Category Archives: Inspirational Stories

Mackenzie’s Story: A Three-Year-Old Fights for Her Life with the Help of a Compassionate, Dedicated and Highly Skilled Care Team

Mackenzie continues to inspire everyone around her with joy that shines through her continued challenges that include loss of her sight and ongoing surgeries.

Three-year-old Mackenzie was prescribed antibiotics for a routine ear infection. No one could have imagined that this simple treatment would trigger a severe reaction, sending her to The Herb and Sue Ann Redl Pediatric Emergency Department at MidHudson Regional Hospital. As blisters and swelling rapidly spread across her tiny body, the team moved quickly to stabilize and comfort her. Mackenzie’s condition required more specialized care. She was transferred to WMCHealth’s Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, home to the region’s only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Doctors diagnosed Mackenzie with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis — a rare and life-threatening disorder that affected not only her skin but also her mouth, throat and eyes. Mackenzie spent four months in the hospital bravely fighting for her life. Today, she is back home, with her six siblings and mother as she continues to captivate them with her infections smile, unstoppable spirit and love for singing and dancing. We hope you will consider making a gift to help ensure that children like Mackenzie receive life-saving care when they need it most. Please give to MidHudson Regional Hospital and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital today!

Please give to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital or MidHudson Regional Hospital today!

DONATE NOW TO MARIA FARERI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

DONATE NOW TO MIDHUDSON REGIONAL HOSPITAL

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Critically Ill Patients Are Grateful for Airlift Transport When Minutes Matter in Reaching More Specialized Care

Unexpected health emergencies quickly turn our world upside down and access to the highest quality care is what matters most.

Margaretville Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, is a life-saving resource for countless patients each year. “I am deeply grateful to the care teams at Margaretville Hospital and for airlift transport to Westchester Medical Center. Every minute mattered in getting me the care I needed so I could return home to my family,” said this grateful patient. By contributing to our Heliport Campaign, you can help us build a state-of-the-art heliport at Margaretville Hospital. Your generosity will ensure swift transport for patients requiring specialized acute care, including cases of trauma, brain injuries and cardiac emergencies. Please give to Margaretville Hospital today!

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Chris’s Story: An Ironworker Fights for His Life After a Catastrophic Fall and Today Serves As an Inspiration to All

Last year, 31-year-old ironworker Chris suffered a catastrophic accident while working high above a construction site.

He plummeted 30 feet to the ground, sustaining life-threatening injuries, including the loss of his leg, multiple fractures and severe brain trauma. He was transported to Westchester Medical Center where he underwent life-saving surgery. Over the next month, he endured 17 surgeries on his path to recovery. Chris serves as an inspiration to everyone who knows him, continuing his determined journey toward healing with the support of his family, doctors and therapists. Your gifts can support families like Chris’ and the new Critical Care Tower that will soon rise on our campus to deliver the highest quality care to patients for generations to come. Please give to Westchester Medical Center today!

Please give to Westchester Medical Center today!

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Mickey Hall: Making a Difference

“I like to say ‘thank you’ to my doctors and nurses by sending a donation to St. Anthony rather than just being treated and walking away. It doesn’t hurt my pocketbook, and I know that it makes a difference.”

Join Mickey and show your gratitude at Give.WMCHealth.org/SACH

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org

More inspirational stories from St. Anthony Community Hospital:

Juan Lopez: Supporting for Women’s Health Services at St. Anthony

Breast cancer awareness and prevention are deeply personal to Juan Lopez. “I lost my mother to breast cancer, and I want other women and their families to know about getting screened for this disease,” he said. “I also want to keep my mother’s memory strong.”

As an officer of The Mustang Club of Orange County, Juan shared his idea for a breast cancer event, open to the public, with the other club officers, Steve Matola, Sidney Silverman Bayer and Tom Perillo. And five years ago, they began to host their Breast Cancer Awareness Car Cruise to benefit Women’s Health Services at St. Anthony Community Hospital.

Their message during the cruise is loud and clear: Be aware, get screened and support local healthcare.

“St. Anthony is my hospital. They do a really great job for people in Warwick and nearby communities, and they’re small enough to care about their patients as neighbors,” Juan said. “The hospital needs community support to continue to provide the best care possible, like having the newest mammography equipment. We’re happy to do our part as a club to help!”

If you are interested in hosting a community event — like The Mustang Club of Orange County — to benefit a specific department at St. Anthony Community Hospital, please contact us at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org or 845.368.5151.

Join Juan and show your gratitude at Give.WMCHealth.org/SACH

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org

More inspirational stories from St. Anthony Community Hospital:

Bill’s Story: My Doctor for More Than 25 Years

“Dr. Hirsch has cared for me since 1997. I am so grateful that he and Good Samaritan Hospital are here for me year after year.

“My wife, who was a nurse at Good Sam, knew him and always said that he was top-notch. She was thankful for his expertise, professionalism and kindness.

“Beyond my cardiac needs, Dr. Hirsch has stepped up to help me manage other challenging health issues. It’s really great that I can rely on him with complete confidence that he knows what’s right for me. We’ve gotten to know each other very well!

“Dr. Hirsch also took care of my mother-in-law. We credit him for keeping her alive for many years.

“I also have only excellent things to say about the staff at Good Samaritan. They take the time to listen and they truly care. What a special group of people.

