Author Archive: admin

Donna’s Story: Heart Surgery Results in Happy Ending for Aspiring Actress

Donna James had just retired from her job as an editorial assistant at New York Medical College. After 35 years working at the college, she was looking forward to concentrating on her first love: Acting.

She was looking forward to pursuing her acting career when she noticed she wasn’t feeling quite herself. Donna went for a checkup with her primary physician, who diagnosed her with a rare tumor of the adrenal gland. Donna was referred to a cardiologist at Westchester Medical Center who closely monitored her blood pressure medication so she could safely undergo the removal of the tumor.

Today, Donna, who lives in Ossining, now enjoys the active retirement she dreamed of and thanks her doctors at Westchester Medical Center for giving her a new lease on life.

“I feel really blessed that they caught this,” she says. “Thanks to the care and attention I received, I’m now busy pursuing my dream via community theater. Hollywood here I come!”

In addition to acting, Donna is giving back to Westchester Medical Center Heart and Vascular Institute. She was recently featured as a model at our Girls’ Night Out event, raising funds and awareness for women’s heart health.

Please give to Westchester Medical Center today!

Donate Now

More inspirational stories from Westchester Medical Center:

Tom’s Story: Margaretville Resident Makes Recovery from Serious Fall Thanks to Local Care

Thomas Maulik, 79, is grateful for the high-quality, patient-centered care he received at Margaretville Hospital after a bad fall in November of 2022.

After attending his great granddaughter’s birthday party, Tom, a lifelong Margaretville resident, came down with a mild illness. He and Christine, his wife of 53 years, thought nothing of it until Tom fell in his home one evening. Too weak to stand, he was taken by ambulance to Margaretville Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network.

Over the next two and a half months, Tom underwent rehabilitation at the hospital, relearning how to stand and walk thanks to his twice-a-day rehab sessions and the dedicated nurses and support staff who encouraged his recovery. Christine also provided lots of TLC. Since the hospital is in their community, she could visit Tom every day.

“They gave my husband his life back,” says Christine. “We weren’t sure Tom would ever be home again, but thanks to the excellent care he received, we’re back there together, laughing all the time.”

More inspirational stories from Margaretville Hospital:

Lana’s Story: Care Close to Home Gives Kingston Resident Piece of Mind

Lana Kaminskaya of Kingston is grateful that she can receive treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer close to home.

Lana, 75, discovered a lump in her breast during a routine self-exam in October of 2022. When further tests confirmed that it was cancer, her doctors immediately began chemotherapy treatment at the Infusion Center at HealthAlliance Hospital. Since then, Lana’s tumor has shrunk. Her doctors continue to monitor her progress.

Lana is so grateful she receives care just minutes from her front door. “People told me I need to get treatment in New York City and I said no. Without family support, without your own bed, you can’t heal,” she says. She is also thankful for the hospital’s Oncology Support Program, which has connected her with various local resources and help groups. Lana says, “My doctors and nurses are amazing, and so is the community’s support. It really matters when so many people are behind you.”

Please give to HealthAlliance Hospital today!

Donate Now

More inspirational stories from HealthAlliance Hospital:

Margaretville Hospital to hold Art Auction May 20

Proceeds will Support Hospital Programs

MARGARETVILLE, N.Y. (March 29, 2023) – A variety of works by local artists will be up for sale as part of an art auction supporting Margaretville Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth).

The third annual art auction will be held Saturday, May 20, at Liberal Arts Roxbury, 53525 Main Street, Roxbury, N.Y. Auction proceeds will support specific projects at the hospital. Past art auctions raised more than $30,000 to help purchase new medical technologies for the Margaretville Hospital’s women’s health services.

Art works for auction will be on display at Liberal Arts Roxbury starting May 13, but can be viewed online now at Give.WMCHealth.org/CATCH23

About Westchester Medical Center Health Network

The Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) is a 1,700-bed healthcare system headquartered in Valhalla, New York, with nine hospitals on seven campuses spanning 6,200 square miles of the Hudson Valley. WMCHealth employs more than 13,000 people and has nearly 3,000 attending physicians. The Network has Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 adult and pediatric trauma centers, the region’s only acute care children’s hospital, an academic medical center, several community hospitals, dozens of specialized institutes and centers, Comprehensive and Primary Stroke Centers, skilled nursing, assisted living facilities, home-care services and one of the largest mental health systems in New York State. Today, WMCHealth is the pre-eminent provider of integrated health care in the Hudson Valley. For more information about WMCHealth, visit WMCHealth.org or follow WMCHealth on Facebook.com/WMCHealth or Instagram.com/WMCHealth.

