Caring Relationships - Gundersen Health System

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A Peaceful Death, A Grateful Daughter Marilee Hemstock-Swenson has maintained strong ties to La Crosse, even though she now makes her home in Mantorville, Minnesota. She’s received medical care in nearby Rochester, and also in Arizona where she spends her winters. Nowhere has she seen the friendly atmosphere she has experienced at Gundersen Lutheran. “I still feel more at home here,” Marilee admits. Her admiration for the quality of care provided at Gundersen Lutheran took on a new dimension this year, during the final illness of her 91-year old mother, Midge (Mildred) Hemstock. “Mother was very ready to die. She wanted to be with her Lord, and my dad,” says Marilee. “She just wanted to be comfortable, and that’s what we wanted, too, as the family.” After being admitted to the hospital on May 1, Marilee’s mother entered the inpatient hospice program where she received palliative care until her death 11 days later. “I can’t say enough about how they took care of her,” says Midge’s very grateful daughter. “As a family member, it was just wonderful.” She still refers to her mother’s hospice caregivers as “angels” who showed such love, respect, and empathy throughout those final days. “I had never seen care like that,” says Marilee. “I know that Mother did not suffer. She had the very peaceful death she wanted.” Midge Hemstock had even planned her own funeral. She wrote the obituary, chose her pallbearers, specified her favorite songs and Bible verses, and selected who was to provide the lunch service. She also requested that memorials be directed to several of her favorite charities, including Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. Midge and her late husband, Cecil, were longtime supporters of the Foundation, dating back to their life membership as Founder’s Level donors to what was then Gundersen Medical Foundation. As members of the Legacy Society, they had established a Charitable Remainder Trust that included the Foundation as a beneficiary. Marilee plans to continue giving in her mother’s memory. “I have been a supporter of the Foundation for years. If someone passed in La Crosse who I knew, my memorials almost always went to Gundersen Lutheran,” she explains. “I plan to do more now, not just because Mother won’t be there to continue, but because of this hospice experience. They cared for me as much as Mother, and when she took her last breath, the same nurse who admitted her was there to cry along with me. Each member of that team was just wonderful.” Gundersen Lutheran Hospice provides care for approximately 65 patients every month—patients diagnosed with terminal conditions who receive their hospice care in either home or inpatient settings. Our dear friend Midge Hemstock would be proud to know that memorials made in her honor, directed to the Foundation’s Hospice Fund, will be helping these patients and their loved ones even beyond her lifetime. How we help others depart this life helps define our lives. In 2008 to date, nearly 300 donors have made gifts to support hospice funding through Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. Grants awarded for the year are expected to surpass $59,000, and are used for such things as staff development, equipment, and services for hospice patients and their families. Pictured above: Marilee and Midge in November, 2002, in Mesa, Arizona. Pictured at left: Midge and Marilee on Christmas Day, 1992, at the Swenson home in Mantorville, Minnesota. 6 www.gundluth.org/foundation
Summer Research Fellowships Advance Careers in Science Each August, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation’s Department of Research proudly hosts a series of presentations by the outstanding college students participating in the A.C.V. Elston, III, MD Summer Research Fellows Program. These competitive positions allow students to gain firsthand knowledge through active involvement in an ongoing research project over the course of a 13-week fellowship. Working alongside Gundersen Lutheran mentors from a wide range of departments, summer fellows contribute to the body of science and medical information that improves clinical practice. The Foundation is grateful to the generous benefactors who have established endowments to permanently fund a number of these research fellowships. Their ongoing support is crucial to the success of this program. We also extend special thanks to the individuals and departments who assisted and mentored this year’s class of summer fellows. Pictured above: William A. Agger, MD, Director of Research for Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, with the 2008 Summer Research Fellows. Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation 2008 Summer Research Fellows Ryan Koehler, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire – “Utilization of Ultrasound to Improve CT Angiography” – Imaging Department Tyler Moore, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse – “La Crosse Area Advance Directives Study-II” – Community & Preventive Care Services Adam Skemp, St. John’s University – “Success of Dilatation and Patency of Dilated Peripheral Sinus Ostia Using the Balloon Catheter Procedure at Gundersen Lutheran” – Department of Otolaryngology Jack Temple, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse – “Injection or No Injection: A Look at the Effectiveness of Subacromial Corticosteroid Injections Prior to Rehab” – Department of Sports Medicine Jerry & Anna Beth Culver Fellow (Anna Beth Culver, MS) Stephanie Shull, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse – “Bicycle Stress Echocardiography for Chest Pain and Shortness of Breath: A Gender Comparison Study” – Department of Cardiology Research Dr. A.C.V. & Mary M. Elston Fellow (Dr. & Mrs. A.C.V. Elston) Lee Her Lee, University of Wisconsin – Madison – “Health Needs Assessment of Hmong Elders: Mental Health Issues” – Department of Nursing Research Gertrude Gordon Fellow (Mrs. Judy Bouffleur) Luke Zurbriggen, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse – “Prognostic Significance of Bone Marrow Lymphocyte Populations in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma” – Department of Adult Hematology/Oncology Adolf L. Gundersen, MD Fellow (Robert Kierlin & Mary Burrichter) Danielle Priem, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire – “Postoperative ICU Stay is Not Required for Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass” –Department of Bariatric Surgery Desmond & Lucille Harris Fellow (Mrs. Lucille M. Harris) Nick Coorough, University of Wisconsin – Madison – “Bicycle Stress Echocardiography for Chest Pain and Shortness of Breath: A Gender Comparison Study” – Department of Cardiology Research Sharon & George Kerckhove Fellow (Sharon & George Kerckhove) Adam Norton, Cornell College – “La Crosse Area Advance Directives Study-II” – Bereavement Services Kenneth & Mildred Kuebler Fellow (Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Killoran) Dave Anderson, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse – “Validation of the Roche LightCycler® Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Kit Identifying the Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin G20210A Polymorphisms” – Microbiology Research Department Kenneth & Mildred Kuebler Fellow (Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Killoran) Eva Pesch, St. Olaf College – “Primary Care Physician Relationship Influencing Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Outcomes” – Department of Family Practice Lommen Family Fellow (Wendy & Rick Lommen) Katie Hemauer, University of Wisconsin – Madison – “Designing a Physical Activity Program for Pediatric Oncology Patients” – Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology John & Nettie Mooney Fellow (Mrs. Nettie Mooney) Ariel Kahrl, Oberlin College – “The Effects of Ureaplasma Parvum on Birth Outcome and Health of Infants” – Department of Infectious Disease Pathfinders Year-End 2008 7
Page 1 and 2: Year-End 2008 A publication of Gund
Page 3 and 4: A Legacy of Love Betty Ann MacPhetr
Page 5: Special GIVING My IRA is helping ot
Page 9 and 10: “I am alive today because of the
Page 11 and 12: Betty and Jon Kabara take the podiu
Page 13 and 14: members of the community, familiar
Page 15 and 16: Commemorative Gifts In honor of 1st
Page 17 and 18: In honor of Brian M. Sieck, MD Judi
Page 19 and 20: In memory of George P. Caffrey Gund
Page 21 and 22: In memory of Linda W. Hass Barb Sun
Page 23 and 24: In memory of Marvin M. Lee Connie L
Page 25 and 26: In memory of Ethel M. Peterson Caro
Page 27 and 28: Marabeth Leum Lori Oesterle Mr. & M
Page 29 and 30: Platinum Sponsor Pepsi-Cola Bottlin
Page 31 and 32: A New Online Portal for Gundersen L

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