The best of times. The worst of times. Dear Friends, Charles Dickens’ memorable quote from A Tale of Two Cities is particularly apt as I reflect on the last few months when the coronavirus brought seismic changes to our lives. New phrases, “social distancing” and “shelter at home,” entered our vocabulary. As I write this, the country is slowly and prudently reopening with hope for better days to come. And they will. True to form, Good Shepherd’s associates in every department rose to the occasion 24/7. They served and continue to serve our patients and residents with compassion and unflagging dedication to their safety and wellbeing. I could not be more proud to have them as colleagues. The pandemic and resulting shutdown required fast and efficient solutions to new and unprecedented challenges, including a quick pivot transitioning our Gala in the Garden fund raiser for the pediatric unit to a virtual event. It was a first for us, and the support from sponsors and donors was reassuring and gratifying (page 9). We also have another giving opportunity. To help cover the additional costs of critical COVID supplies and resources for our patients, residents and staff, Good Shepherd has established a COVID-19 Relief Fund. Whether you, a friend or family member have received care at Good Shepherd, your support of this fund is a meaningful way to say thank you. Gifts can be made by using the form in this issue or on the web at SweetCharityOnline.org. Just as we have been for 112 years, Good Shepherd is here, a steadfast presence and partner in healing. On behalf of all of us at Good Shepherd, thank you for placing your faith and trust in us, and supporting our mission by helping us get through difficult times together.
Gary Schmidt, MA Chair, Board of Trustees Interim President & CEO
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Logan’s Hope Born at just 29 weeks, Logan Bankus fought for every breath. After four months at Good Shepherd’s inpatient pediatric unit, Logan finally was strong enough to go home for the first time.
4 Cover photograph: Peter Mackey Photo & Video
Growing Home Loving parents find a meaningful way to support the place that has been home to their daughter.
12 Living the Mission Together 14 16
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Reflections By The Rev. Corrine Dautrich
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Gifts of Love
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In Memoriam David Donati, Deborah Bewley, Sherry Clark
Community support of Good Shepherd’s associates during a difficult time buoy spirits.
Giving Opportunities A short list of ways to support our mission.
facebook.com/sweetcharityonline
Our Mission Motivated by the divine Good Shepherd and the physical and cognitive rehabilitation needs of our communities, our mission is to enhance lives, maximize function, inspire hope, and promote dignity and well-being with expertise and compassion.
GoodShepherdRehab.org • 1-888-44-REHAB
Logan’s
Hope
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“We’re pregnant.” The news came as a surprise to Melanie and Josh Bankus. A big surprise. After fertility treatments brought two beautiful daughters into their lives, the couple was not expecting a third pregnancy. But at 37, Melanie, and Josh, 39, were going to welcome a new baby into their home in a rural town in the Poconos. “Logan came along to complete our family,” says Melanie. With underlying medical conditions, Melanie was at high risk for developing complications during her pregnancy. A scan at 20 weeks showed Logan was measuring small. “They thought he was missing part of his brain and that he had increased ventricle fluid,” says Melanie. “We were on high alert and had appointments every week.” At 23 weeks, Melanie, a middle school math teacher, and Josh a high school math teacher, were told that things did not look promising for their baby. They were asked if they wanted to terminate the pregnancy, but the couple chose to give Logan a fighting chance. Three weeks
later, Logan had reached a viable weight of one pound. As Melanie’s blood pressure continued rising, the doctors put her on hospital bed rest. Twenty-one days later, a sudden drop in Logan’s heartbeat required an emergency C-section, and on February 26, 2019, Logan was born at 29 weeks, 4 days. He weighed one pound, 8 ounces, and was less than a foot long. A tiny cry was music to his parents’ ears. “He sounded like a little kitten,” says Melanie, “but the doctor said he was born, he was here, and he was breathing.” Logan was whisked to the neonatal intensive care unit where his fragile lungs were given the support they needed. Two days later, Melanie was discharged. That night, Logan went into respiratory distress. He had to be intubated for ventilator support to help him breathe. During the procedure, Logan’s tiny esophagus was punctured. Logan needed to be transferred to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a higher level of care for micro-preemies like him. In the weeks that followed, Logan fought through one medical crisis after another. Now the goal was to wean Logan from the ventilator.
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…they heard a Code Blue over the intercom signaling a life-threatening emergency. It was Logan. Efforts were made five times to extubate Logan. Josh and Melanie will never forget one night in particular when they were returning to the NICU after a coffee break in the hospital cafeteria. As they were stepping off the elevator they heard a Code Blue over the intercom signaling a life-threatening emergency. It was Logan. Josh and Melanie agonized as a team of doctors worked intently to revive their baby who had stopped breathing. “He had been without oxygen for about six minutes,” says Melanie. “They didn’t know if he had brain damage. It was the worst night of our lives.”