“Donations from patients and their families help Good Samaritan’s doctors, like Dr. Hirsch, continue to provide our community the care we need. So if you can give a charitable gift, please do. It really does make a difference.”

Join Bill and show your gratitude at Give.WMCHealth.org/GSH.

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org.

More inspirational stories from Good Samaritan Hospital:

James’s Story: Grateful Giving to Express My Thanks

“Sometimes, I don’t think twice when I see brochures in plexiglass holders,” said James Obrotka. “But I picked up Good Sam’s Grateful Giving brochure after I rang my ‘radiation finished’ bell. I wanted to show my gratitude to everyone who cared for me by making a donation to the hospital.”

James, who lives in Warwick, came to Good Samaritan Hospital for prostate cancer care. He said that he needed specialized services more advanced than those offered at St. Anthony Community Hospital, which, along with Good Samaritan, is part of Bon Secours Charity Health System and the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. Now that he has completed most of his treatment in Suffern, he can receive additional therapy in Warwick.

“I was very impressed throughout my entire experience at Good Sam,” James said. “I have only great things to say about my doctors, the nurses, the receptionist, the maintenance workers and everyone else.”

Just like him, James encourages others to pick up our Grateful Giving brochure. He said, “If you make a donation to show your appreciation for Good Sam’s staff, it will make a difference for our hospital. And it will let your healthcare team know that they’ve made a difference for you!” 

Join James and show your gratitude at Give.WMCHealth.org/GSH.

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org.

More inspirational stories from Good Samaritan Hospital:

Uri’s Story: Treated Like a Neighbor

“We are fortunate to have Good Samaritan Hospital and Dr. Fraiman here for our community. Dr. Fraiman is extremely intelligent and experienced, clearly an expert in his field. He takes the time to provide thorough information and answer questions, and I appreciated that I never felt rushed. He also is extraordinarily kind, and that means a lot when you’re dealing with health issues.

“Good Samaritan is an excellent hospital. The staff members provide high-quality care, and they, too, are kind and compassionate. Being treated like a neighbor instead of just a patient adds a comforting personal touch.

“Good Sam, as a non-profit hospital, uses donations from patients, family and friends to increase its investments in healthcare advancements. And these are the advances that allow us to stay close to home for the best possible care. I hope that you will make Good Sam a priority in your charitable giving.“

Join Uri and show your gratitude at Give.WMCHealth.org/GSH.

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org.

More inspirational stories from Good Samaritan Hospital:

Michael’s Story: Swift Care and Coordination Save the Life of a 68-Year-Old Man with a Heart Arrhythmia

Michael Wartman said if there is one thing he has learned from his experience at Margaretville Hospital, it is that teamwork makes all the difference in a medical emergency.

“I can’t say enough about everyone who helped me,’’ said Wartman, 68 of Baltimore, MD. “From the exceptional healthcare team at Margaretville Hospital to the first responders who literally carried me across the field to the helicopter. I was very lucky.”

Wartman, who is an avid runner, was visiting his close friend in Margaretville on Columbus Day weekend when he went for a run. As he was running down a steep driveway, he suddenly felt dizzy and fainted. When he returned to his friend’s house, they took his blood pressure. It was so high that they immediately headed for the Emergency Department at Margaretville Hospital. 

Wartman said that after doctors stabilized him, an ambulance took him to a field where they airlifted him to HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston. There, doctors discovered that he had an arrythmia.

“My family has a history of heart disease, so I am glad that doctors were able to diagnose the problem,” said Wartman. He is now back home and is on medication, has returned to running, and says he feels healthier than ever.

“I’m very grateful,” he said. “I would urge anyone to donate to help the hospital. They certainly deserve it.”

Please give to Margaretville Hospital today!

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Jessica’s Story: Mom and Twins Survive High-Risk Pregnancy and Premature Birth and are Now Thriving

Jessica Franjul-Pena is grateful for the care she and her twins, Ethan Lorenzo and Katalina, received at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network.

Because Jessica conceived through in vitro fertilization, she was monitored closely from the start of her pregnancy. When she was eighteen weeks pregnant, Jessica was diagnosed with chronic hypertension. She was immediately referred to a maternal medicine specialist at Westchester Medical Center. Ultrasound monitoring also later revealed that one of the twins was not thriving as she should have been, and doctors decided to watch the babies even more closely.  

“I had great doctors,’’ said Jessica. “They were really on top of my case, monitoring me and the babies every step of the way.”

Thirty-three weeks into her pregnancy, Jessica’s doctors discovered her liver enzymes were dangerously high. She had developed superimposed preeclampsia, putting both her and the babies at risk. At that point, her medical team decided it would be safest to induce labor even though the babies would be premature. The twins were born on December 21, 2023 and were sent to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Ethan spent 11 days in the NICU and Katalina spent 24 days there.  

“The NICU experience was amazing. Everyone was always so kind. It’s such a difficult job but they always remained friendly and helpful. There’s a lot to learn in caring for a preemie. They teach you so much,” Jessica said.

Now, Jessica, Ethan Lorenzo, and Katalina are all doing well.

Please give to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital or Westchester Medical Center today!

DONATE NOW TO MARIA FARERI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

DONATE NOW TO WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER

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More inspirational stories from Westchester Medical Center: