Although it was something she never expected, Nancy Passehl gained a new “family” of support in the form of Redeemer Health’s NICU team when six months into her pregnancy she felt extremely uncomfortable.

The date was October 27, 1989. A terrified Nancy was rushed to Holy Redeemer Hospital, where she learned that she was about to have her baby three months early. Later that day, Nancy’s baby daughter, Jamie, was born at two pounds eight ounces and immediately admitted to the NICU.

Jamie required intensive treatment for almost two months, and much like a lot of premature babies requiring intensive care, she experienced several ups and downs. At one point, her weight dropped to one pound 14 ounces, and for Nancy, this was an indescribable emotional roller coaster.

Although Jamie was in the NICU, Nancy says that “the NICU staff was with me each step of the way. They made me feel very comfortable, and I knew that Jamie was in good hands.”

Thankfully, Jamie and Nancy benefitted from not only the expertise and compassion of the Holy Redeemer Hospital NICU staff, but also from the NICU’s access to advanced medications.

As a result of Jamie’s early arrival, she was born with respiratory distress syndrome, a disease that occurs because the lungs have not produced enough surfactant. Surfactant is a mixture of fat and proteins made in the lungs that coats the alveoli (the air sacs in the lungs where oxygen enters the body), preventing the lungs from sticking together and collapsing. Jamie Marie was given a life-saving drug called Infasurf, a replacement lung surfactant, which was administered through an endotracheal tube.

After nearly two months in the NICU, and growing up healthy and happy, Jamie Di Domizio just became a mother herself! Jamie delivered her son on November 2, 2021, and she now has a healthy Redeemer Baby, Romeo Patrick.

Because of the care she herself received in Holy Redeemer Hospital’s NICU, Jamie, now 32 years old, says, “expectant mothers receive a top-notch level of care, and the maternity staff is bar none. I felt very comfortable delivering a Redeemer Baby at Holy Redeemer Hospital.”

Becoming a mother is one of the most rewarding –and sometimes challenging –experiences a woman can encounter. Redeemer Health is honored to be such an important partner in the lives of Nancy, Jamie, and her son.

As with Nancy and Jamie, our caring and compassionate Redeemer family often has the distinct honor to nurture the health and well-being of generations of parents and children. We want to hear your story! Share with us how Redeemer Health has provided care and comfort to you and your family over the years.

There are many overall health benefits to quitting smoking - improving your circulation, decreasing your risk of disease, and lengthening your life expectancy, to name a few. It’s never too late to quit and the sooner you do, the more you can reduce your risk of getting cancer and other diseases.

If you are ready to quit smoking for good, here are some tips to help:

1. Stay clear of triggers: your urge for a smoke may be most intense when you are in a place where you often smoke. Avoid relapse by being aware of triggers and having a plan in place to replace the habit, such as holding a pen or popping a mint.

2. Procrastinate: when you have a craving, train yourself to wait at least 10 minutes and distract yourself by playing with a rubber band or stress ball.

3. Confront yourself: in the moments of a strong urge to smoke, you may tell yourself that one cigarette won't hurt. Stand strong and firm. Look at yourself in the mirror and encourage healthy habits.

4. Chew on something healthy: smoking is an oral fixation. Shift the urge to smoke by chewing on something healthy: raw carrots or celery, sunflower seeds, granola, or gum.

5. Exercise the craving away: walking, jogging, biking, or cleaning can help you beat your tobacco craving. Physical activity is a good distraction while also burning calories.

6. Remind yourself of the benefits: never forget why you are working hard to quit: better health, better psychological state, saving money, and sparing your loved ones from second-hand smoke.

7. Remind yourself of who you are quitting for: face the mirror and say it aloud: "I'm quitting for my..." (family, children, parents, loved ones...).

8. Don't go it alone: Find a partner who also needs to quit and support each other. You may also find an understanding friend or relative who you can contact when your temptation is high. You can also call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669), a free support line offering one-on-one support.

Remember that every day you resist your tobacco cravings is a step closer to completely quitting and improving your health. 

Under the direction of Dr. Paul Sandhu, a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist, Redeemer Health has expanded the treatment options available for those who cope with arrhythmias.

An arrhythmia is defined as an abnormal heart rhythm, which results from a problem within the electrical conduction system of the heart, ranging from the heart beating too fast, too slow, or in an irregular pattern.

Fortunately, many arrhythmias are considered harmless and do not require treatment. However, some arrhythmia issues can put you at risk for more serious complications.

