and Grandma’s Attic Sales are still spon-

sored by the Volunteer Board. These fundraising pro-

jects help support hospital grants and scholarships and

provide fun times for hospital staff and team building

opportunities for Board members and volunteers.

A handmade stuffed animal has been given to eve-

ry hospitalized child since the hospital opened which

currently totals approximately 300 animals yearly..

The impact of this program for children can be sum-

marized in a statement made by a sewing volunteer,

Kay Chambers, in a 1990 Volunteer Newsletter, “,,,

the difference a tiny bear or a dinosaur makes to a ter-

rified child is amazing to see.” Since 2009 volunteer

Helen Hersey has contributed over 2000 handmade

dolls to LAH hospitalized patients. Sewing volunteers

contribute other handmade comfort items, including

hard and soft pillows, cell phone holders, laundry

bags for NICU and “busy fidget” aprons for dementia

patients.

A hand-knitted baby hat with pompom has been pre-

sented to every baby born at Littleton Hospital since

1989. Approximately 20 knitters provide over 100

baby hats monthly. Several knitters are residents of

Wind Crest, Lakewood Meridian and Riverpointe.

Other knitted items made for patients dur ing past

years include mittens, socks, baby buntings. During early years, hospital Christmas trees were decorated

with these knitted items. More recently, prayer

shawls and chemo hats have been added to the list of knitted gifts for patients. Hospital Chaplains provide the shawls to patients, and the white shawls to the parents of newborns whose lives are in jeopardy.

Visitors, hospital staff and volunteers often have the privilege of embracing beautiful music in the lobby, played by seven volunteers on the grand piano which was given to the hospital by volunteers Karen and Ron Rossi. Karen continues to schedule the piano players.

The Volunteer Dog Visitation Program includes 30 volunteers and 30 four-legged volunteers visiting pa-tients weekly, on a by-request or a random visit. The program was initiated in 2001 by volunteer Beth Wil-liams. The dedication of the owners and their dogs is truly appreciated by both patients and staff. The dogs have the opportunity to visit one another “With the blessing of Pets” on the Feast Day of St. Francis. The first Littleton Hospital Dog calendar, featuring the dogs in this program, was produced last year un-der the guidance of the Volunteer Board President, Jim Rudy. Approximately 300 calendars were sold through the Gift Shop. The 2015 calendar will be available for sale early this fall.

For the past 25 years the Volunteer Board has pro-vided annual Christmas cheer to many needy families with a $500 Christmas gift allocated from proceeds from the Annual Bake and Afghan Sales. The select-ed families compile a “Santa wish list” for their chil-dren. Two volunteers purchase, wrap and deliver the gifts along with an added gift for the parents. These families shall never forget their special holiday. Community outreach has also been supported by many hospital volunteers who have assisted with blood drives, flu immunization clinics, safety pro-grams, health fairs and special hospital events.

Through the years, volunteers have contributed to other outreach projects such as Field Elementary School and the Hospital Peru Mission program. In addition to donations of reading glasses, sunglasses, vitamins and baseball hats, , 210 dolls, dressed in tra-ditional Peruvian fashion, made by volunteer Helen Hersey, were contributed to the Peru Mission pro-gram.

Most recently, LAH volunteers contributed house-hold items for the Baby Haven program in Denver which provides living provisions and child care for young mothers and pregnant women recovering from substance abuse and prison time. After gradu-

ating from the initial phase of the program, mothers begin living on their own. The Baby Haven project was recently featured on PBS. A plaque in recogni-tion of the LAH contribution to Baby Haven was pre-sented to our volunteers in 2013 at the annual meeting of CAHAV (Colorado Association of Healthcare Auxilian/Volunteers).

Several Volunteer Board members have assisted with CAHAV administration and annual programs during both past and current years including Barbara Henigsman, Meryl Johnson, Pat Roen, Alice Sturdi-vant and Maralou Taylor. Working with hospital vol-unteer organizations throughout Colorado and other State Volunteer Associations provides opportunities to share ideas and enhance hospital volunteering.

