Dear Friends, In 1955, John F. Kennedy, then the junior senator from Massachusetts, wrote Profiles in Courage. The book, chronicled inspiring accounts of eight senators who stood by the courage of their convictions at pivotal times in our nation’s history. It became an instant classic and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. At Good Shepherd, our residents and patients are writing their own profiles in courage every day. It takes courage to rise every day and not give in to the challenges of a disability. Most of them are doing this in relative obscurity. They won’t become famous. You won’t read about them in a book. But, as loyal donors and friends, you meet them in our own version of JFK’s book: Sweet Charity magazine. The cover story features five-year-old Emily Pineda. She will win your heart. Emily, who has cerebral palsy, is getting stronger and walking farther than ever with the Trexo Plus robotic technology. Good Shepherd is participating in clinical research with the manufacturer of the Trexo. Emily is contributing to that. What we learn from her could benefit future generations of children who use the Trexo. That makes Emily a pint-sized hero in my book. From high tech, we see high touch at work in the story of Cosette Ruh, a long-term care resident at the Good Shepherd Home-Raker Center. Unable to use her hands, Cosette is teaching herself to paint by holding a brush in her mouth. Undaunted, Cosette mustered the courage to try something she had never done before. She discovered that not only can she paint, she does it very well indeed. Her paintings are beautiful and so is she. The Rev. John and Estella Raker were courageous pioneers when, against all odds, they founded the Good Shepherd Home in 1908. They laid the groundwork for the countless profiles in courage that inspire us all. With your continued support, there will be many more profiles in courage to come.
Gary Schmidt, MA Chair, Board of Trustees Interim President & CEO 2
Five-year-old Emily Pineda is on the move thanks to robotic technology that is helping her walk better than ever.
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Cover photograph: Randy Monceaux
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Having His Say After a stroke, John Hepp is discovering a new way to communicate thanks to a gift from Good Shepherd’s Women’s Giving Circle.
Reflections by Chaplain Kelly Brooks 10 Gifts of Love 16 In Memoriam 20 Judith Kline, Donald Christian, John Gulich, William Watts, Louise Rees
Paying It Forward for Al After Al Agonis passed, his friends from MS Wellness found a meaningful way to celebrate his life.
12 The 2020 Conrad W. Raker Lecture Series
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Keynote speaker Kenneth Keitt, founder and CEO of ParaPer4mance, shared the inspiration behind his innovative company.
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Cosette’s Way Cosette Ruh, a resident of the Good Shepherd Home-Raker Center, finds an extraordinary way to pursue her passion for art.
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.
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GoodShepherdRehab.org • 1-888-44-REHAB
Ground-breaking robotic technology is putting this five-year-old on track to greater independence. Emily Pineda is rocking the lobby of the Health & Technology Center at Good Shepherd. Wearing the Trexo Plus, pint-size, robotic technology that helps children like Emily with cerebral palsy walk, the confident and engaging five-year-old is a social butterfly gliding from one end of the building to the other. Emily’s first stop is at the café to buy a bag of chips. Then it’s over to the water fountain to fill her cup. After that she is off down the hall to visit one of the receptionists with an offer to share her chips. From there, she makes a beeline for the front door. It’s a cold January day, but the sun is shining and Emily is having so much fun she doesn’t seem to notice. “Ok Emily,” says her mother Jennifer after a couple of minutes outside. “Aren’t you cold? Let’s go back in.” Emily grins, turns around and obliges, walking through the big sliding glass doors, smiling at everyone she meets, flashing the occasional thumbs up sign in greeting. “She’s not a very fussy child,” says Jennifer. “She’s very social and likes to give hugs. She is a child who really loves life and people.” Kandis Jones is the physical therapist who oversees Emily’s weekly 45-minute sessions in the Trexo Plus, a first of its kind robotic exoskeleton for children that allows Emily to move her legs in a normal gait pattern. “I think she has taken to it pretty easily,” says Kandis, “but we do have to come up with some clever things to keep her motivated. Mom is fantastic finding things Emily likes. She loves to socialize, so we just let her walk around and talk to people.”
Continuing a long tradition of technological excellence and innovation, Good Shepherd is one of six organizations worldwide participating in a research study with the Trexo aimed at improving function for children with mobility challenges. The Trexo is ideal for children ages 3-6 with lower-extremity weakness or spasticity who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, pediatric stroke, spinal cord injury, gait disorder, and other conditions. “Emily's legs get very stiff, making it harder for her to bend them and walk,” says Kandis, noting that Emily uses a gait trainer at home but needs someone to help move her legs. “The Trexo can take her through that normal range of movement.” For Jennifer, who learned about the Trexo from a friend, and her husband Rob, it is well worth the 60-minute drive from the family’s home in Blue Bell to bring their daughter to Good Shepherd for this unique therapy. The reason is simple: results. The Trexo’s weightbearing design helps children to walk farther as they gain strength. When Emily first began her therapy she could only take 200 to 300 steps per session. Now she can do up to 1000. “I feel like Emily has gotten (Above) Emily on a family outing to the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia with her sister, Caroline, 9, and parents Rob and Jennifer Pineda. (Right) With Kandis Jones, physical therapist.
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more agreeable to taking steps,” says Jennifer. “Before, her legs would lock up. It has improved her ability to squat in a controlled manner, easily pick up things from the floor and sit. She really uses the Trexo as a vehicle to take her places wherever she wants to go, which she hasn’t had before.”
hips and knees. A series of sensors relays data to Kandis who uses a handheld computer tablet to capture that information with every step. Different colored lights on the side let Kandis know when Emily is working with the Trexo to take steps. “It’s a partnership between her and the Trexo,” says Kandis.