For those arrhythmias that do need treatment, Dr. Sandhu says options at Redeemer Health include:

• Leadless pacemakers - a small device that sends slight electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain a suitable heart rate
• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) - a device that helps the heart beat more efficiently and with better synchrony in certain heart conditions
• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) - a device that tracks heart rhythm and delivers very brief electric shocks for life-threatening heart rhythms to the heart muscle to make it beat in regular rhythm again
   

“Arrhythmias can have an immense impact on one’s quality of life,” says Dr. Sandhu, who has brought ICD technology to Redeemer Health. “I’m excited to be able to offer this procedure that may provide immediate and dramatic relief from a potentially life-threatening problem, right here at Holy Redeemer Hospital.”

Click here to learn more about cardiology care at Redeemer Health.

The heart is a remarkable, fist-sized organ that pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body to sustain life. Under normal circumstances, it beats 100,000 times per day, pumping five or six quarts of blood each minute, which equates to about 2,000 gallons per day!

The heart beats in a regular rhythm and at a rate that is appropriate for the work the body is doing. The electrical conduction system of your heart initiates each heartbeat and creates signals that trigger the heart to pump.

But what happens if your heart has an abnormal rhythm?

What is an arrhythmia and how is it diagnosed?

Abnormal heart rhythms –known as arrhythmias –result from a problem within the electrical conduction system of the heart, which can range from the heart beating too fast, too slow, or in an irregular pattern.

Arrhythmias can often go unnoticed and exhibit no apparent symptoms. However, if symptoms do present, they can include any of the following:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpations (a feeling of skipped heartbeats, fluttering, or racing)
• Chest pain or tightness
• Passing out

Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms so they can perform a comprehensive history and physical examination. Your doctor may prescribe testing to help diagnose an arrhythmia, such as an electrocardiogram (or EKG), Holter monitor, event recorder, echocardiogram, and/or stress test.

What treatments are available?

Fortunately, many arrhythmias are considered harmless and do not need treatment. However, some arrhythmia issues can put you at risk for more serious complications. It’s important to know there are treatment options, including medications, device therapy that can modulate the heart’s electrical activity, and catheter ablation (where a short circuit arrhythmia can be targeted and eliminated directly from inside the heart), to help provide immediate and dramatic relief from a potentially life-threatening problem.

Harpaul Sandhu, MD, FHRS, a Redeemer Health board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist, echocardiographer, and nuclear cardiologist specializes in testing for, diagnosing, and treating abnormal heart rhythms. He points out some treatment options, all available at Redeemer Health, that include:

•Leadless pacemakers – a small device that sends slight electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain a suitable heart rate

•Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) – a device that helps the heart beat more efficiently and with better synchrony in certain heart conditions.

•Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) – a device that tracks heart rhythm and delivers very brief electric shocks for life-threatening heart rhythms to the heart muscle to make it beat in regular rhythm again.

To learn more about Redeemer Health’s expert testing, diagnosis, and treatment for life-threatening arrhythmias, visit https://www.redeemerhealth.org/services/health-care/heart-care or call 215-436-1420.

The best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. 

Reduce Your Exposure

We have all become very comfortable with the precautions put in place because of the COVID virus and these same steps can limit our exposure to the flu. 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after washing your hands.
• Keep a physical distance of six feet. 
• Try to stay away from sick people.
• Wear a face mask indoors. 

Get a Flu Vaccination

The flu vaccine is easily accessible and, should you catch the flu, can help reduce the severity. Studies show that when people receive the vaccine the need to go to the doctor because of flu is reduced by half and visits to the hospital’s intensive care unit are reduced by more than 80%. Building up immunity takes up to two weeks to develop after vaccination, so it’s best to get your flu shot as soon as possible.

"The vaccine is especially important for people 65 and older, as they have a higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu and should get the vaccine," says Dr. Merlyn S. Manattu, a primary care physician at Redeemer Health Family Medicine - Bensalem. "Everyone should get a flu shot, but it is more important for people who have chronic medical conditions since the flu can cause serious complications that could lead to hospitalization and sometimes, even death."

The Flu and COVID

Both illnesses can present with fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and fatigue. Fortunately, doctors can simultaneously test for COVID-19, flu, and even RSV, a common virus that infects the respiratory tract, to quickly discern a diagnosis and begin a treatment plan. "You can catch COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. And the impact could be more severe, resulting in great strain on your respiratory system," says Dr. Manattu. "The best line of defense is to get the flu vaccine to help protect yourself and others around you.

If Illness Should Occur

If you have flu-like symptoms drink plenty of fluids, take over-the-counter medications to relieve fever, aches, pains, congestion, and coughing, and stay home and rest until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.
    
People at high risk of complications from a virus, including young children, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions, should contact their doctor as soon as they begin to have flu symptoms. For others, you should see your doctor if your flu symptoms are not improving with over-the-counter treatments. Seek emergency care if you have a fever over 102 degrees, persistent vomiting, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or very swollen glands in your neck or jaw.

