Pregnant with twins, Cassandra first noticed pain in her right shoulder about 27 weeks into her pregnancy. The pain subsided, but within a few weeks the pain returned even stronger.

The extreme pain led Cassandra to Holy Redeemer’s Labor and Delivery Unit, where we diagnosed her with a form of pre-eclampsia known as HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes and Low Platelets).

Cassandra’s platelet levels were going down and her liver function was failing. She remembers the caring hospital staff doing everything they could. “They tried as much as possible to prolong the pregnancy, but it just wasn’t going to happen,” she said.

Cassandra’s twins were born at 29 weeks and a day—about 11 weeks premature. Logan weighed 2 pounds, 15 ounces. And Michael was just 2 pounds, 6.7 ounces.

Logan was intubated and sent immediately to Holy Redeemer’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Michael was placed on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and transported to the NICU, where he was eventually intubated.

For every precious baby we welcome into the world, it's our mission to send them home as safe, healthy, and as fast as possible. For Logan and Michael that journey home took 62 days in our NICU.

Looking back, Cassandra feels a roller coaster of emotions, but only positive memories of the exceptional care the boys received while in the Holy Redeemer NICU. The doctors and nurses became like family to both her and her husband, providing their boys both compassionate and state-of-the-art care.

Part of the care Cassandra is especially grateful for are the “giraffe beds” both boys stayed in during in their first few weeks of life. The beds are designed to model a mother’s womb as it relates to things like temperature and humidity--keeping premature babies warm, keeping their delicate skin in good condition, and allowing them to grow in an optimal place.

Since Cassandra was recovering from a C-section, the beds could adjust so she was able to see and touch the boys with ease.

“Because I was recovering from a traumatic delivery, staff were able to lower the bed, so I was eye-to-eye with the boys. I could reach in the side to take part in their care even though I couldn’t stand at the time. That meant the world to me,” Cassandra said.

The beds also raised and lowered to allow the NICU staff to monitor, weigh, and even X-ray the boys without having to remove them from their beds. Keeping them in place reduced their risk of complications from environmental changes.

Plus, as Cassandra notes, it kept from having to disturb them. “At 29 weeks, every little bit of energy they have to expend is huge, so not having to expend that energy moving was important for them,” she adds.

Today, the twins are nearly seven months old and healthy and happy at home with mom and dad. And Cassandra is grateful for those who have contributed to make giraffe beds possible at Holy Redeemer Hospital, as she knows those beds made their difficult journey that much easier.

Now the Redeemer Health community is coming together to fund an additional Giraffe Omnibed Carestation for our NICU. Funds raised from our upcoming Kohl’s + Redeemer Health 6K Run/Walk on September 24th will help. We invite you to register or donate today by visiting runsignup.com/gotheextramile.

(Philadelphia, PA) – An alliance composed of Temple Health, Redeemer Health, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has signed a definitive agreement whereby a newly formed entity owned by the Alliance will acquire Chestnut Hill Hospital as part of an asset purchase transaction with Reading, PA-based Tower Health pending review and approval by regulators and the Tower Health bond holders.

“Together, our organizations bring the expertise, resources, operational excellence and skilled clinical care to ensure that Chestnut Hill Hospital remains a durable and sustainable resource for the eastern Montgomery County and northwest Philadelphia communities,” said Michael A. Young, MHA, FACHE, President & CEO of Temple Health. Temple Health will manage the newly-named Temple Health-Chestnut Hill Hospital following the acquisition.

Temple Health, Redeemer Health, and PCOM formed the Alliance to pursue collaborative affiliations that will benefit patients and add value to the communities they serve. “Our collaborative affiliation promises continued success for our organizations and those we partner with, and more importantly, for the patients and communities we serve,” said Michael B. Laign, President & CEO of Redeemer Health.

“This endeavor will help strengthen PCOM’s clinical and graduate medical education capabilities and enhance our ability to train the next generation of health professionals,” said Jay S. Feldstein, DO, President and CEO of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Most importantly, Chestnut Hill Hospital will continue to serve as a critical resource for the surrounding communities.” Chestnut Hill Hospital has served the northwest Philadelphia and east Montgomery County area for more than 100 years. 

“Tower Health is pleased and grateful that Chestnut Hill Hospital will continue to serve the community as part of an alliance of highly-respected and locally-based non-profit healthcare institutions,” said Tower Health President and CEO P. Sue Perrotty.
 

Through Drueding Center’s annual Stairway to Our Future, the generosity of donors brought in more than $200,000 dollars to help the Center, an entity of Redeemer Health, continue its critical work of helping young families experiencing homelessness heal from trauma, restore hope, and end homelessness.