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To his parents’ immense relief, Logan pulled through. He was proving to be the fighter Josh and Melanie hoped he would be. Doctors attributed Logan’s breathing problems to a narrowing of his airway. In early July 2019, Logan had a tracheostomy, a breathing tube surgically inserted through a hole in his throat and connected to a ventilator. Josh and Melanie, who had been staying at Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia with their daughters 10-year-old Julia and Gabrielle, 5, needed two months of training to learn the complexities of the trach and ventilator before Logan could go home.
Logan with Good Shepherd pediatric nurse Nadia Hajratalli.
Logan Comes to Good Shepherd Six weeks into their training, a new school year began, and Josh and Julia returned home. Not wanting to separate the family but still needing to complete their training, Josh and Melanie were told about the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Pediatric Unit in Bethlehem. They had never heard of the unit before, but it was an hour closer to their home than CHOP and was where they could continue ventilator training. Josh and Melanie toured the unit. They liked what they saw. “The people were friendly and we were drawn into the three hours of (daily) therapy,” says Melanie. In September, Logan was admitted to Good Shepherd where he began occupational, speech, physical, respiratory, and recreational therapy. The interdisciplinary teamwork was essential given Logan’s breathing challenges. A delicate
balance allowing him to get stronger and progress had to be struck without his oxygen saturation levels dropping too low. From the beginning, Logan’s sweet spirit captivated his therapists. He was a happy baby and liked social interaction when he was lying in his crib. Picking Logan up, however, presented a challenge. His tolerance for being held out of his crib was limited to about 10 minutes. “I noticed very quickly that once you were touching him to facilitate any type of movement, it was so much for him that he would shut down socially,” says Colleen Tampier, a recreational therapist. “My goal at first was just to hold him, rock with him and get him to attend to my voice and not be overstimulated.” Logan soon began making progress. “I remember within the first couple of weeks I was able to hold and engage him, and he smiled at me,” says Colleen. “We finally got it! It was a huge hurdle to get over.” 7
A Family Affair Josh and Melanie especially liked Good Shepherd’s family-centered approach to Logan’s care. Julia and Gabrielle adored their baby brother. They spent hours with Logan reading to him, singing, engaging in gentle play, and showering him with affection. To do this safely, the girls learned how to navigate the trach and feeding tube. “One of our goals for many of our kids is that sibling interaction,” says Colleen. “Right away Logan at home with his family (clockwise) Gabby started talking and Melanie, Josh, Gabrielle, and Julia. he turned his entire head over to see and respond to her voice. I knew right away that was going to be a special bond. His sisters were going to be important to his recovery. Kids are motivated by other children, even at such a young age.” Homecoming for Logan came on January 27, 2020. Staff and patients lined up to send off Logan with cheers, a few tears and a bubble parade, a rite of passage for all patients discharged from the unit. “It was very emotional,” says Melanie. “Seeing all the people that worked with Logan was a moment we will always remember. It was just awesome. We owe everything to them. With the proper support from everyone, we got to where we are today. We are forever grateful.” In February, Logan celebrated his first birthday. He is gaining weight and has two new teeth. His baby-fine hair has a reddish tint, his cheeks are rosy, and he loves to play with his big sisters. Josh and Melanie are now focused on weaning Logan off the ventilator. “My hope for the future is one day Logan will no longer need help from the vent and trach tube, and he will be able to breathe on his own,” says Melanie. Josh and Melanie are accustomed to teaching others, but Logan has taught them lessons not found in any book. “One of the biggest is to never give up,” says Melanie. “Even if you feel you’re in your darkest hour, always have hope. That’s the one word that has followed us through our journey. Logan has taught us that if you keep smiling, everything will get better. Even in his toughest time, he had that heart-warming smile.” Watch the video Logan’s Story at GoodShepherdRehab.org/LogansStory n 8
Gala in the Garden Virtual Event
Brings Real Success
Thank you to all our sponsors, donors and friends for donating the raffle items: Metz Culinary Management: Private catered dinner for eight. Susan Bella Linski, Susan Bella Jewelry: Moonstone necklace. Capital BlueCross: IronPigs Suite at Coca-Cola Park with food and beverages for up to 18 people. Lutron & RCN: Caseta by Lutron wireless lighting system with Eero wi-fi from RCN.
Annabella Story, 12, was the top fundraiser in the PJ Photo Contest with more than $1,600. Thank you and congratulations Annabella!