Spring and Fall Luncheons, planned by the Volunteer Board, provide opportunity to unite volunteers and to recognize and appreciate the hours of service for every volunteer from the first year of service to those who have devoted thousands of volunteer hours dur-ing the past 25 years. Newly elected Volunteer Board members are installed at the Fall Luncheon.

Eighteen volunteer coordinators now assist the Manager of Volunteer Services, Catherine Bartley, to support volunteer projects in departments through-out the hospital. Two recent volunteer initiatives in-clude the Angel Program and the Ambassador Pro-gram. Volunteers in the Angel Program visit patients throughout the hospital, especially those patients with limited visitation. Volunteers spend a half hour or more with each patient just visiting one-on-one. The new Ambassador Program, in cooperation with the Hospital Patient Representative, is designed to discover ways in which the Emergency Department might enhance patient service by conducting patient interviews and making telephone contacts following discharge to make certain patients are following dis-charge instructions.

Three Managers of Volunteer Service have directed the efforts of volunteers during the past 25 years in-cluding Donna Hoskins, 1989-1997, Carolyn Fraker, 1998-2000 and Catherine Bartley, 2000 to present. Volunteers extend their appreciation to each of them for their leadership and guidance. My personal thanks to all the LAH volunteers, past and present, who have worn the aqua smocks and the maroon vests, for 25 years of contribution, devotion and gen-erosity. My appreciation also to all the volunteers who have served as Board members for your sup-port, creativity and guidance. You have truly made a wonderful world of difference for our patients, staff and community.

“A Hi-25 to each and every LAH Volunteer, past and present, for 25 Years of Excellence”

25 YEARS

How quickly those years have passed! My life has been enriched in numerous ways and I sincerely hope that along

the way I have touched a few people during my volunteering at LAH. Many people have impacted my life over the

years, some made me smile and some made me sad. New parents and grandparents brought smiles while guest’s

anguish over the illness or loss of a loved one broke my heart.

Over the years I have worked numerous departments and have learned and enjoyed each experience. The friend-

ships I have forged over the years have touched me in many ways.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve as a volunteer at Littleton Adventist Hospital for 25 years. My years of

volunteering have been humbling and have touched my heart.

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it to happen, Volunteers make it happen!”

CREATION HEALTH CORNER CREATION HEALTH IS FOR YOU IF:

You want to enjoy better health

You would like more energy

You want to live a longer & healthier life

You would like to experience more peace of mind

CREATION HEALTH IS:

Choice

Rest

Environment

Activity

Trust

Interpersonal relationships

Outlook

Nutrition

Your CHOICE tips are:

HALT - Do not make important decisions when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.

Get out in the fresh air and breathe deeply. This increases our blood oxygen level and improves brain func-tion.

In the volunteer office for September and October, write what you are thankful for on a leaf and pin to The Bless-ing Tree. Look for other activities in the volunteer office in the coming months. Also, information and exercises will be published in the Creation Health corner of each volunteer newsletter.

Your Creation Health Coach,

Marilyn Kirby

PAT ROEN

CATHERINE’S CORNER On a trip to Australia this past summer, Catherine and a

Koala Bear enjoy a big hug

Knitting & Sewing

The Littleton Volunteer Knitting group is looking for one or two volunteers to make pompoms for the knitted

baby hats. Yarn, transportation of supplies and collection of finished pompoms will be provided. If you are

interested in helping with this project, please e-mail Sue: suehayden48@gmail.com

Nancy K has some requests:

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!

Time to clear out your “stash” of material you no longer need, and Nancy K can use for the breast cancer hearts, NICU laundry bags and the “Walker” bags that she makes. Yarn for lap blankets would also be greatly appreciated. Nancy K uses a lot of material, sewing thread and yarn for the hospital projects.

Your donations in the past have been greatly appreciated by Nancy K and also the patients.

Let’s clean out the closets for material, yarn and/or sewing thread and donate them. You can leave these do-nations in the Volunteer Office with Nancy K’s name on them.