To keep all participants safe during the ongoing pandemic, the event was held virtually. While this is a relatively novel format, it successfully continued Drueding’s tradition of sharing with donors the significant impact of their generosity.

“In order for me to grow as a mother and as a young woman I had to really be open, not just with everyone here, but with myself and what I needed help with,” shared Siana, a Drueding resident for 14 months. “Drueding Center does not just focus on housing. They also help you find work. They help you get your kids in school. They assist you with everything. They helped me get on my two feet to be independent.”

Drueding Center resident Daijah shared an important goal she wanted to achieve now that she and her one-year-old daughter have stability: “I want to go back to school to get my GED. At the time, instead of bettering myself getting an education, I had to choose work over getting my high school diploma.”

Drueding Center Has Helped More than 11,000 Individuals Since Its Founding

Through the ongoing support and kindness of donors and grantors, the Center has helped more than 11,000 individuals since its founding 35 years ago. Today, its many programs provide access to:

• Transitional housing for homeless parents between the ages of 18-24 who have one or more young children
• Referrals for job training, continuing education, childcare, legal issues, and other social services
• Advocacy to assist with landlord disputes, subsidized housing, social security, child support, and mental health
• High-quality childcare
• Case management support after they move to permanent housing
• A food pantry featuring a wide range of nutritional items

“The pandemic revealed that our commitment is more important than ever to those who come to us for the support and encouragement Drueding Center and its resource network has been providing for decades,” said Drueding Center Board Vice Chair Linda Perkins. “Every day I am so grateful for such good work being done in Philadelphia.”

“We’re incredibly grateful for our Stairway donors, who help us make a difference in the lives of everyone we serve,” added Anne Marie Collins, Drueding Center’s Executive Director. “Thank you for working together with us to do great things.”

To learn more about Drueding Center, explore volunteer opportunities, or make a donation, druedingcenter.org.

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Recognized every June, Men’s Health Month reminds us of the value of awareness, prevention and education. Some of the most valuable tools available to men as they age are health screenings that can detect issues early.

Advice and information is all around, but let’s let the process begin with us. Our doctors can help us understand which health screenings are specifically indicated for men of our age and risk. Doing some homework about recommendations can prepare us for those conversations.

Recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent voluntary panel of experts in primary care, prevention and evidence-based practice, include a roster of screenings that are appropriate for men of any age. They include alcohol use disorder, depression, hypertension, obesity, tobacco use, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and lipid disorder.

Screenings recommended for men of specific ages include a colorectal cancer screening at age 50, lung cancer screening at 55 for current or past smokers, and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening at 65 for men who have ever smoked. Recommendations regarding prostate cancer screenings vary, so doctors can help us understand the benefits of digital rectal exams and prostate-specific antigen tests.

Additional conversations may include diabetes, skin cancer prevention and a diet designed to prevent cardiovascular disease. There is no routine screening test for testicular cancer, but doctors can show us how to properly examine ourselves for suspicious symptoms.

Our doctors also can help us identify which vaccines we may need to re-dose or boost. Vaccines for flu and COVID-19 are top of mind these days, but we should ask about vaccines for pneumonia, Tdap, shingles, meningitis, chicken pox, and Hepatitis A and B.

To find a doctor who is right for you, visit our provider directory or call the Redeemer Health Physician Referral Service at 800-818-4747.

Preventive Screenings Chart
 

This reflection was written by Julie Chamberlain, MSW, LSW, a hospice social worker at Redeemer Health.

As a hospice social worker, I am always looking for resources that could be beneficial to our patients and families as they process the multitude of feelings that arise during the grieving process. I was thrilled when I received a call from Barbara Tonetti asking if her daughter, Julia, could organize a collection of children’s books to be donated to the bereavement program at Redeemer Health Mercer Home Care.

Barbara spoke kindly as she reflected on her family’s own personal history with us, saying, “Holy Redeemer is a special place for me and my family. Actually, Julia and I were both born at Holy Redeemer Hospital. When Julia was born, she had to spend some time in the NICU. I will never forget our time in that unit.”

Julia is now a junior in high school, and thriving. As Barbara and Julia were pondering volunteer projects that Julia could do for her National Honor Society community service hours, they spoke with members of their community. It was during a discussion with their neighbor, fellow Redeemer Health Mercer Home Care social worker Sara Organic, that the idea for the book collection began to take root.

Julia’s planning soared from there, and she researched children's books that focus on death, loss, coping, and grieving. Then she requested book donations and monetary contributions to help buy books. Eventually, Julia collected 21 books, which she and Barbara proudly dropped off at our office in May.

