Page 34 - April 2017 Newspaper

★ ★ ★ Salute to ★
★
★
★ ★ Volunteers ★ ★

MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MIRAMAR

Dennis and Myra Jeanie Gardner
Kalodish
For Jeanie Gardner, a volunteer at Memorial Hospital
Miramar, the best times are when she is busy, answering
For nearly 10 years, Dennis and
Myra Kalodish have been practicing phones, receiving flowers, and directing family members
pet therapy at hospitals throughout who are unsure where to go. “I like to interact with peo-
the Memorial Healthcare System. ple and try to be helpful at what I know are difficult
Currently volunteering at times.”
Memorial Regional Hospital, the Gardner has spent two afternoons a week at the hospi-
couple, along with their Golden tal since 2006. She spends most of her time at the info
Retrievers Samie and Charlie, visit desk, but also helps with discharges, and will take on
patients and families to ‘put a little whatever task is necessary at the time.
sunshine into long and stressful days.’ “On one occasion, I was the right person at the worst time for a family in the surgical
“The reactions we get are amazing,” said Dennis. “We enter rooms of people who are waiting room whose relative didn’t make it. We spent two hours together and I provided
hurting and angry, but seeing the dog changes everything. Petting them calms the patient an outlet for their emotions,” said Gardner. “This was several years ago, but the family
and inevitably they start sharing stories of animals they’ve known and loved.” still calls and sends holiday cards. I really felt like I made a difference.”
While relieving stress is the main goal, there have been instances where a visit from one
of the Kalodish dogs has provided the spark needed for recovery. “When we visit stroke Nilda Ramos
patients, I always make sure to position the dog on the side of the patient’s body that’s
been affected,” said Myra. “There have been times that a patient’s first smile or hand A conversation overheard during a near-death experi-
movement on the paralyzed side has come from them wanting to interact with the dog.” ence in 2009 set Memorial Hospital Miramar’s Nilda
According to Dennis and Myra, the ‘warm joy’ from the experience goes both ways. Ramos on a volunteer mission she still fulfills today.
“The dogs know who needs them and are unconditionally accepting of who and what the “I was dead on arrival at the emergency room. No
patients are. It’s not about sickness or anything that might be happening in the room, pulse. No blood pressure,” said the former nurse. “I was
only about the connection taking place.” unresponsive, but I heard people around me talking
Samie and Charlie have their own identification badges and will visit anyone in the about how a teenager had lost her baby during pregnancy
hospital, including the staff, that might benefit from their presence. “They’ve become and had no clothes to bury the child in. I vowed right
celebrities and take lots of selfies,” said Myra. “It’s an amazing volunteer path they’ve led then that if I survived, I was going to help people in that
us down.” situation.”
After more than 300 days in the hospital and seven surgeries, Ramos did survive her
bout with peritonitis, and has been making angel gowns, hats, booties, and blankets for
JOE DIMAGGIO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL babies ever since. It is a gift she quietly leaves for grateful parents at one of the lowest
points in their lives.

Alexandra Folleco MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PEMBROKE

Perhaps more than any volunteer at Joe DiMaggio
Children’s Hospital, Alexandra Folleco knows what fami- Nat Gross
lies go through when a child is hospitalized with a serious
illness. Her sister, Daniella, was a cancer patient who You can’t help but feel the exuberance Nat Gross has for
became an angel in 2007 when Alexandra was just eight- the volunteer work he does at Memorial Hospital
years-old. Pembroke. “It’s my purpose in life,” he says.
“It was a long journey coming back to the hospital, but Gross has donated more than 15,000 hours since 2006
it’s been part of the healing process for me,” said Folleco. to Memorial Healthcare System, much of it in human
“I understand the physical and emotional stress families resources. He runs the file room, rearranging things when
are under and can pay it forward by helping them.” needed, and likes the feeling of accomplishment it pro-
Folleco, now a senior at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, has been a volunteer for vides. At 84, he’s not even close to slowing down. “I love
nearly three years and is president of the hospital’s Youth Advisory Council, a nonprofit what I’m doing and am glad to still be able to do every-
comprised of teens that advocate for children and are involved in patient and family cen- thing that’s needed.”
tered-care policies and issues. She also leads “Daniella’s Journey” outreach at her school In addition to his Monday-Friday work in HR, Gross
where she has been nominated for the Miami Herald’s Silver Knight Award for service to has also contributed in the pharmacy, laboratory, medical staffing, administration, and
school and community. Folleco also accepted the “Spirit of Healing” award from the at nursing stations.
Memorial and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundations on behalf of the Youth and “We call him ‘fantastic’ and it’s clear our hospital wouldn’t be the same without this
Family Advisory Councils. talented gentleman,” said Ben Roth, a member of Memorial Hospital Pembroke’s Human
Resources department. “We are very proud to have him here.”
Brendan McNulty
Patricia Sandoval
A Hollywood resident for more than 30 years, Brendan
McNulty wanted to contribute to an organization that In the future, Patricia Sandoval hopes her name has a
made a difference in the community. That led him to Joe “Dr.” in front of it, so she’s doing all she can now to
DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, a facility he’s volunteered at immerse herself in the environment at Memorial Hospital
since 2011. “I just wanted to be there for the kids, help Pembroke.
make them comfortable and their lives less stressful.” Sandoval, a 17-year-old student at Flanagan High
More than 2,200 hours later, McNulty is a lead volunteer School in Pembroke Pines, has been a volunteer since
at the hospital, interviewing, scheduling, and training oth- 2014, accruing more than 500 service hours during that
ers willing to donate their time. He also spends time in the time. She has assisted all over the hospital, including
Family Resource Center - where his goal is to provide com- human resources department, pharmacy, and emergency
fort, care, and information – and is a liaison between families and hospital administra- rooms, but likes her role as a greeter of visitors the most.
tion. It’s there that she can interact with people, provide directions, and use her fluency in
“The feeling of helping others is very inspirational,” said McNulty. “I was in the play- English and Spanish to help those with questions.
room one day with an autistic child whose mother told me was nonverbal. But while we “Patricia is very determined and a real pleasure to be around,” said Ben Roth, a mem-
were doing a puzzle, I was pointing to objects and the child spoke. ber of Memorial Hospital Pembroke’s Human Resources department. “We appreciate her
I’ll do anything to help someone or this hospital.” commitment and dedication to our facility.”

34 April 2017 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News