And there are other benefits. “We’re noticing she can keep up her head, and upper body and trunk more on her own,” says Kandis.
Emily’s speech is limited (she is taking speech therapy at Good Shepherd) but she is bright and has control over when and where she wants to go in the Trexo. “She has a really good pointer finger so she can turn the device on to make it go. That’s really important because the movement of the Trexo and her body are on her terms,” says Jennifer.
The Trexo is not a one-size-fits-all piece of equipment. Kandis can set the motion to varying degrees of resistance, depending on each child’s level of tightness in the
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Amanda Kleckner, administrative director of pediatrics, is in the forefront of the Trexo research project at Good Shepherd. “Research has shown the benefits of improving gait in children with cerebral palsy, including the prevention of contractures and an overall improved quality of life,” she says. Traditional methods of helping children with abnormal gait patterns involves a combination of physiotherapy, bracing, the use of traditional aids, such as walkers, and in some cases, surgical intervention. “However, using a walker does not necessarily lead to restoring (normal) physiological gait patterns,” says Amanda. “Aberrant gait patterns may still be present and can lead to abnormal loads on lower limb joints causing long-term problems, such as joint deformities.” Robotic technology, such as the Trexo Plus, ensures Emily’s walking pattern is done with everything properly aligned and coordinated. “With the Trexo, it’s the perfect pattern over and over,” says Amanda. Adds Kandis, “Just the opportunity to be able to practice that movement pattern in the Trexo with a lot of repetition is so important. That’s how kids learn, practice, practice, practice.” Emily is still too young to fully understand the uniqueness of the technology that is helping her on the path to greater independence, but Jennifer and Rob know different. “Finding Good Shepherd was like finding the unicorn you searched for as a child. You knew if you looked hard enough, you may find it, and we did,” says Jennifer. “We love Good Shepherd, because this was an experience we would have never had anywhere else.” Emily gives a thumbs up.
(Opposite page) Emily loves sharing with friends like Michelle Marcellus, administration assistant. 7
A stroke left John Hepp struggling to be understood. Then he was given the gift of assistive technology from the Women’s Giving Circle.
Having His Say
Independence might well have been John Hepp’s middle name. An information sciences and technology professor at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, John enjoyed being single with the freedom to just pick up and go whenever he wanted; which he often did without notice, sometimes causing his siblings to worry. “He was a loner,” says his sister Sue Francisco. “He would disappear for days or weeks.” Rock Lake in Canada, where John vacationed as a child with his family, was a favorite getaway. A stroke in 2017 forever changed John’s life. In fact, John, then 51, had a series of smaller strokes prior to 2017 which had gone undetected. John was significantly impaired cognitively and physically on his right side. Sue recalls the heart-breaking diagnosis when her brother was hospitalized. “The neurologist came out and said to me, ‘Put him in a home. Forget you ever had a brother. He’ll never do anything; never speak or walk.’” Sue and John’s other siblings were not about to give up on him and neither was Good Shepherd. After a week in an acute care hospital, John was transferred to the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown. John began a program of intense therapy and soon was getting results. “He was walking with a walker and starting with some, physical, speech and occupational therapy,” says Sue. ”He was making very good progress, but he wasn’t ready to come home.” John was discharged to a nursing home where his condition deteriorated. “They did 30 days of therapy. That’s it,” says Sue. “They said he wasn’t going to progress any more. He never got out of bed. He was back in a wheelchair. He was so unhappy.” Then Sue learned about Good Shepherd’s Second Chance Program for patients with An image of Rock Lake on John’s communicator reminds him of happy times.
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John with his sister Sue.
chronic conditions who have difficulties walking, talking, dressing or performing other daily living activities. John was evaluated and determined to be a candidate. With additional therapy, it was possible John could get strong enough and learn self-care skills to go live with Sue and her husband in their Bangor home. John was readmitted to Good Shepherd in spring 2018 with the goals of improving his ability to walk, climb stairs, feed himself, and perform basic daily personal care needs. John achieved everything he needed to be discharged to his new home. His cognitive and speaking abilities however, remained greatly impaired, making communication difficult and frustrating. “He did a lot of pointing and gesturing,” says Sue. “He tried to write things sometimes.” But Laura Reichl, one of John’s speech language pathologists, had a fitting tool in her arsenal that would be of great help to John: a special computer tablet with a touch screen and a pictures-based, speech-generating communication program called Proloquo2Go. The purchase, along with accessories, was made thanks to a generous donation from the Women’s Giving Circle to the Assistive Technology Lending Program and Technology Assistance Fund. Laura loaded the device with photos of family and his therapists, favorite foods, and special places. One of those places is Rock Lake. John can more easily convey needs and emotions, too. “He can now tell us how he’s feeling, sad, happy, frustrated,” says Sue. More pictures can be added using the device’s camera or transferred from a cell phone or computer.
John is still learning how to use his communicator, but already it has made life easier for John and his family. “He’s still working at it, it’s a process, but it would be a lot harder without it,” says Sue. The technology also has brought John closer to his four-year-old great-nephew who was only two when John had his stroke. John is proud of the short story they wrote together on the communicator. Laura is delighted that John has the communicator and is grateful to the Women’s Giving Circle for its gift to the assistive technology fund which will help patients for many more years to come. “What a wonderful group of women,” says Laura. Sue also is deeply grateful. “Ever since his stroke, John’s inability to convey what he wanted to say has been a source of frustration for a long time,” says Sue. “And as a family, it was heart-breaking. The communicator truly has made a difference in all our lives. We can’t say thank you enough.” The Women’s Giving Circle is a group of philanthropic women who support Good Shepherd’s programs and services through generous donations. For more information, contact Dianne Spengler, corporate and foundation relations specialist, at dspengler@gsrh.org or call 610-776-3559.