They told us how books have been a source of support for them through their own experiences with loss. Barbara explained, “Julia was little when my mother was dying. And you know, kids don’t always want to sit down and read, so I picked up children’s books focused on what was happening, and I would read aloud in my mom’s room. I knew my mom could hear my voice, but I also knew that Julia was listening, even if she was playing. The words from those books were helpful to all of us during that time…so these books are not just a resource for children.”

Our hospice team is extremely grateful for the time, planning, and effort that Julia put into this project, and I am confident the books she collected will be helpful to many people for years to come.

Lafayette and St. Joseph Manor, two Redeemer Health Life Care communities, are now offering an opportunity for prospective residents who are considering personal care to experience resident life before making a permanent move.

This opportunity is available through a respite stay program, which allows for a short-term stay in a private room that includes three chef-prepared meals each day, daily housekeeping, leisure and social activities, assistance with activities of daily living, and medication administration.

A respite stay at one of our Redeemer Health Life Care communities is an ideal way to better understand, through first-hand experience, if the community ideally complements the needs and desires of a prospective resident and their family. Additionally, if a move occurs, the resident can be partially credited toward their first monthly fee. For more information, call Claire Balasa or Claudia Fisher at 215-214-2877.

The following is an observance of Mental Health Awareness Month by Victoria Oliver, MA, LPC. Victoria is a licensed professional counselor, and Senior Director of Enterprise Design and Improvement at Redeemer Health.

Horticulture is the art of garden cultivation and management. What a lovely and important definition. During spring, specifically Mental Health Awareness Month in May, it is fitting to reflect on how we cultivate and manage our own lives as we are preparing to cultivate our gardens.

Here are the factors to help create and maintain a flourishing garden and how these principles can apply to each of us:

Location – Location and position of a garden is one of the most critical elements of success. You need to think about whether it gets enough (or too much) water and nutrients. It needs to have exposure to sunlight and optimal conditions. It needs to have space.

What about you? Sometimes repositioning ourselves is necessary and vital to growth. Are you in the position where you get what you need to grow and flourish? Do you need a new environment or space so that you can flourish? Are you getting enough of what you need or too much of what you don’t?

Planning – Soil is often lacking in nutrients and other things it needs to support a thriving garden. Doing a litmus test of your soil can help you determine if you need to add or remove things. My family has an organic garden and we truck in mushroom soil annually and add compost. We plan our garden out each year and rotate plots. Crop rotation allows us to preserve nutrients in the soil and is said to boost nutrients for the following year. We put time, thought, and care into our garden.

Are you stuck in patterns and consistent behaviors that do not serve you and allow you to reach your full potential? Do you give your body proper nutrients? Do you ever take a personal litmus test to determine what you need to add or remove from your life? 

Weeds – Sometimes in order for your garden to blossom, you need to do some weeding. This may seem daunting, I know. But once you start the process (and it is a process because weeds continue to grow), you will feel a sense of relief. You will see things more clearly and give your plants space to grow.

When you weed your garden, it can claim the water, soil, and sunlight that is meant for it to receive. You can also do the same in your life. Perhaps the weeds in your life are toxic people, behaviors, or commitments you don’t really want or need. You have permission (and are encouraged to) pull them out. You can claim and embrace the nourishment you will experience by doing the work you may have been avoiding.

A garden takes love and patience. What better way to grow a garden then to plant the things you love to eat? It is such a magical and beautiful thing to place a small, fragile seed in the soil…to water it…to nourish it...to see that tiny little sprout emerge from the earth and then watch it grow. What practices or routines do you have in your life that nourish you and help you grow? Do you give yourself time, care, and love? Are you patient with yourself? Do you give yourself credit for small steps, improvement, and growth?

Spring is about renewal and rebirth. Spring is also about planning and growth. I hope you give yourself the time and space to think about how you can cultivate your best life during Mental Health Awareness Month.

If you, a family member, or a loved one experience mental health challenges or crisis, contact Redeemer Health today to get the care you need. Call 215-914-4190 to schedule an appointment for behavioral health services. Visit redeemerhealth.org/behavioralhealth for more information.

Also, Redeemer Health’s Life Story Coaching helps clients see past their problems to their possibilities, by understanding the stories they tell themselves today can be changed to allow them to live new, more powerful, and transformational ones. Call the Redeemer Health Call Center at 800-818-4747 to connect with a coach. Visit https://www.redeemerhealth.org/services/health-care/life-story-coaching for more information.