Good Shepherd held its first virtual fundraiser when organizers transitioned the 2020 Gala in the Garden from an evening of dining and dancing on Good Shepherd’s south Allentown campus to a social media event. The pivot was driven by the coronavirus pandemic and a social distancing mandate prohibiting large gatherings. The gala typically is attended by about 500 people. On Saturday, May 30, the virtual gala was held on Facebook with a program of remarks and musical performances by Pam & Dave jazz duo, and Craig Thatcher, a Lehigh Valley-based musician with an international following. The evening also premiered the gala video, Logan’s Story, featuring Logan Bankus, who was born at 29 weeks and spent four months at Good Shepherd’s inpatient pediatric unit. The gala was spearheaded by a volunteer committee co-chaired by Jeff and Susan Metz of Metz Culinary Management, presenting sponsor. The event raised more than $180,000 with an online PJ Photo Contest that brought out some spirited competition among contestants vying to raise the most money and garner the most votes. Raffle ticket sales and sponsorships generated additional funds. “When it became apparent that we wouldn’t be able to hold our gala as we do every year on our south Allentown campus, we knew that not doing anything just wasn’t an option. We still needed to generate support to sustain the pediatric unit,” says David Lyons, vice president, development. “How fortunate that we live in a time when technology and social media offers exciting opportunities for donors to stay connected and support Good Shepherd’s mission serving children and their families. We are grateful for each and every gift.” n 9
Reflections By the Rev. Corrine Dautrich
I don’t know about you, but I began the 2020 new year with high hopes. It was fun playing with the notion of seeing things perfectly…using a 20/20 vision to bring our lives in clearer view. I was looking forward to watching the summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo this year. I had tickets in hand to several Jazzfest concerts. I planned to officiate at a wedding for a special couple this spring. Then, all events were cancelled. As of this writing, the country is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic in ways we could ever imagine. Life as we knew it has completely been upended. The ways in which “we’ve always done it before” have come under question. We could have not possibly imagined that the entire world would be asked to “shelter in place,” and distance ourselves physically from one another to help prevent us from becoming ill. If hindsight is 20/20, as the saying goes, then what could have been done to prevent all of these challenging times from happening? In spite of our lives being turned upside down, we have discovered creative ways
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For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43: 19 (NLSV)
of structuring our time and new ways of communicating. I wonder what other new learnings and ways of living will come into greater vision once our society receives the green light to step out and get up and running again. By this time, you have likely experienced a myriad of emotions while navigating this crisis, trying to comprehend and process it all. Some of these emotions may include: fear, panic, isolation, sadness, doubt, despair, and loneliness. These wide- ranging emotions were similar to the emotions Israelites experienced when they were promised deliverance out of Babylon and into the Promised Land. The verses from Isaiah offer hope and a better way of life by God for a wandering society in search of a new beginning. God provided for them every step of the way. God’s power prevailed and showed them a way through the wilderness and the sea. Only then, did they overcome every great difficulty. The same God who provided for every need for the children of Israel of the Hebrew Bible also provides for us during these historic
times. God is always creating something new. Consider when Papa and Mama Raker were doing a “new thing� after the turn of the 20th century, establishing a home where children with disabilites would be cared for. Good Shepherd has come a long way since 1908, and we find comfort knowing God is about to do something new among us in the years to come. Even now, during this pandemic, Good Shepherd continues to provide health care and spiritual care to its community. There are countless ways in which the associates at Good Shepherd have risen to meet the challenging demands that have arrived with this pandemic. Even pastoral care provided by the chaplains at Good Shepherd to the residents, staff, patients, and families has changed. Offering compassion and concern while wearing a face mask has become a new normal. Offering and providing pastoral care visits through telechaplaincy is another new avenue we implemented. With every challenge, an opportunity presents itself to offer something new. n
I wonder what new ways God may be calling you to consider? 11
Growing Home Bill and Nancy Pyle include Good Shepherd in their will as a meaningful way to support the place their daughter calls home. Jen Pyle lived at home with her parents, Nancy and Bill, for 47 years before she became a resident of the Good Shepherd Home – Raker Center. When the time came for her to move, it was a tough decision. “We had this mindset that we had to do it all because no one else would care for her like we could,” says Bill. That changed when Jen moved to Good Shepherd. “Here I have my own circle of friends and interests,” says Jen. “Before, my life revolved around my parents and brother.” It’s been good for Bill and Nancy too, who have more free time to travel and enjoy their retirement. Nancy and Bill believe in supporting the organizations that serve Jen. They volunteer their time and donate as much as they can. They appreciate the caring staff and the countless activities, events, clubs, performances, and trips for Good Shepherd’s 159 long-term care residents. “We give because we see the impact of our gifts every time we visit and we know Jen is happy here,” says Nancy. Shortly after Jen became a resident, Bill and Nancy met with their attorney to revise their
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Nancy, Jen, and Bill Pyle at Raker Center.
wills and include a gift for Good Shepherd in their plans. “We didn’t give it a second thought, it was just something we wanted to do,” says Nancy. “Good Shepherd is Jen’s home and everyone there is her family. She receives the best care and our gift will help keep it that way.” n
Preserving disability benefits for a loved one requires careful planning. Contact the Development Department at 610-778-1075 to request information on wills and planning for families with special needs.