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“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6: 31
— by Chaplain Kelly Brooks In the spring, we typically do what is called “spring cleaning”. After a long winter, we open up the windows to let the fresh air in. We clean out the clutter, reorganize the garage and prepare the yard for summer fun. But maybe that should not be the only spring cleaning that we do. Maybe part of spring cleaning our house should also include refreshing ourselves. Usually, we make resolutions in January to take better care of ourselves: exercise more, eat better, spend more time with family. But spring might be a great time to reassess our commitment to caring for the whole package: body, mind and spirit. We need to look at how our body is working and finally take care of that old injury that has been bothering us, and the aches and pains from the stagnant winter. We need to review our nutrition and improve our selections. In addition, we need to care for our mind by finding ways to challenge our processing through word games and puzzles. We need to find people and coping skills that are emotionally supportive. Studies show that volunteering and supporting those around us creates positive emotional well-being.
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Furthermore our spirit is the very core of our self. We need to build in time to meditate, pray, attend church. Sometimes spending time in quiet, listening to God, can be uplifting and refreshing. There are many instances in the Bible in which we are reminded to care for ourselves. In Genesis, after creating the heavens and the earth, the Lord rested on the seventh day. Even Jesus stepped away from the chaos of ministry to pray and be still. We need to look closely at what our soul needs such as forgiveness, grace and resolution. Spring cleaning can also mean cleaning out the clutter of past issues that we have carried forward in order to allow new positive opportunities to come into our life. We need to give ourselves permission to look inward to what is fulfilling in our lives and what we are passionate about doing, then find a life journey that is consistent with our souls. Working at Good Shepherd with a diversity of disciplines reinforces the concept of the healing process that includes the body, mind and spirit. It reminds us to be proactive. When I speak with patients, they often tell me that self-care instead of avoidance is a perspective they have learned. It usually isn’t until after an extraordinary event in our lives, that we take account of our blessings as well as our wholeness. Whether the event is good or bad, it takes a jolt to wake us up. Self-care is something we sometimes lack and should be consistently evaluated. In the busyness of
the world, pausing for a moment to create awareness for being physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually full should be part of our regular routine. As we look at our own spring cleaning, do not just focus on washing our windows to see clearly out of them but also be intentional about looking within ourselves, seeking the quietness of a spring day and the grace of a loving God. It is then we can feel renewed and uplifted, ready for a bright day.
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pring might be a great time to reassess our
commitment to caring for the whole package: body, mind and spirit.” 11
Adolph “Al” Agonis was, by all accounts, quite a guy. So when his friends in the MS Wellness Program learned of his sudden passing at age 91 on October 2019, the loss was acutely felt. Gentle yet strong, kind and an inspiring “captain” of the MS Wellness group that gathers weekly in Good Shepherd’s Health & Technology Center, Al was so beloved that the group’s members wanted to pay tribute to him in a special way. They did just that on Tuesday, February 19, when they gathered to award the first and newly-created Adolph “Al” Agonis Fitness Scholarship to fellow program participant Michael Brown. The scholarship took the form of a six-month membership to Optimal Fitness, Good Shepherd’s fitness center with the area’s only handicapped-accessible workout equipment. Al was an avid member of Optimal Fitness. “I am really thankful for this,” said Michael. “I am going to make good use of it and I’m going to pay it forward.”
Al’s daughter, Christine Dakes, attributes much of her father’s longevity to his commitment to staying fit and offsetting the challenges of multiple sclerosis which he had since 1965. Al himself credited the gym for allowing him to maintain his independence. Funding for the scholarship was provided by the MS Wellness Program and Optimal Fitness. Christine also donated additional funds to continue the scholarship. The choice of Michael to receive the scholarship was especially fitting as both he and Al served in the United States Navy. Michael and Al met in the Optimal Fitness gym and developed a close camaraderie. MS Wellness members further honored Al by collecting donations for a memorial brick at The National WWII museum in New Orleans. Al was so determined to serve his country, with the approval of his parents, he enlisted in the Navy at age fifteen and a half using the birth certificate of his late older brother named Albert. Al served from January 1944 to June 1946 as a naval armed guard, armed guard gunner and 20mm machine gun gunner. Later, as a civilian, he turned the skills honed in the Navy to competitive sharp shooting where he excelled. “Knowing the man Al is, that really inspired me to be the man I am,” said Michael. “Working out keeps me staying independent. I don't look at MS as a handicap, I look at it as an adjustment to a new way of living.”
Christine Dakes and Michael Brown. 12
Ekso is a wearable robotic device that allows people with lower extremity paralysis or weakness from strokes, trauma and other neurological conditions to stand and walk. The battery-powered, on-board computer with sensors commands motors at the hip and knee joints to move the legs through a smooth, natural gait. What makes the Ekso so revolutionary is its role in helping patients achieve greater function, sometimes years after an injury, thanks to the brain’s ability to adapt through neuroplasticity.
nnovative technology and the spirit of entrepreneurship in overcoming adversity were showcased at the Conrad W. Lecture Series on Tuesday, February 18 at Muhlenberg College’s Moyer Hall. Kenneth Keitt, founder and CEO of ParaPer4mance, a web-based health and wellness fitness company dedicated to wheelchair users and those with limited mobility, was the keynote speaker.