Loving Remembrances:

May: Shirley, Kathy Gibson’s Sister

July: Connie Carson’s Mother

July: Bonnie DeFrees’s Mother

August: Linda Schmillen’s Father

August: Mary Stemper’s Nephew

Our Dog Team Losses:

Sunny: Rosann Asselin’s Golden Retriever

Volunteered 2007-2014

Skeeter: Terri Mayfield’s Chocolate Lab

Volunteered 2010-2014

Chip: Susan Koza’s Yellow Lab

Volunteered 2010-2014

Welcoming New Volunteers

Kathy Harris: Rehab Unit 7th Floor

Renee Flint: Drug & Alcohol Screening ED

Mary Christy & Dog Luther: Dog Team

Judy Walker: Lab, Women & Newborn

Beverly Young & Dog Willie: Dog Team

Sharon Cranston: Hairdresser for Patients

Carol Baker: Nutrition

Me Le: Meal Assistant

Irene Jakstas: Gift Shop

Aly Kalter & Dog Dutch: Dog Team

Frank Veucasovic: Emergency

Paige Myer: Emergency

Susan Cozzo: 4 N-Oncology

Freda Dale: Surgery Apt Forms

Holly Rysel: Surgery Apt Forms

Jill Howard: 4N-Oncology

We lovingly remember Marilyn Knauber who passed away September 10th. Marilyn was the Friday morning Courtesy Ser-vices Volunteer from 2011-2014, giving 710 hours, including assisting for several years with the holiday bake sale and with purchasing Christmas gifts for adoptive families. Services October 11, 2 PM at Horan McConaty at 3101 So. Wadsworth.

Come to the November 3rd general meeting and luncheon at The Wildlife Experience! There is plenty of parking and it’s an easy drive from the hospital. Just take C-470 East to Yosemite, drive South to Lincoln Avenue, East 1 ½ miles to Peoria Avenue. The Wildlife Experience is at the SW corner of Lincoln and Peoria. There will be a map in your mailed invitation (early October) and also it will be available for pickup on the counter under Volunteer Works in October.

When you either call in your reservation, or sign up in the Volunteer Office, be prepared to choose your entrée from the following:

Chicken Parmesan – Parmesan encrusted chicken breast

Roasted Pork Loin – Roasted pork loin topped with cranberry pear chutney

Vegetarian Wellington – Sauteed vegetables wrapped in a flaky pastry shell

For those who wish to view a movie afterwards, for $6.75, the choices will be:

Meerkats 3D 10 AM and 2PM & Wonders of the Artic 3D 1 PM and 3 PM

From Elaine Lang, Author & Volunteer in Chaplain’s Office:

Many years ago, my Mom would have me read a poem and after I read it, she would ask me what I thought of it. I would

read it over and over, but couldn’t figure out what the poem was telling me, and I really felt dumb. I didn’t understand the

type of writing that the poet was using. The words made no sense to me. As the years went by, I married, raised a family and

one day I realized that I loved poetry . After my children grew up, I began to write a few poems. Thinking about it now, my

poems were in simple English and were thoughts that came to me as I was sitting in my chair at home, looking at the beauti-

ful mountains and thinking about what our God has created for us. Then words came as the Lord gave them to me.

I had a wonderful husband and we raised 5 beautiful children. I used to live in the foothills of Colorado and so the mountains

were part of my everyday life. I still see those beautiful mountains and every day I am in awe of what our God gives us: the

beauty of flowers, variety of trees, graceful variety of birds, many different animals, both huge and small, and yes, even

pesky little bugs. How wonderful is He who gives us everything!

Yes, I believe He is an awesome God, and that is why my book is titled “Our Awesome God”. It is filled with poems about our