Get Organized and Get Going with a FREE
Estate Planning Kit Perhaps one of the tasks on your “To Do” list is writing a first will or revising an existing one. If so, we have a great tool to help you get started! Good Shepherd offers a free online estate planning kit with a simple guide and record book for keeping all your important information in one place. The kit can be downloaded from our website making it easy to update, save and share with family and your attorney. A printed version of the estate planning kit is available by returning the form below. If one of your family members receives disability income, we also offer a “Resource List” for
families with special needs. The list will help you connect with resources that can help preserve your loved one’s eligibility for these benefits.
Get Organized in 3 Easy Steps:
1. Download our free estate planning guide at GoodShepherdRehab.org/plannedgiving 2. Review the guide and gather information 3. Schedule an appointment with an attorney Call Jeannette Edwards, 610-776-3386, to request the “Special Needs Resource List” if you or a loved one has a disability.
Good Shepherd encourages you to consult an attorney.
Yes! Please send me a free Estate Planning Guide. NAME PHONE # EMAIL ADDRESS
Return this form in the envelope provided, or mail to: Good Shepherd Development Dept. 850 S. 5th Street Allentown, PA 18103
Have you already included a gift for Good Shepherd in your will or estate plan? Please let us know so we can thank you and welcome you into our 1908 Raker Society. n Yes, I have included a gift for Good Shepherd in my will or estate plan. 13
Living the Mission Together. The COVID-19 pandemic may have separated people but it also brought them together. Good Shepherd’s associates and the community stepped up to support one another, patients and residents in innumerable ways that would have made Good Shepherd’s founders proud. In addition to making personal and professional sacrifices, and adjustments, associates formed a sewing brigade and made hundreds of face masks, uplifted residents’ spirits with song and silliness, and dressed up as superheroes bringing smiles all around. From the community came generous in-kind donations of hand sanitizer, gloves, face masks, and more. Children got in the act too. Good Shepherd’s Pictures for Patients outreach on social media motivated youngsters to create colorful pictures with words of encouragement. 14
Kennedy Ackerman, 3, with her Pictures for Patients submission.
Ear savers donated by Lizzy’s Corner Boutique made masks more comfortable to wear.
Good Shepherd pediatric unit superheroes.
Associates in materials management with some of the thousands of masks donated by Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams).
Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem’s heroes’ wall includes Pictures for Patients and cards of encouragement.
Therapists and aides cheered Raker residents.
Advance Auto Parts donated nitrile gloves.
THANK YOU one and all for living the mission
with grace and love.
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Giving Opportunities A short list of ways to support our programs and mission helping patients and residents achieve their highest level of independence and best outcomes.
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OBERLY-ALLEN NURSING SCHOLARSHIP
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
This endowed scholarship program connects donors with Good Shepherd nursing associates by providing tuition reimbursement for those advancing their education and training. Associates who benefit from this scholarship are typically those advancing in the earlier stages of their education and includes nursing assistants, CNAs, and nurses (RN) working toward their BSN (bachelors of nursing). In 2020, 19 nursing associates will receive more than $43,000. Over the past seven years scholarships have been awarded to 84 associates.
Good Shepherd is a national leader in the use of assistive technology (AT) helping children and adults with physical and cognitive challenges gain or regain their maximum ability to walk, speak, access computers, and whenever possible, return home. Those who benefit are inpatients, outpatients and Good Shepherd’s long-term care residents. AT ranges from simple picture or letter boards to highly sophisticated technology such as the Ekso Bionics exoskeleton and the Trexo Plus, wearable technology that allows adults and children with lower extremity weakness walk.
DONOR OPPORTUNITY: Scholarships ranging from $550 to more than $8,000 are currently established by benefactors. Gifts of any size will grow the endowment providing scholarships in perpetuity. A gift of $20,000 or more establishes a new named fund.
DONOR OPPORTUNITY: Gifts of any size are needed for a wide range of technology including switch-activated toys, iPads and computers with applications for education, work or communication, adaptive driving evaluation and training, environmental controls, and much more.
ENDOWED THERAPY SCHOLARSHIP This endowed scholarship provides tuition reimbursement for Good Shepherd’s therapy staff. Disciplines include physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapy. Applicants can use funds for continuing education opportunities from the classroom to attending conferences. In prior years, therapists have used funds to study women’s health issues, achieve a doctorate in physical therapy and accreditation in VitalStim therapy, and become a certified orofacial mycologist, an area of expertise that provides therapy for oral and facial muscle disorders. DONOR OPPORTUNITY: Five scholarships of $750 each are currently established by benefactors. Gifts of any size will grow the endowment providing scholarships in perpetuity. A gift of $20,000 or more establishes a new named fund.