Good Shepherd is the world’s leading clinical user of the Ekso and one of four facilities internationally named a “Center for Robotic Excellence” by Ekso Bionics. Good Shepherd’s patients have logged millions of steps in the Ekso. The Conrad W. Raker Lecture Series was started in the 1990’s as a tribute to the late Rev. Dr. Conrad Raker, a 1934 graduate of Muhlenberg College, and former Good Shepherd administrator.
Ken, an honorably discharged Marine, was paralyzed in a car accident in 2012. Fear and depression set in with the realization he would not walk again. Rather than wallow in selfpity, Ken decided to take control of his life and adopted motivating life principles that led him to achieve a college business degree and the founding of ParaPer4mance. “Happiness starts with me. Major growth comes when you overcome adversity,” Ken said. “Life is too short. The only disability is a bad attitude.” The audience also was treated to a demonstration of the Ekso Bionics Exoskeleton. The (Above) Kenneth Keitt; (right) Ruth Aragon with Steve Vandenberg, physical therapist.
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paintbrush clenched between her teeth. Unable to use her hands after surgery to remove a brain tumor when she was 12 years old left her paralyzed, Cosette was determined to pursue her lifelong passion for creating art. With help from the volunteers, Cosette is doing just that.
ith exquisite control and a delicate touch, Cosette Ruh applies a dab of paint to her brush and then to the canvas before her. A detailed outline of a floral still life is the subject of Cosette’s latest piece, a rendering of a photo the artist took in the gardens across the street from the Good Shepherd HomeRaker Center where Cosette lives. Nearby, Anne Landis, a volunteer with the resident art group, mixes several paints on a palette, trying to get just the right shade for the vivid flower that commands the picture. “It’s opera pink,” Ann says to another volunteer. “It’s not pink enough. It’s too purple. It needs to be shocking.” What makes Cosette’s art so remarkable is not just that it’s good, but that she paints holding a
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“I’ve always loved art and my dad is sort of a self-taught artist too,” says the perky 22-yearold whose teal-tinted hair reflects a carefree spirit. “At home he could do any type of art, ceramics, painting, drawing. He always had projects for us to do, like painting on canvas.” Cosette was born with a benign tumor on the base of her brain stem. The tumor was not detected until she was 18 months old, she says. The surgery, which removed 40 percent of the tumor, paralyzed Cosette. She needed a ventilator and feeding tube. Doctors gave little hope of Cosette ever recovering, but her mother wasn’t giving up, especially after Cosette moved a toe. Physical and occupational therapy started to yield dramatic improvement. “I wasn’t paralyzed any more,” says Cosette. “I needed a walker, but I could do everything myself.”
After a second surgery, Cosette was paralyzed again. Although she made some recovery, her diaphragm remains partially paralyzed. “This time I didn’t regain as much,” she says, “and I still have a trach and ventilator.” Cosette’s passion for art never waned. In high school she explored digital photography with help from friends who would angle the camera at her direction. She did crafts too: a mandala on a silk plate and a graffiti project using construction paper and words graphically incorporated to communicate a message about the dangers of plastics pollution to sea life. Cosette came to live at Good Shepherd in May 2019. She soon joined the resident art group and completed her first painting, a sea turtle. “I love turtles,” she says. The idea to paint with her mouth was floated at another facility where Cosette lived prior to coming to Good Shepherd. With a little creativity, the logistics were worked out making it possible for Cosette to paint. “I was excited,” she says. “It went better than I thought and it’s gotten easier.” Karen Geller, another resident in the art group, admires Cosette’s initiative. “She didn’t give up on art,” says Karen, “she just continued doing what she loves so much. She said, ‘I’ll find a way.’ She not only does it, she does it with aplomb. Her paintings with her mouth are better than most people can do with their hands.”
A calendar photo (top) of a sea turtle inspired Cosette’s first painting.
book club. She loves shopping and dining out, and does both as much as possible. “I have a lot more freedom and independence, and I’m more hopeful,” she says. Cosette is not only happier, she is also improving physically. “I’m working on getting everything stronger,” she says. “I feel like I’m going somewhere, getting better. I’m not just going to be like I am forever.” You can help Good Shepherd’s long-term care residents like Cosette enjoy lives of greater independence. Please make a gift today using the envelope in this issue or at SweetCharityOnline.org. Thank you.
Life at Good Shepherd for Cosette has blossomed, much like the colorful floral painting she is now working on. She participates in a variety of resident activities: choir, the drama group, gardening, cooking, gaming, and the
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IN HONOR OF…
DONATED BY…
IN HONOR OF…
DONATED BY…
Randy Bahnck Jennifer L. Britt Carolyn Bryce Jessie Christman Christmas Pattrick J. Curran Eden G. Dancho Rev. Corrine Dautrich Rob Evans Karen Geller Margaret Gigler Good Shepherd Bethlehem Staff Good Shepherd Raker 2nd Floor Staff Good Shepherd Outpatient Laury's Station Good Shepherd Orthopedic Staff Good Shepherd Staff at Macungie Good Shepherd Neuro Vision Staff Good Shepherd Raker Center 3rd Floor Staff Good Shepherd Residents Good Shepherd at Schnecksville Peggy Gross Mary I. Hartman Maurice James, III Helen Ritz Jones Judith Kline Jill Linette Gail Loughman Gregory Miller Karen M. Muro Christopher Nealon Lenora Rush
Carl & Kathleen Bahnck Mrs. Carol Maurer Mr. Gerard Bryce Mr. Kurt Scott Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Donald P. Farley Ms. Mary Ann P. Dancho Ms. Nancy E. Krody Mr. & Mrs. Alan M. Leach Mr. Herbert Geller Robert & Megan Grennan
Dr. Karen Senft Drs. Daniel J. & Carol Shiner Wilson Alice A. Stephens Rita A. Tunnhoff
Mrs. Carrie Gerber
Anonymous
For the Loving Care of...