Chloe and Contessa Gee

Chloe and Contessa’s Story: Life-Saving Heart Surgery for Yonkers Twins

Chloe and Contessa Gee of Yonkers underwent heart surgery in July of 2020 when they were two months old. Their mother, Saleena Gee, was just 23 weeks pregnant when she gave birth to the twin girls at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.

Weighing barely a pound, they were rushed to the Isaac and Naomi Kaplan Family Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RNICU), where it was discovered that both had small holes in their hearts. Following surgery to close the holes using cardiac catheterization, the girls began thriving and went home two months later.

Saleena thanked the doctors and nurses for giving her daughters, now two, the chance to grow up.  She said with speech and occupational therapy, the girls are now happy and healthy toddlers.

“I feel really blessed that Chloe and Contessa received world-class care at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital,” she says. “Our care team supported us through every hurdle and the girls are thriving today.”

Please give to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital today!

Donate Now

More inspirational stories from Maria Fareri Childrens Hospital:

Miracle Marcos

Marcos at age 4, alongside his parents, Mailyn and Marcos, and his neonatologist, Dr. Melanie…

Read More

Couple Married 66 Years Share Good Health After TAVR Procedure at Good Samaritan

A couple married for 66 years celebrated their Valentine’s Day in good health, thanks to minimally invasive heart surgery they each had at Good Samaritan Hospital, a member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth).

Elizabeth and James Mooney are now enjoying their retirement in Florida after undergoing a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, procedure at the Suffern hospital.

James was the hospital’s first patient to undergo TAVR in January 2021. Elizabeth had hers late last year.

Chirag Badami, MD, their heart surgeon at Good Samaritan, said TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that repairs the aortic valve. It takes about an hour and a half, and patients typically go home in a day. Prior to TAVR, patients had to undergo open heart surgery with more potential for complications and longer recovery time.

“This couple of 60 plus years got to prolong their lives and live symptom-free for hopefully many more years to come,” said Dr. Badami.

Good Samaritan Hospital recently reached a milestone of 100 transcatheter aortic valve replacements.

WMCHealth’s Girls Night Out Honors Heart Disease Survivors and Raises Awareness about Women’s Heart Health

Fundraiser for WMCHealth’s Heart and Vascular Institute draws more than 400

VALHALLA, NY (February, 24 2023) – Girls’ Night Out, a heartwarming evening featuring tributes to heart disease survivors and their caregivers, was held Feb. 9 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. WCBS-TV news anchor Mary Calvi emceed the event with proceeds benefiting the WMCHealth Heart & Vascular Institute, which offers comprehensive cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery services to patients of all ages, as well as a heart disease prevention program. A sellout crowd of over 400 attended.

The evening included dining, dancing and a fashion show featuring healthcare providers and patients modeling fashions from Macy’s at Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers, the event’s main sponsor. Other sponsors included Boston Children’s Health Physicians; Compass One; Garfunkel Wild, Heidell, Pittone, Murphy & Bach LLP; Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP; New York Medical College; The Premier Collection; ShopRite; TD Bank; Tompkins Bank; Unitex; Vizient; Vigorito, Barker, Patterson, Nichols & Porter, LLP and Wilson Elser.

February is Heart Health Awareness Month. Heart disease is still the number one killer of women in the United States, accounting for about one in every five female deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Julio Panza, MD, Director of the Department of Cardiology at Westchester Medical Center, said that the heart’s function affects many systems of the body. “Because there is truly a connection between our hearts and so many other systems in our bodies, interdisciplinary collaboration between all of our clinical specialists is so important,’ he said. “Our work to change and save lives is truly a collaboration that delivers miracles every day.’’

Gabbie Fried, RN, Vice President of Cardiovascular Services with the Heart & Vascular Institute said heart health awareness and prevention effort are key in reducing heart disease risks.

