Category Archives: Inspirational Stories

John’s Story: God Bless Good Samaritan Hospital!

“God Bless Good Samaritan Hospital! My family and I deeply appreciate Good Sam’s cardiac team for the excellent care they provided when I was there for quadruple bypass surgery,” said John Sovak. “Knowing that charitable gifts really do make a difference for the hospital, we are only too happy to support its Foundation.”

After experiencing cardiac symptoms, the Suffern resident learned that he needed coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Cary Passik, MD performed the surgery, which diverted blood around the narrowed and clogged parts of John’s major arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to his heart. 

“My clearest and most powerful memory of my time in the cardiovascular intensive care unit is how caring and kind the staff members were. They were responsive, thorough and authentically compassionate. It also was a big plus that I was able to have my surgery and follow up care close to home,” John said.

John emphasizes the value of philanthropy to Good Samaritan, “Donations from our Rockland County community help save lives for local residents like me.”

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

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org.

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John’s Story: Good Samaritan, Where You’re Treated Like Family

John Kroog and his wife Nancy say that when they walk into Good Samaritan Hospital, they have come to a place where the staff warmly welcomes them. He said, “Good Samaritan provides excellent care and they also treat you like family,” John has had several inpatient stays at Good Samaritan and though his memory of time in the hospital during the longest admissions is fuzzy, he does have clarity recalling how kind the nurses, personal care assistants and other staff were to him. 

Nancy’s memories of the care her husband received are crisp. Every person on our care team was skilled and professional and, equally important, caring and kind,” she said. “They took the time to communicate the details of John’s care and his progress with me and our children, and they patiently and clearly answered our questions.” 

When they consider the impact of charitable giving from local businesses and individuals on Good Samaritan’s ongoing investments in patient care, John’s message to donors is concise, “Your money is well spent. It helps make this is a great hospital.”

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

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org.

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Phyllis’s Story: Strong Connections Lead to Deep Gratitude

“If you’ve made charitable gifts to the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, we may have spoken over the phone. I volunteer to call donors and thank them for their gifts. At Good Samaritan, we want to share our gratitude for your support.

“I have strong emotional connections to Good Sam. Raising three sons and growing older with my husband here, it has always been our hospital. It’s part of our family history, from the birth of our youngest son to the life-saving surgery our middle son needed as an infant. When I drive by the building on Lafayette Avenue, I still see the window I looked out while waiting for him to wake up from surgery.

“When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, my emotional connections with the hospital were critical to my patient experiences, from diagnosis to surgery and from subsequent treatment to recovery.

“We are so fortunate to have Good Samaritan in our ‘backyard.’ The care we can receive here is, in part, in our hands — so let’s all do what we can, small or large, to help make sure Good Samaritan continues to provide the care we need.”

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

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org.

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Howard’s Story: Always Finding Ways to Give

“I wish I could personally thank every staff member who took care of me when I was a patient at Good Samaritan Hospital. So many wonderful people all came together to look after me,” said Nanuet resident Howard Krulik. 

Mr. Krulik shared his gratitude by making a financial gift to the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation. “I am not wealthy, but I always find ways to give to charities,” he said. “I support Good Samaritan because it’s important to support our community hospital.”

As the number of coronavirus patients began to increase at an alarming rate in March 2020, Mr. Krulik was treated for another health issue at our Intensive Care Unit. He recalls feeling safe throughout his time here. He said that he also was very impressed with how the nurses were able to stay calm and compassionate under stressful circumstances.

Mr. Krulik said, “I used to be afraid to go to the hospital, but I’m not afraid at Good Sam. I’ve needed to rely a lot on its staff, and they’ve become family to me.  I’ll always be grateful that our local hospital provides such great care!”

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

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org.

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Gene’s Story: My First Choice

“I support Good Sam – and I hope you will too. Their healthcare teams deliver professional, excellent, compassionate care, and the hospital is well equipped to safely provide the services our community needs.” 

Good Samaritan was Gene Cortes’ first choice when he needed surgery. Even though COVID-19 was in news headlines, he said that our staff took every possible precaution to reduce virus transmission, and he felt completely safe here. Gene believes that high-quality local healthcare is more important than ever, and he is grateful to have Good Samaritan close to home. 

Before relocating to Florida, Gene Cortes was a former member of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, owner of International Collision and New City resident.

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

Share your story at InfoBSCH@wmhealth.org.

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Wendy’s Story: New Parkinson’s Treatment at MidHudson Hospital Gives Patient More Freedom

Wendy McCarthy of Millbrook has her life back thanks to a new treatment for Parkinson’s disease that is giving her more personal freedom.

When Wendy, 67, received her diagnosis seven years ago, her doctors prescribed medications to control her symptoms. As the disease progressed, she required larger doses. Due to an unfortunate side effect of the medication, Wendy began experiencing involuntary movement, which made everyday tasks difficult and hindered her ability to travel, something she really enjoys.

Wendy’s care team at MidHudson Regional Hospital recognized she would be a great candidate for deep brain stimulation — surgically implanting electrodes in regions of the brain affected by Parkinson’s. Wendy was the first patient at Westchester Medical Center to have this procedure, which has greatly reduced her symptoms.

“The care I receive at Westchester Medical Center and MidHudson Regional Hospital is phenomenal. The staff at both hospitals work as a team and they have all my information in the system, which makes visits a lot easier. And the best part is I don’t have to go all the way to New York City.”

This treatment has allowed Wendy to continue to travel the world, with plans to visit her family in Greece this spring.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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!

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