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Gorman
Anna Gerber
Mr. & Mrs. John G. Macey
Dr. & Mrs. Alan N. Morrison Mr. & Mrs. Randy Seip, MSGT Ret Mr. & Mrs. Harold T. Kirkwood Ms. Mary E. Lindner Rev. Harold W. Weidemoyer Mrs. Linda R. Prueter Florence Weiss Mr. Sean Ryan Randy Wolfe Mr. & Mrs. Alan M. Leach Derrick Wruble Mrs. Sandra A. Wruble Edwin Zajac, Jr. Mr. Guy D. Posten Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Zajac, Sr.
DONATED BY... Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Cautilli, Sr. The Bruce & Adele Greenfield Foundation
In Celebration of First Birthday...
DONATED BY...
Connor Tifft
Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Tifft
Ms. Charlotte Lerch
In Celebration of 60th Birthday...
DONATED BY...
Mr. & Mrs. Jorge Amparo
James Skelly
Mr. & Mrs. Jorge Amparo
Mrs. Ruth Scott Anonymous Mr. James George Anonymous Mr. Lloyd I. Hartman Mr. & Mrs. Amos R. Gross Mr. Benjamin J. Jones Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Campbell Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. James R. Coombe Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Tifft Richard & Alice Mae Glover Dr. Gerard Nealon Mr. & Mrs. Dennis M. Rush
Mr. & Mrs. Lester S. Ettle Mr. Jeffrey Kollar Mr. & Mrs. David J. Ney Connie & Christina Potts Ms. Denise M. Reese Mr. Joseph M. Reese Valley Hydraulics & Air, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. James M. Yasso
In Celebration of 107th Birthday...
DONATED BY...
Louise Rees
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Gorman
In Celebration of Wedding Anniversary...
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David & Janet
Mr. & Mrs. William J. Wagner
In Celebration of...
DONATED BY...
Mr. & Mrs. David Wagner
Mr. & Mrs. William J. Wagner
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…
Colleen Abruzzi Adolph R. Agonis
Mr. Benjamin J. Jones Mr. Bryon Reed Mark & Charlene Valentine Dr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Amrick Ms. Cheryl A. Impellizzeri Mrs. Lisa M. Ashworh Ms. Francia B. Marshall Ms. Francia B. Marshall Mr & Mrs. William L. Carey Mr. David J. Benzak Mr. David J. Benzak Ms. Ann Adams Mr. & Mrs. Keith B. Adams Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Gordon E. Bayne Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Crawford Ms. Susan L. Crawford Ms. Sandy Flocco Mr. & Mrs. Richard K. Fullan Mr. & Mrs. Douglas A. Gifford Mr. & Mrs. Thomas R. Gladulich Mr. & Mrs. Michael Glowatz Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Grunklee Mr. & Mrs. Edmund P. Kling, III Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. Korner Ms. Joan D. Lamonica Ms. Susan M. Livezey Mr. & Mrs. Alfred F. Lullo Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Miller Mr. Russell C. Opferkuch & Ms. Carla Eberling Ms. Elizabeth L. Patterson Mrs. Virginia D. Pietruszka Mr. & Mrs. Christopher P. Rowan Ms. Jean A. Rowan Mr. & Mrs. Charles L. Stefanic, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Terrell Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Uczynski Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Wilcher Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Zbyszinski Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. Zilly Mr. & Mrs. Stanley E. Borascius, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. David E. Greene Dr. & Mrs. Louis H. Winkler, III
David Brewer
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph J. Brewer Dr. & Mrs. Louis H. Winkler, III Mr. & Mrs. Joseph J. Brewer Dr. & Mrs. Louis H. Winkler, III Mr. & Mrs. Joseph J. Brewer Dr. & Mrs. Louis H. Winkler, III Ms. Anne Marie Grattan Lehigh County Fish & Game Protective Assoc. Mrs. Audrey B. Planer Mr. Norman T. Bryan, Jr. Ms. Kathleen Munroe Mr. & Mrs. John V. Cooney Ms. Margie Anderson Ms. Jennifer Castiglia Ms. Andrea Klacik Mr. & Mrs. Eugene W. Koose, Jr. Ms. Marsha Senges Mrs. Linda S. Conine Mr. & Mrs. Joseph J. Brewer Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Yoder Mrs. Betty Jane Damhosl Carol & Ray Dennis Carol & Ray Dennis Mrs. Beryl M. Donohue Mrs. Diane J. Dorn Acre of Pittsburgh Ms. Shirley Baran Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Beaver Mr. James F. Bisset, Jr. Jill & Dave Bugby Mr. & Mrs. Richard Dornich & Family Ms. Suzette Kopecek Bill & Patti Lehr Ms. Susan Manela Ms. Carol Modjadidi Mr. Robert Osifchin Mrs. Ann R. Edinger Mr. & Mrs. Albert T. Koncsics Mrs. C. Louise Fair Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Stavarski
Florence Amrick Harold S. Ashwork Dora H. Barr Edward E. Barr, Sr Helen Benner Joseph W. Benzak, Sr. Ruth E. Benzak Janelle E. Bergandino
Scott P. Borascius Dr. Thomas V. Brislin Bette Brewer
Donald Brewer Robin Brewer Wayne Brown Fred Browning Rowland Brunner David M. Bryan Maria V. Burke E.J. Carpenter, III Donald D. Christian
Ruth S. Cole Mary A. Corbesero Leon Costanzer John J. Damhosl, Sr. Edythe Dennis Henry Dennis Ricky H. Donohue Charles H. Dorn, Jr. J.R. Dornish
Paul L. Edinger, Jr. Norton Evans Rev. Pastor Charles E. Fair, Ret.