“Our new Cardiovascular Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program works to prevent coronary disease and save lives,’ she said. “Through education and screening and by developing a personal plan for exercise and healthy eating the prevention team works to head off potential heart problems.’’

Ribbon Cutting at MidHudson Regional Hospital

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (January 24, 2023) — MidHudson Regional Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Health Network (WMCHealth), today held a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the new Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services inpatient pediatrics unit at the hospital. 

The new inpatient pediatrics unit or “neighborhood” at MidHudson Regional Hospital officially opened at the end of 2022 and now features 10 private rooms – double the amount of the hospital’s prior inpatient pediatrics unit – with private bathrooms, showers and sleeping accommodations for a child’s caregivers. 

The inpatient neighborhood also features a new infusion center and welcoming spaces for music and art therapy, and other child life activities promoting healing.

“We’ve experienced an incredible response from the community since Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital launched in 2020. This inpatient service expansion and environment upgrade will help us provide inpatient pediatric services to even more families in the Poughkeepsie area and surrounding communities,” said Michael Gewitz, MD, Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations for WMCHealth as well as the Executive Director and William Russell McCurdy Physician-in-Chief at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. “In many regions across the country, there is limited access to inpatient pediatric care, and this expansion demonstrates WMCHealth’s continued commitment to investing in specialized services that benefit our entire community.” 

“Ensuring accessible, quality care for children in Dutchess County is critical, and today’s dedication and unveiling of this expanded inpatient facility will go a long way toward strengthening our community health,” said Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O’Neil. “We thank the staff at WMCHealth, MidHudson Regional Hospital, and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital for their leadership and continued commitment to improving children’s healthcare in our area.” 

The Mid-Hudson Region’s Choice for Pediatric Hospital Care

The new and expanded inpatient pediatrics neighborhood at MidHudson Regional Hospital exemplifies WMCHealth’s continuing commitment to the health and wellbeing of children in the Mid-Hudson region and beyond. Since WMCHealth launched Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital a little over two years ago, the hospital has recorded more than 1,100 inpatient discharges and 10,000 pediatric emergency department visits. 

“The pediatric care team has always included nurses skilled in pediatric care and in response to the community’s trust in our service, WMCHealth recruited hospital-based pediatricians and allied professionals to the 24/7 MidHudson Regional Hospital staff, added a pediatric emergency medicine specialist, launched pediatric subspecialty telehealth consultative services, and debuted a pediatric ambulatory surgery program,” said Jenny Sung, MD, the onsite clinical director for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital. 

A Continuum of Care, Close to Home

Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital supplies care under the auspices of WMCHealth’s Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, which is renowned locally and nationally as a provider of high-quality subspecialty pediatric care. If advanced pediatric care is necessary, an in-network patient transfer from MidHudson Regional Hospital to the nearby Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is seamless and ensures children continue to receive care as close to home as possible. 

“My family owes everything to the talented and dedicated staff at MidHudson Regional Hospital. Without them, my son might not be with us today,” said Jeanine Geiser, a Beacon, NY resident and mother of Chase Pultz, 8. “Chase’s care began at MidHudson Regional Hospital where he was diagnosed with a severe infection that needed immediate advanced care. Chase was transferred to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital where he spent a month in the pediatric intensive care unit. Today, Chase is doing well and enjoying life the way a boy his age should. 

“My son’s case shows the importance of specialized pediatric care here in Dutchess County and the Mid-Hudson region,” continued Geiser, “and the unit’s opening will enable more families to benefit from MidHudson Regional Hospital’s pediatric services.” 

Recognizing Local History

The expanded pediatric inpatient accommodations at MidHudson Regional Hospital were modeled after Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital where pediatric inpatient units are referred to as neighborhoods – Sailing, Heroes, Flight, Theater, Arts, Literature and Athletics – with themed décors for a welcoming and family-friendly healing environment. As an homage to the MidHudson Valley’s rich agricultural history the MidHudson Regional Hospital inpatient unit will carry a “Farming” theme and name. The Farming Neighborhood at MidHudson Regional Hospital is open for the care of children and their caregivers. 

The inpatient pediatric service is a component of Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital, which also includes pediatric emergency and outpatient services. Families interested in learning more about Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital should visit our website.