To discuss these giving opportunities contact Gregory Wilson, CAP®, grwilson@gsrh.org or 610-778-1033 or Kimberly Stolarik at kstolarik@gsrh.org or (610) 776-8343. 17
IN HONOR OF…
DONATED BY…
IN HONOR OF…
DONATED BY…
Allison Aggon
Dr. Lona M. Farr & David V. Voellinger Mr. & Mrs. David A. Childs Mr. & Mrs. Eli R. Brill Mr. & Mrs. Leroy P. Goldberg, USAF, Ret. Ms. Maryann Barone Dr. Lona M. Farr & David V. Voellinger United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Mr. Franklin L. Homme Dr. Lona M. Farr & David V. Voellinger Mr. & Mrs. William J. Wagner Paul & Mildred Ratner Ms. Joan Cichocki Ms. Rebecca Zehner Mr. Gerard Bryce Mr. Efrain Hernandez Mr. & Mrs. David Ackerman
Good Shepherd Raker 3 Good Shepherd Staff
Mr. & Mrs. Eli R. Brill
Carrie Kane Denise Kaiser Donna Andrews Andrew Reish, MD Dr. Asare Christian Dr. Karen Senft Easter Elizabeth Troese Emily Pineda Erik Braham Frank DeLong Gail Loughman Gail Metzger Gloria Hernandez Good Shepherd Cedarpoint Peds Team Good Shepherd Neuro Staff Good Shepherd Pedatric Staff Good Shepherd Raker Staff 4th Floor Good Shepherd Raker Residents Good Shepherd Rehab 2 Staff Good Shepherd Rehab Hospital Medical Staff Good Shepherd Rehab Network Good Shepherd Staff at Schnecksville Good Shepherd Staff (PARC) Good Shepherd StaffBethlehem Home
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Drs. Gnanaprakash & Jyoti Gopal The Koons Family Scott & Susan Cryder Mr. Frank G. Petak, Jr. Mrs. Mary K. Grovatt Mr. & Mrs. Willam Gadd Mr. & Mrs. Jose Rosado Mr. James George Mr. Joseph E. Bickert Amos & Andrea Gross
Harry Brill Hiriam Cyphers Jackson Knapp Leah Loree, Haley and Chris Molly Achey Sue Kibrik
Mr. Andrew B. Block & Dr. Christine K. Block Mr. & Mrs. Eli R. Brill Mr & Mrs. Stephen R. Cypers Mrs. Vicki Rigby Mrs. Emily Thompson Mr. David Maxwell Ms. Karen Isacc Mrs. Joan Apple Mr. & Mrs. David Ackerman
IN CELEBRATION OF… DONATED BY… Emily Pineda Good Shepherd Hamburg Staff
Mr. & Mrs. Lester Ettl Mr & Mrs. Douglas Zettlemoyer
FOR THE WONDERFUL CARE OF…
DONATED BY…
Mr. Harry Brill
Mr. and Mrs. Eli R. Brill
IN MEMORY OF…
DONATED BY…
Anna M. Scheid Anna Schuam Anthony Leuzzi Arline Snyder
Estate of C. Kenneth Scheid Mr. & Mrs. Ray Dennis Ms. Jennifer Baird Mr.& Mrs. Gary R. Kotz Ms. Ellen Seaman Mr. & Mrs. Kurt D. Everett Ms. Julia K. Gerancher Mr. & Mrs. David A. Childs Ms Jeanna Kozak Anonymous Ms. Katherine Strack Jeannette Edwards The Skinner Family CMLC Choirs Katora Mr. Arthur Murphy The Palmer Family Joseph & Elaine Molnar Richard & Gertrude Quattrochi Mrs. Meta Stoffel
Brandon Hartman Brittany Shaeffer Carl Etshman Carolyn Volk
We thank the generous families and friends who honor their dear ones with memorial gifts and living gifts of honor. These gifts help support Good Shepherd’s mission of service to people with disabilities, many who otherwise could not afford the therapies or long-term care they need.