If you have not scheduled your flu vaccine yet, contact your primary care physician. If you have received your flu shot from another location, let your primary care team know to add it to your medical records. If you need a primary care physician referral, contact the Redeemer Health Information line at 1-800-818-4747. 
 

We all can remember one or two people who inspired us deeply, touched our spirits, shaped our thoughts and made us want to be like them. To the Sperger siblings, John, Mike, Father Herb, and Mary Jean, that person was Aunt Bernie. 

Aunt Bernie, also known as Sister Jean, was a member of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer, for 35 years, as well as a licensed practical nurse. She cared for and comforted patients and families during one of the most difficult time of their lives – the journey of facing terminal cancer.

Sister Jean grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin in a fun-loving, close-knit family of nine children. She spent a year at teachers college and worked as a bookkeeper for several companies before finding her vocation. The self-described free spirit said she “prayed that God would give me something to fill my life.”

Surprising her family and friends, she joined the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and worked in a number of Hawthorne Dominican Homes, including in Philadelphia. Her nurturing and care made a lasting impression on so many patients and their loved ones.

The 50th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Herbert and Maria, parents of the Sperger children, were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 1996. Father Herb, a former chaplain with Redeemer Health, suggested to his siblings that they could commemorate this special occasion and continue the legacy of Sister Jean, who died of cancer in 1991 at age 68, by creating an endowment fund. 

Father Herb and his siblings created The Sister Jean Endowment Fund to benefit hospice patients and their loved ones, especially those facing financial difficulties. Friends and family members gave donations in lieu of anniversary presents to help establish the fund. 

Now in its 25th year, the Sister Jean Endowment continues to provide much-needed dollars that make it possible for patients and families — at a deeply vulnerable time — to receive strength and support from a hospice team that nurtures their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

With community resource funding very limited, the Sister Jean Endowment has been a godsend for families without means, said Penny Farrell, a social worker with Redeemer Health. “This fund allows patients to die at home as they want, as their choice,” Penny said. “That is the overall major benefit of this program.”

For example, the Sister Jean Endowment helped a dying woman whose grown children lived at a distance, Penny said. The woman could not afford private care but through the fund was able to get support services so she could stay at home with her two dogs, which was very important to her. 

This year, the Sperger family expanded the use of the fund to assist not just hospice patients with cancer but also those with any terminal diagnosis, including heart disease, dementia and respiratory illnesses, said Redeemer Health Hospice Director of Clinical Operations Coleen McCann, RN, MSN. “Cancer is not our number one diagnosis anymore,” Coleen said.

There also are plans to tap into the fund to be able to send an aide to sit with a person in the hospital who can’t go home until their pain or anxiety is under control, she said. The family also approved use of the fund to assist with programmatic needs, such as ongoing education for hospice team members, Coleen said.

Over the years, the Sperger family’s inspirational gesture has touched countless families who need support during their hospice journey. Their generosity helps us fulfill our mission to care, comfort and heal.

The Legacy of Giving Across Generations

The Sperger siblings’ compassion and generosity are inspiring the next generation of the family.

Michael, the eldest grandson of Herbert and Maria, and his cousins continue Sister Jean’s legacy and pass along the call to care for others in need to the following generations. The family’s gifts bring great joy to many families and memorialize the devotion and spirit of Sister Jean.

 “Through the encouragement of my father, aunts and uncles, we have grown up very close and are faithfully connected to the work of caring for others,” Michael said.

We invite you to inspire others by getting involved and making a difference individually or with your family. Please contact the Redeemer Health Office of Philanthropy at 215-914-4000 or giving@holyredeemer.com, or visit httpps://www.redeemerhealth.org/giving/ways-give.
 

Cancer Met a Match

Abby Match is a vivacious, fun-loving woman -   mother, wife, dog-owner and breast cancer thriver.  Diagnosed at 35, Abby is passionate about informing women, especially young women, about the importance of screening, treatment and breast cancer awareness.

In March 2020, Abby was showering when she found a tiny lump in her armpit. She thought it was just a cyst. But by July, it had grown large enough for her to hold in her palm and a few months later she found out it was triple-negative breast cancer.

Abby got several opinions and felt she had decided on her treatment plan, but a friend told her she had to see Dr. Mehta from Redeemer Health in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. 

“To be honest, I secretly wanted to hate him,” says Abby. “ I thought I had made my decision, but he spoke one sentence, and the compassion and hope he gave me, I said this is where I need to be. He looked deeper. He knew the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes when the others didn’t. Who would say no to someone who wanted to aggressively save your life?” In fact, Abby and her husband realized there was yet another sign that this was meant to be.  “If you put Dr. Mehta’s name together with my last name you get Mehta Match - Cancer Met a Match, this became my anthem.”