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IN MEMORY OF…
DONATED BY…
IN MEMORY OF…
DONATED BY…
Barbara Follmer Stanford Gilbert, Jr. Edward Glaessmann Elaine I. Glose Emil Godshall
Mrs. Joanne M. Broome Dr. & Mrs. Louis H. Winkler, III Ms. Doris A. Gribbin Mr. William M. Glose, III Mr. & Mrs. Howard V. Peters Dr. Timothy & Mrs. Howard Peters-Strickland Ms. Maryann K. Gardner Mr. David S. Maxwell Dr. Richard F. Grunt & Ms. Sharon Gaiser Ms. Treissa Siegfried Ms. Judith Wertheim Mr. Bruce H. Womer & Donna M. Fenstermaker Ms. Linda J. Highhouse Mr. & Mrs. Rod Brooks Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Billings Mr. & Mrs. Donald Harakal Ms. Rebecca S. Robertson Mr. James W. Harper Mr. James A. Butt Mrs. Carol L. Maurer Mr. & Mrs. Mark A. Maurer, II Lt. Col. & Mrs. Eric J. Hille, USAF Lt. Col. & Mrs. Eric J. Hille, USAF Anonymous Falck Global Assistance Mr. & Mrs. Anthony R. LaPadula Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Miller Mr. & Mrs. Michael Malloy Mr. & Mrs. Michael Malloy Mr. & Mrs. Michael Malloy Ms. Melaine J. Chadwick Mr. & Mrs. John O. Kinnaird Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan J. Terry Mr. Thomas Burgess Ms. Gail McKernan Dorothy & Ernest Mrs. Helen K. Neubauer Mrs. Helen K. Neubauer Ms. Jane A. Andrews Mr. John R. Barr, Jr.
Julia M. Laser Stanley Laser Gladys Lemley Anthony Leuzzi Elvira Maniatty
Atty. & Mrs. Daniel P. Sabetti Atty. & Mrs. Daniel P. Sabetti Ms. Ann Marie Grattan Mr. Joseph DeLuca Dr. Antoinette Maniatty Mr. Ronald F. Schildge Mrs. Betty J. Kalbach Anonymous Mr. William G. Meier Mr. Thomas E. Michael Mrs. Ruth E. Scott Ms. Susan G. Hillegass Dr. Deborah N. Kimmel Dr. Glenn E. Moyer Mrs. Barbara C. Mumbauer Mr. & Mrs. John & Eileen Fasolka Mrs. Andrea E. Naugle Mrs. Helen K. Neubauer Roland & Martha Hansen Mr. & Mrs. Frank W. Nikischer, Sr. Mrs. Cecelia A. Connelly Weida Mrs. Barbara J. Pamperin Mrs. Joyce E. Patton Mrs. Helen Perkins Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Rospondek Mr. & Mrs. Thomas S. Boob, Jr. Mr. James P. Gurskey Mr. Richard J. Prueter Mrs. Dorothy Berk Ms. Carolyn Casino Mr. Edward W. Collins Mr. Charles I. DePuy Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. DePuy Ms. Mary Jean Early Mr. & Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhauer Mr. & Mrs. John Halenar Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. Herman Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Hoffman Mrs. Irene Hudasky Ms. Nancy J. Kerestus Mr. & Mrs. Kilian Kormann Mrs. Margo L. LaRizzio Life Skills Teachers & Friends
John J. Gorman Raymond Greene Joseph F. Grunt
John Gulich Sally A. Gurskey Robert Gutheil Krista J. Harakal
Mary P. Harper Steven Helms
Kate Hille Gerhard Hille Sheldon Hoffman
Eleanor Keiter Fred Keiter Oscar Keiter James Kerrigan John H. Kinnaird, Jr. Benjamin Knauss Charles L. Knecht Bruce Kohler John Kohut Joseph Kohut John B. Lalli
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Lori Ann Martin Jim Maul Hilde E. Meier Dina C. Michael Sharon Miller Louella Mindler Maureen Moroney Ardella K. F. Moyer Donald P. Mumbauer Michael J. Nagle Thelma Naugle Robert C. Neubauer The Newhart Family Jacqueline J. Nikischer Dr. Neil O'Boyle Connelly Donne F. Pamperin Fred A. Patton Blair R. Perkins Mr. & Mrs. Budd Platt June G. Pope Theodore H. Prueter Mildred J. Radocha
IN MEMORY OF…
DONATED BY…
IN MEMORY OF…
Mildred J. Radocha
Mr. & Mrs. Kevin J. McArdle Mr. & Mrs. James McDonald Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. McKee Mrs. Roberta Massaro Mr. & Mrs. John J. Michalik Mr. Robert Mikulski & Mrs. Kathy Matika The Miranda Family Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Purpura Mr. & Mrs. Philip G. Rader Mrs. Alexine Rajnic Mrs. Eleanor Sachon Ms. Louisa Sarge Mr. & Mrs. Joseph S. Sicenavage Ms. Suzanne Sofish Mr. Thomas J. Solski Mr. & Mrs. Michael W. Tatusko Mrs. Nancy Thompson Mr. & Mrs. James Varley Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Vavra Mrs. Joan Wargo Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Yacapsin Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Zlock Roland & Martha Hansen Elizabeth McDonald Mr. & Mrs. Donald L. Henry Mr. & Mrs. Donald L. Henry Mr. & Mrs. Michael H. Brown Mr. Lester W. Riegel, Sr. Mrs. Leslie L. Rinella Mrs. Joanne Rocco Carter Mr. & Mrs. Leo J. Rogers, Jr. Mr. Craig Sandler Ms. Fay Ann Grider Ms. Barbara Anne Savacool Ms. Barbara Anne Savacool James & Donna Schaefer Mr. & Mrs. Rod Brooks James & Donna Schaefer Mr. & Mrs. Rod Brooks Ms. Candance A. Herrman Ms. Ilse V. Schall Ms. Karen L. Schall Mrs. Terry P. Schall
Anna Schaum John Schaum Charles Schneider Elizabeth Schneider Karen Sharer Clinton H. Simmons Jeane E. Siwy Mark P. Sneff Roger Snell, Jr. Hilda H. Snyder Marion Snyder Ralph Snyder Suzanne C. Stabilito Maureen Ann Steiger Gayle D. Stoneback Ralph D. Stoneback Brian Taylor Helen Taylor R. Stockton Taylor, Jr.