IN MEMORY OF…
DONATED BY…
IN MEMORY OF…
DONATED BY…
Carolyn Volk
Friends & Colleagues at the Eagleton Institute Ms. LuAnn Steinhauer Mrs. June Wentz Ms. Irene M. Stump Ms. Loretta Wiltraut Dr. & Mrs. Walter J. Dex Walter & Barbara Lieberman Rev. Laura L. Klick Ms. Anne Bush Ms. Barbara Baumgaertner Ms. Alma E. Baumgaertner Mr. Douglas Novak Rose & Jim Maehrer Rev. Carl W. Cunfer Donald & Irene Lassen Mr. & Mrs. Harold Morrell Mr. John R Weingart & Dr. Deborah M. Spitalinik Ms. Diane Arciero Pastor & Mrs. Herbert W. Brady Ms. Gloria Minor Mr. & Mrs. Adam Benward Estate of C. Kenneth Scheid Mr. Warren Eberts Mr. & Mrs. Craig Muff Ms. Jennifer Braim Mr. & Mrs. Raymond R. Hoch Mr. & Mrs. Peter Siegfried Mrs. Barbara Duelfer Mr. & Mrs. David E. Greene Mr. Lester W. Riegel, Sr. Mr. George Maniatty Mr & Mrs. David A. Childs Mr. James George Kenneth & Dorothy Kovak Mrs. Sharon M. Cummings Mr. James George Lawrence & Kathryn Achey Mr. & Mrs. Maththew Sweeney III Mrs. Lisa Ashworth Mr. Benjamin J. Jones
Helene Schaefer Hilda Snyder Ida Kondravy J. Robert Dornish
James & Donna Schaefer Mr. & Mrs. Franklin Snyder Mr. James G. Kondravy Ken & Sharon Kochey Irvin & Margie Ungar Ms. Linda Falcone Alan & Marty Schaeffer John and Judith Larcinese Mr. & Mrs. Frederick C. Daniels Mr. Kurt Scott Anonymous Mrs. Ruth Scott Mr. & Mrs. Ray Dennis Mr. David J. Benzak Karl & Marie Vinup Mr. & Mrs. Joseph J. Smith Ronald & Carol Pope and Family James & Donna Schaefer Mrs. Ruth Hensinger Mrs. Ardath Heard Mr. Richard S. Schermerhorn Ms. Deborah A. Steiger Kevin & Kathy Baltsar Mr. James G. Kondravy Ms. Diane M. Kosciolek Ms. Joan Cutler Ms. Michele McConnon Mr. Eugene E. Laigon Dr. Anthony & MaryAnn Decusatis Ms. Sherry Koppenhaver
Charles Fell Charles J.E. Scheid Corinne Gold Eberts Dalton Shade
Don Duelfer Dr. Thomas V. Brislin Duke Riegel Elvira Maniatty Carl F. Etshman, Jr. Ferrel M. George Frank Kroboth Gerard E. Cummings Gertrude I. George Gloria Painter Greg Rodden Harold Ashworth Helen Ritz Jones
Janelle Bergandino Janet Washburn Jessie Christman Jim Maul John A. Scott, Jr. John Schaum Joseph Benzak June Pope
Kenneth Schaefer Linford Bastian Miss Louise A. Rees Louise Schermerhorn Maureen Steiger Michael Milot Mike Kondravy Mildred Radocha
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Koppenhaver Mrs. Rosemarie Davis R. Richard Schall, Phd Rebecca Fair Williams Rev Paul J. Xander Rev. Charles E. Fair
Mr. Jeffrey W. Davis Mr. Donald R. Miller Mrs. C. Louise Fair Ms. Kathy A. Hinton Mrs. C. Louise Fair
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IN MEMORY OF…
DONATED BY…
IN MEMORY OF…
DONATED BY…
Richard A. Kohler
Mrs. Monica Anthony & Family Jim & Nancy Altenbach John & Susan Julian Gregg & Kathryn Moore Mr. & Mrs. Albert E. Mink Mr. & Mrs. John A. Traupman Mr. & Mrs. William H. Mitchell, Jr. Ms. June R. Capkovic Mr. & Mrs. Joseph J. Derkits Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Grammer Mr. & Mrs. Terry L. Heckman Ms. Mary Ann Keegan Mr. & Mrs. Jerome M. Sefcik Mr. & Mrs. David M. Sefcik Mr. Jay H. Gilbert Ralph & Betty Trentalange The Harry Family Mr. & Mrs. Dan Heffeman Ms. Jennifer Gill Mr.& Mrs.Rick Poshefko Mr. & Mrs. John J. Yanek Mrs. Doris M. Vorndran
Robert A. Ford Rosemarie Kroboth Ruth Benzak Ruth J. Beers Scot Borascius Scott Sandler Shelly’s Father Stanley Filer Tony Zaferiou Victor Parenti William C. Watts, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Sheridan Kenneth & Dorothy Kovak Mr. David J. Benzak Margaret Schneider Mr. Luther H. Lichtenwalner Mr. Douglas Eberhart Jeff & Lynn Cooper Kenneth & Helena Blischok Ms. Anne Marie Grattan Mr. Francis Delia Ms. Christine Siuma Mr. John Magdic Mrs. Joan Naugle Mr. & Mrs. James G. Stachina Mrs. Rita M. Granitz Mr. Mark K. Thomson Anonymous
Richard Vorndran
In loving memory of Mom
Gifts were received from January 1 - April 30, 2020.
Share the Love! Show your gratitude for Good Shepherd nurses, doctors, therapists or any associate who has served our mission with compassion and dedication during challenging times. To make a gift in honor of a Good Shepherd associate or team, please use the envelope in this issue or visit our website, SweetCharityOnline.org. Include a message of thanks and encouragement, and we’ll share it with those you recognize. Your tribute will be listed in Gifts of Love in a future issue of Sweet Charity. 20
Questions? Please contact Jeannette Edwards at jedwards@gsrh.org or 610-776-3386.
Dave Donati For 20 years, Dave Donati lived at the Good Shepherd HomeRaker Center. Life was good, filled with friends and activities. “I was amazed at his growth as an adult,” says his brother Gene. “He felt much more independent.” Dave passed away on March 8 at age 60. Dave was wheelchair-reliant but that never dampened his appetite for life or kept him from doing things with his older brother. “We were almost one unit,” says Gene. The brothers enjoyed exploring the woods. A favorite place was a spot in the Poconos by the Delaware River. Dave also visited Gene several times in New York City. There were excursions to Washington Square Park, where Dave loved the energy and the people, and they loved him back. “He never hesitated plunging into a crowd,” says Gene. “He had that charisma.” Gene also would take Dave to the roof of Gene’s 55-story apartment building, and lift Dave out of his wheelchair for a bird’s eye view of the city. “He used to lie in my bed at night and look at the Empire State Building,” says Gene. “He liked New York an awful lot. He would just go and go. I wish I could put up a whole monument to Dave because that’s what he deserved. There’s only one Dave.”
Deborah Bewley For nearly 21 years, Deborah Bewley called Good Shepherd – Bethlehem her home. Everyone who worked there was like family, helping her have a quality of life as only Good Shepherd can until her passing on Thursday, March 5 at age 58. Deb’s husband of almost 26 years, Al, is filled with gratitude recalling the care given to Deb, who had multiple sclerosis since the early 1980’s. “Good Shepherd is just a phenomenal place,” says Al. “The staff and management are fabulous. The people on the floor are on the front line. They’re the heroes, making things work. They understood her disease and adapted to it every day.” Born April 8, 1961, in Wyomissing, Deb worked for many years as a shipping clerk at Dana Corporation in Reading. Deb and Al met at work. They got married in 1994 on a cruise ship in Florida, a fitting place to wed given Deb’s lifelong love of being on the water. The couple had many happy days in their camper by Lake Ontario in upstate New York, taking their boat out and fishing. Deb’s other passions were NASCAR and her beloved German Shepherd, Zeus. “They were inseparable. She was really proud of her Zeus,” says Al. 21
Sherry Clark Hers was a smile that never faltered. Whether she was working on one of her beautiful paintings in the resident art class at the Good Shepherd Home-Raker Center or appearing in a play with the resident drama group, Sharon (Sherry) Clark’s beautiful and sunny disposition lifted everyone’s spirits. On April 25, Sherry, 67, passed away at Good Shepherd where she lived since 1993. Born in Reading to Josh and Marge Early of Josh Early Chocolates fame in Allentown, Sherry loved to cook and happily relieved her mother of those duties so mom could concentrate on the family business. Sherry’s outgoing personality and sense of humor made her popular in high school and college. She loved family vacations at Ocean City, New Jersey. “She was a real beach girl,” says Marcy Dobil, one of Sherry’s three sisters. Sherry taught second grade in Absecon, New Jersey, for one year before multiple sclerosis necessitated a move back to Allentown. After several years living with her parents, Sherry moved to Good Shepherd. There, Sherry and fellow resident Chris Clark fell in love and married. Chris, who predeceased Sherry, was the love of her life and she was devoted to him. Good Shepherd also gave Sherry back a vibrant social life that had been missing. “She loved it,” says Marcy. “She made friends and the care was wonderful. She had a community again to enjoy.”
The Rev. John "Papa" Raker was never shy about promoting Good Shepherd's mission and needs. From the beginning in 1908, Sweet Charity was a vital tool in drumming up support. Papa even took to the air in a plane and dropped copies over Allentown. We're not about to try that, but we invite you to follow us on Facebook at SweetCharityOnline, on Instagram at GSSweetCharity, and on the web at SweetCharityOnline.com. 22
Summer 2020 Official Publication Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network Allentown, PA Volume 113, Issue 2
BOARD OF TRUSTEES GOOD SHEPHERD REHABILITATION NETWORK GARY SCHMIDT, MA, Chair, Interim President and CEO, Orefield SANDRA L. BODNYK, Vice Chair, Orefield THE REV. JOHN RICHTER, M.Div., Secretary, Sinking Springs LAURIE K. STEWART, BS, BA, CPA, Treasurer, Center Valley POLLY BESTE, Wind Gap PAMELA DeCAMPLI, Allentown ALVARO DIAZ, MS, Allentown PAUL D. EMRICK, CIMA®, CFP ®, Allentown DAVID FESSLER, Nazareth JAN HELLER, MBA, Bethlehem DEBORAH KIMMEL, MD, Allentown THOMAS J. LYNCH, Allentown STEVEN D. MORRISON, MBA, BS, Coopersburg JAAN NAKTIN, MD, FACP, Allentown PETER D. QUINN, DMD, MD, Haverford TINA Q. RICHARDSON, PhD, Bethlehem VICTOR SALICETTI, Bethlehem DONALD W. SNYDER, Esq., Orefield MAURA TOPPER, Philadelphia JONATHAN P. WARNER, CEBS, ISCEBS, Philadelphia Trustee Emeriti JOHN V. COONEY, MS, Allentown NELVIN L. VOS, PhD, Maxatawny Legacy Trustee JILL DOUGLASS, Allentown BOARD OF TRUSTEES GOOD SHEPHERD SPECIALTY HOSPITAL FRANK HYLAND, MSPT, Vice Chair JAMES J. DALEY, MD, Center Valley PETER T. ENDER, MD, Center Valley WILLIAM GOULD, MD SUSAN L. LAWRENCE, MS, CPHQ, Bethlehem
FACILITY MEDICAL DIRECTORS SCOTT K. EPSTEIN, MD Good Shepherd–Wayne Memorial Inpatient Rehabilitation Center CLINTON C. HOLUMZER, MD Good Shepherd Home–Bethlehem RICHARD MARTIN, MD Good Shepherd Home–Raker Center
SWEET CHARITY IS A PUBLICATION OF: Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network Good Shepherd Plaza 850 South 5th Street Allentown, PA 18103
GOOD SHEPHERD SPECIALTY HOSPITAL PROGRAM MEDICAL DIRECTORS JAMES J. DALEY, MD PETER ENDER, MD WILLIAM GOULD, MD JAAN P. NAKTIN, MD JOSEPH B. SCHELLENBERG, MD
DEVELOPMENT David F. Lyons, CFRE Vice President for Development
ADMINISTRATION GARY SCHMIDT, MA, Interim President and CEO, Orefield CINDY BUCHMAN, MHA, Vice President, Physician and Clinical Services CHERYL FISHER, SPHR Chief Human Resources Officer JESSICA FLORKOWSKI, MSN, RN, CWCA, Administrator, Good Shepherd Specialty Hospital CARRY GERBER, Vice President, Marketing and Communications FRANK HYLAND, MSPT, Executive Director and Administrator, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital CARRIE KANE, MS, CCC-SLP/L, ATP, Administrator, Good Shepherd Home–Bethlehem DAVID F. LYONS, CFRE Vice President for Development GEORGINE A. OLEXA, Esq., JD, MBA Vice President, Legal Affairs TERENCE O’NEIL Chief Information Officer LAURA M. SHAW-PORTER Executive Director, Sub-Acute and Therapy Services UPHS JENNIFER SILVA, DNP, RNC, NE-BC, Vice President, Nursing SANDEEP SINGH, MD Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer
Good Shepherd serves persons with disabilities on the basis of need regardless of ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex or religious creed and is an equal opportunity employer. Sweet Charity is printed by Christmas City Printing.
1-888-44REHAB GoodShepherdRehab.org
Major & Planned Giving Officers: Jeannette Edwards Kimberly Stolarik Gregory Wilson, CAP®
Andrew B. Block, MPA Director of Government Relations & Development
Alicia Moyer Annual Fund & Sponsorships Officer Dianne Spengler Corporate & Foundation Relations Specialist EDITOR, WRITER Elizabeth McDonald PHOTOGRAPHY Peter Mackey Photo & Video Elizabeth McDonald GRAPHIC DESIGN Klunk & Millan Advertising To make an address correction, or remove your name from our mailing list, please call 610-776-3146.
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and its affiliates are tax exempt organizations as provided by IRS regulations. Pennsylvania law requires us to inform you of the following: The official registration and financial information of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
USPS-530800. A quarterly publication of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, Good Shepherd Plaza, 850 South 5th Street, Allentown, PA 18103, 1-877-734-2247, a non-profit corporation, founded February 21, 1908, by the late Rev. John H. Raker, D.D. Incorporated by decree of the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1909, under the corporate title of “The Good Shepherd Home.” Postage paid at Allentown, PA, and at additional mailing offices.
Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Lehigh Valley, PA Permit No. 158
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network Good Shepherd Plaza 850 South 5th Street Allentown, PA 18103
Gift Annuities are a Triple Win! Looking for a way to support Good Shepherd, boost your income and save taxes? Consider a charitable gift annuity. A charitable gift annuity offers a fixed rate, payments for your lifetime (or the beneficiary you designate), and a gift of the remaining value to Good Shepherd. Rates are based on your age at the time the gift is established. Increase your tax savings by funding the charitable gift annuity with appreciated securities. To see your rate and a personalized gift illustration, visit GoodShepherdRehab.org/plannedgiving or call Jeannette Edwards, Gregory Wilson CAPÂŽ, or Kimberly Stolarik at 610-778-1075. Good Shepherd encourages you to consult your advisor.