Abby faced cancer with a positive attitude and quiet confidence. Walking into the infusion suite for the first time she recalls thinking, “I got this.” This assurance and peace of mind was sparked by all of the compassionate, kind people at Redeemer Health in partnership with MD Anderson at Cooper who supported her through eight rounds of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

"My husband could not go with me to chemo because of the pandemic, but they made an exception. They allowed my husband to come to one treatment because they saw it was important for him, to see what I was going through. They even invited my five-year-old daughter to look through the window to wave to me one day. These things may seem small, but they were really important for my family.”

She recalls how the convenience and accessibility to her appointments made her journey easier. “After treatment when I was not feeling well, I was so grateful I didn’t have to travel far to get home.”

“I want people to know that they have an amazing option close to home to get leading cancer care. A place that is special, not just because they cure cancer, but because they care. Hope is instilled the moment you walk in the door, you will feel different, for the better.” 

When Abby did complete her chemotherapy she rang the bell, outside in the garden. “My daughter thought it was the most beautiful place  - and so do I.” 

“I want to share my story to help others who may be going through this, so they know what to expect and where they could reach out, but also to raise awareness that breast cancer can happen even at 35.

This journey I’m on, it’s not where I saw my life going, but I’m going to make something of it. I’m going to make pink lemonade out of all the lemons. And that’s the best thing I can take from this experience.”

Learn more about breast cancer services at Redeemer Health in partnership

with MD Anderson at Cooper.

Holy Redeemer Hospital has earned several formal distinctions by The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for achievement in stroke care and diabetes care. 

The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, as well as the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award, attest to our commitment to provide the most appropriate treatment to patients according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

“We are dedicated to delivering the best care to our patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Initiative,” says Kisha Martin, MD, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Holy Redeemer Hospital. “The tools and resources provided help us monitor and measure our success utilizing the most up-to-date clinical guidelines developed to improve patient health outcomes.”

Holy Redeemer Hospital also received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award, a distinction that signified stringent compliance with a series of quality measures. 

In addition to care for a wide variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, Redeemer Health primary care providers treat and help to manage diabetes, as well as other factors that can put a person at risk for a stroke, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Additionally, the health system offers a Diabetes Management program, which provides guidance and education to people living with diabetes. For more information, visit RedeemerHealth.org or call 1-800-818-4747.
 

Holy Redeemer Hospital has earned several formal distinctions by The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for achievement in stroke care and diabetes care.

For stroke care, the hospital earned The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, as well as the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award. Both awards signal our commitment to provide treatment that follows nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

“We are dedicated to delivering the best care to our patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Initiative,” says Kisha Martin, MD, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Holy Redeemer Hospital. “The tools and resources provided help us monitor and measure our success utilizing the most up-to-date clinical guidelines developed to improve patient health outcomes.”

Should a stroke emergency occur, patients can feel confident that Holy Redeemer Hospital’s Emergency Department has the knowledge and resources to provide the most effective, immediate care and treatment.

For diabetes care, the Hospital received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award, a distinction that signifies stringent compliance with a series of quality measures.

In addition to expert, compassionate care for a wide variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, Redeemer Health primary care providers treat and help to manage diabetes, as well as other factors that can put a person at risk for a stroke, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. To find a Redeemer Health primary care provider, visit our provider directory.

Additionally, people coping with diabetes appreciate Redeemer Health’s Diabetes Management program, which offers valuable guidance and education about living with this condition.
 

Redeemer Health now offers minimally invasive surgical options that often result in minimal to no scarring and faster recovery time. Candidates for this surgery include individuals who need gynecologic, urologic, thoracic, cardiac, and general surgical procedures.

Surgeons will use a recently acquired structure known as the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System to aid in this surgery. The most advanced da Vinci System available, its 3D-HD magnification and sophisticated instrumentation extend the capabilities of a surgeon’s eyes and hands. Surgeons can magnify the view of a surgical area 10 times to what the human eye sees, and with the assistance of this magnification, use tiny, wristed instruments that move like a human hand, but with far greater motion and precision.

“It is vital to provide patients with as many treatment options as possible to make sure they receive care specifically tailored to their needs,” says Catherine Cahill, DO, General Surgeon with Redeemer Health Surgical Associates and the Division Chief of General Surgery and Chair of Robotics Program, Holy Redeemer Hospital. “With the da Vinci robot, we now can provide patients with close-to-home, robotic-assisted surgical care allowing our patients to return to their daily lives more quickly and with less narcotic pain medication following a procedure."

To learn more about Redeemer Health’s minimally invasive surgical options, please call Redeemer Health Surgical Associates at 215-938-3145.