The Reed Family Louise Rees Clarence Reitz Ruth Reitz Mikayla Resh Duke Riegel Vincent J. Rinella Matilda M. Rocco Scott G. Sandler Janet A. Sandt Dr. J. Woodrow Savacool Lucille Savacool Helene M. Schaefer Kenneth J. Schaefer R. Richard Schall, PhD
DONATED BY…
Carol & Ray Dennis Carol & Ray Dennis Mrs. Doris M. Vorndran Mrs. Doris M. Vorndran Ms. Patricia Wisniewski Ms. Marilyn K. Simmons Mr. & Mrs. John C. Siwy Mr. & Mrs. Paul Baiada Mrs. Diane Snell Mr. & Mrs. Franklin C. Snyder Mrs. Diane L. Hriniak Mrs. Diane L. Hriniak Ms. Teresa Supka Mr. LeRoy J. Steiger Anonymous Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Rod Brooks Mr. & Mrs. Rod Brooks Ms. Kimberly A. Bluder Ms. Isabelle T. Vauclain Maryann Unangst Mr. & Mrs. Douglas E. Brobst Lily Keim Van Sweden Ms. Joanne E. Keim & Mr. Bryan D. Van Sweden Mr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Keim Walter Von Brook Ms. Diane Dennis The Wahrmann Family Roland & Martha Hansen Mary Waldron Mr. & Mrs. John V. Cooney Professor Robert P. Wei Mrs. Lee C. Wei Rev. Dr. Harold S. Weiss, Ret. Ms. Elizabeth A. Smith Donna Williams Ms. Jane A. Andrews Rebecca L. Fair Williams Mrs. C. Louise Fair Mahlon U. Wolf Mr. David M. Wolf David H. Wruble Mrs. Sandra A. Wruble Rev. Paul J. Xander Mrs. Susan Xander Karen E. Youngdahl for the Long Term Care Music Program Mr. Carl R. Youngdahl, Jr. Phillip Zaharchuk Mr. & Mrs. Bruce C. Schmauch Mr. & Mrs. Roman Zaharchuk Theresa Zwickl Ms. Doris A. Gribbin
Gifts were received from October 1 through December 31, 2019.
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Judith Kline Judith Kline may not have had a formal education, but what she lacked in schooling she made up for in life experiences with a large and loving family who remained close until her death at age 76 on January 1 at the Good Shepherd Home-Raker Center. Born in Reading, the sixth of 14 children, Judy lived with cerebral palsy, but her strong spirit kept her engaged with a world that included family reunions in Texas and Florida, visits to Disney World in Florida, dedication to her beloved Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, and a special love for babies. Judy grew up on a six-acre farm in Douglasville where she played baseball with her siblings and had a fondness for the ducks. “Judy loved the ducks, and apparently the ducks loved Judy, too,” says a sister Louise Lyra, who looked after Judy in her Florida home for 27 years before Judy moved to Good Shepherd in 2015. Judy’s hearing deficit plunged her into a “world of noise” that hampered her ability to speak, but her intelligence and determination carried her through life. “She was stubborn and strong,” says Louise. “If she wanted to do something, she did it.”
Donald Christian Donald Christian was a fun-loving big brother, a talented artist and musician, and enjoyed a good thrill. One summer, Donny fashioned two old skateboards and a piece of plywood into a go-cart. He convinced his younger sister, Tammy (Kurtz), to take a ride down the biggest hill in the neighborhood. They ended up barely missing a big apple tree and plowing through the neighbor’s prize-winning iris garden before coming to a crashing stop. “We picked up what was left of the pile of wood, wheels and dignity we still had and walked home,” says Tammy, recalling the near miss. Donny, who lived at the Good Shepherd HomeRaker Center since he was 18, passed away on November 29, 2019, at age 55. Growing up, Donny loved motorcycles and enjoyed summers at his grandfather’s hunting cabin in northeast Pennsylvania, riding his mini-bike on the dirt roads until running out of gas. An accident when Donny was 15 forever changed what might have been a career as a rock drummer and singer. “I feel that some of his happiest times were when he was sitting behind his Buddy Rich drum set in the basement with his big earphones on, connected to his stereo with an 8-track playing a Rush song while he drummed along,” says Tammy.