Lord and the many gifts He has given ALL of us,

NOVEMBER 3RD—ANNUAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

AND GENERAL MEETING

H A P P Y B I R T H D AY V O L U N T E E R S

OCTOBER JIM GORDON 10/1

ALICE DOHNE 10/2

ANGIE MCLAUGHLIN 10/3

KENZIE BOYCE 10/3

DEE BLANKENSHIP 10/4

LINDSEY QUINTANA 10/7

NAVYA ROY 10/7

RICHARD MACMILLAN 10/8

LINDA BAKER 10/9

GAYLE GAUL 10/9

JEANNE HOSKINS 10/9

KRIS LINDENMEIER 10/10

BETTY KRZA 10/11

PAT CHRISTENSEN 10/12

LILY GUNAWAN 10/12

SARA FULGHUM 10/12

LAUREN RAEDER 10/15

ALANA BOWMAN 10/16

JIM GEORGE 10/16

CARLENE TOY 10/16

RON ROSSI 10/18

ELLIE PEBBLES 10/19

FRANK BECKMAN 10/20

JAN DOHNE 10/23

MARLEEN PUZAK 10/25

BRENNA CLAY 10/25

TOM YUSKO 10/28

CATIE BAESSLER 10/28

SHIRLEY BROZOWSKI 10/30

NOVEMBER JIM RUDY 11/2

ANDREW RONALD 11/2

LAURA MORGAN 11/3

DOROTHY PENSKE 11/4

ALISA KIM 11/4

SUSANNE FOLEY 11/4

LINDA HEADSTREAM 11/6

JOANNE STRATTON 11/6

BONNIE ANDERSEN 11/6

KATIE RECKER 11/9

SALLY BOUNDS 11/9

GARY MORTON 11/11

KATIE PHILLIPS 11/12

LEE ANNE LEWIS 11/15

REBECCA WOEHRLE 11/18

IO LOECHELL 11/18

SALLY HOWSON 11/19

CAROL BEYER 11/21

JAMES GOLD 11/22

RACHEL DAMLE 11/24

JUDY NELSON 11/25

MARY WILSON 11/26

MORGAN MCDOUGAL 11/27

JEANNE CREIGHTON 11/28

PAT JACOBSEN 11/28

ELLE LAMBERT 11/29

DECEMBER

GEORGIA READER 12/3

JAN TENBRAAK 12/5

DIANE CARROLL 12/7

MICHAEL PIERCE 12/7

ROSEMARIE JOHNSON 12/8

SYLVIA DINGES 12/10

SALLY FENNELLY 12/10

WANDA SPARKS 12/11

LYNN GROVER 12/12

CONNIE CARSON 12/14

DAN REICH 12/14

CLARE LOVETT 12/15

BARBARA HENIGSMAN 12/18

LYNN RAY 12/19

CONNIE WEDGEWORTH 12/20

JOHN REMPE 12/24

JUDY WOODWARD 12/24

JACK SEUELL 12/25

CAROLE CHISVIN 12/25

REBECCA ZONKER 12/28

SHAUNA STEPHENS 12/28

ANNIE MARCOUX 12/29

JANUARY

DOMENIC FUCCILLO 1/1

MO CACACE 1/2

MARY JO TIERNEY 1/4

NORMA REMPE 1/5

CATHY MADISON 1/7

PEGGY HUTCHINSON 1/7

TINA ROBBINS 1/8

MARIANNE TRACEY 1/8

JULIE TRACEY 1/8

CATHERINE BARTLEY 1/11

JANE O’BRIEN 1/11

JANET ROBERTSTON 1/11

NELDA SOMERS 1/12

NANCY KEIENBURG 1/12

JOANNE VANJONACK 1/13

LIZ BRUINING 1/16

LINDA MONEY 1/16

BONNIE DEFREES 1/19

PAULA GUERIN 1/24

SUSAN NIES 1/25

MADDIE PAYNE 1/25

JULIA DREXELIUS 1/26

SAMANTHA PALMA 1/27

BARBARA MASTRO 1/30

IRENE JAKSTAS 1/31

YOUR NAME IS VOLUNTEER

Your name is love, because you showed me love and compassion when I needed it most. Your name is patience, because you took the time to listen to me when my stories were long & my heart heavy

Your name is kindness because you used your healing hands to touch my pain & guide me when I was lost Your name is mentor because you taught me lessons that life cannot teach so soon Your name is volunteer, you are love, patience, kindness, a mentor & so much more

We celebrate you, the volunteer

From the Simi Valley Adventist Hospital newsletter, submitted by Carole Beaton, former LAH Volunteer

THE CORN ROAST

SAYING

GOODBYE

TO

CHAPLIN INTERN

RON BRAUER

Littleton Adventist Hospital

Centura Health

7700 South Broadway

Littleton, Colorado 80122