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John Gulich John Gulich was charismatic and a character. But most of all, John, who passed away on Tuesday, November 26 at age 65, was deeply loved by family and friends, including many from the Good Shepherd Home-Raker Center in Allentown where John lived since 2014. Born December 26, 1953, “Taxi,” as he was nicknamed, was a long-distance truck driver for more than 30 years until physical challenges from an accident forced him to retire and rely on a wheelchair for mobility. Still, John loved a good laugh. “He wanted to be a standup comedian, but he said, ‘The trouble is, I can’t stand up,’” recalls a sister, Marie Leiby with a chuckle. John’s passions ran the gamut from Mexican food to NASCAR. He soaked up life at Good Shepherd with gusto, creating memorable characters with the resident drama group, enjoying sports happy hour with his pals, and playing virtual reality games. True to form, hours before his passing, John videotaped a farewell message laced with humor and poignancy on a friend’s phone. “Good morning, Vietnam,” he began, referring to the 1987 film starring Robin Williams. “I’m going on a vacation, but I’m not coming back,” he said. “Enjoy life.”
William C. Watts, Jr. Chris Watts likes to tell the story about the time his older brother, Bill, was cruising in his wheelchair to attend church two miles from home, when a rain storm stopped him in his tracks prompting a rescue call to their father, William Sr. That was Bill, independent and committed to his faith. That memory and so many more come flooding back to Chris, his father and mother, Dianne Rodemich, in the wake of Bill Jr.’s passing on January 20 at age 51 at the Good Shepherd Home-Raker Center where he and Chris have lived since 1998. The brothers shared many things, including muscular dystrophy, a disease that challenged them even as it strengthened their bond. “We were very close,” says Chris. “We cared about each other and were together all the time.” Bill was intelligent, and loved a good laugh and sitting outside in the sun with his brother. Above all, Bill was a man devoted to his God, a passion expressed eloquently through poetry. In 2004, Bill took his perpetual profession vows as a Franciscan Mission of Jesus Crucified. He was a member of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church Parish, Allentown. ”I was very proud of him,” says Dianne. “I admired him. He was something.” Memorial gifts may be made to the Good Shepherd Home–Raker Center by using the envelope in this issue or at sweetcharityonline.org. 21
Louise Rees Ever since she was a child, Louise Rees was gifted with the ability to see beyond her own physical challenges from spastic paralysis and apply her compassionate heart and intellect to helping others. It is a gift that began in 1919 when Louise was six years old and a patient at an orthopedic hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, where she was sent for corrective surgery. There she met a little girl who had difficulty speaking and being understood. “It was then that I secretly began to wonder if it were not possible to find some way to teach her to talk,” Louise wrote in a Sweet Charity article in 1958 titled, “The Beginning of Fulfillment.” That love for teaching and children stayed with Louise her entire life until her passing at age 107 on November 13, 2019, at the Good Shepherd Home-Raker Center, where she lived for almost 65 years. Louise read stories to the children who lived in the Baby Cottage in the early days of Good Shepherd’s founding. In later years, she was a volunteer teacher’s aide at Lehigh Parkway Elementary School helping third and fourth graders with math and reading, and at Jefferson Elementary School. Born October 28, 1912, in McKeesport, Louise was one of five children. Her parents cared for her at home until 1954 when she came to Good Shepherd. Louise forged a close personal relationship with the Rev. Dr. Conrad Raker, who succeeded his father, the Rev. John “Papa” Raker, as administrator of the home after Papa’s passing in 1941. Louise and Conrad were both born in 1912 only a day apart. The proximity of their birthdays earned Louise the nickname, “Baby Sister,” from Conrad. Louise was a teacher in other ways, too. Her grace, love for others, concern for broken souls and a broken world, and devotion to her Lutheran faith were quiet lessons in how to live. With a sparkle in her eye, a keen sense of humor and a natural maternal instinct, Louise was deeply loved by Good Shepherd staff, residents and volunteers. “I think it was the care that was given to her that kept her alive,” says Susan O’Neil, a niece, “and every one of us was grateful.” 22
Spring 2020 Official Publication Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network Allentown, PA Volume 113, Issue 1
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 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 ADMINISTRATION GARY SCHMIDT, MA, Interim President and CEO, Orefield CINDY BUCHMAN, MHA, Vice President, Physician and Clinical Services 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 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
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SWEET CHARITY IS A PUBLICATION OF: Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network Good Shepherd Plaza 850 South 5th Street Allentown, PA 18103 1-888-44REHAB GoodShepherdRehab.org DEVELOPMENT David F. Lyons, CFRE Vice President for Development Major & Planned Giving Officers: Jeannette Edwards Kimberly Stolarik Gregory Wilson, CAP® Andrew B. Block, MPA Director of Government Relations & Development
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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.
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Confused about the new tax law and the impact it will have on your IRA? You’re not alone. Whether you’re retired or still working, there are new rules that affect all retirement accounts effective January 1, 2020. It’s important to understand what these changes mean for you, your family, and the beneficiaries you’ve named on your accounts.
We Can Help Call 610-778-1078 to talk with one of our gift planning experts, Jeannette Edwards, Gregory Wilson, CAP,® or Kimberly Stolarik. or visit: sweetcharityonline.org/plannedgiving Good Shepherd encourages you to consult your advisor.