Ochsner Magazine Spring 2020

Ochsner

From My Heart To Yours

After a domino liver transplant, two patients celebrate new beginnings and friendships

INSIDE:

• How donors and volunteers bring the healing power of art to Ochnser (page 4)

• A young oncology patient expresses himself — and brings joy to others — through his drawings (page 10)

SERVE, HEAL, LEAD, EDUCATE AND INNOVATE

Special Note: During the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, the professionals who make up the Ochsner Health team have been called to face the greatest challenge of their professional lives. While this magazine was largely completed before the outbreak, we want you to know that the support provided by our philanthropic partners has been critical as we work to protect our friends, families, neighbors, and the greater community from this new and frightening disease. Thank you.

FOUNDATION BOARD

PICTURED BELOW

Standing from Left:

Calvin Fayard

Chadwick Landry

Dr. Joseph Dalovisio

VM Wheeler

DEAR FRIENDS,

Since the day we opened our first multi-specialist practice in 1942, Ochsner has lived its mission to serve, heal, lead, educate and innovate. Working to honor this mission has challenged us in our continued work to change and save more lives across more communities in Louisiana and across the Gulf South.

The progress we’ve made is remarkable, and many of our greatest life-saving achievements started with philanthropic gifts. Again and again, I have been humbled by the generosity that our donors show to our patients. Some of these donors are Ochsner patients themselves who received great care here and want to pay it forward. Others are community leaders who recognize the impact of a gift on a person’s life. Whatever their story or reason for giving, our philanthropic partners make the great work of Ochsner caregivers possible.

Throughout the pages ahead you will find stories of giving alongside individuals who made the best of frightening situations. These people use their talents to bring smiles to the faces of others. They make friendships and connections that will last a lifetime. And they use difficult experiences as motivation to create something wonderful.

These individuals come from different walks of life and have faced a range of health challenges, but one thing is certain: their stories give me hope.

The patients and donors in this issue of Ochsner magazine remind me that even on the worst days, there is hope for better days to come. Our human struggles teach us lessons, help develop our talents and build personal connections that strengthen our character. That’s a lesson I’ve learned repeatedly at Ochsner: that through incredible struggle can come incredible gifts.

I hope that this year has been kind to you so far. And I hope that if you’ve faced or are facing health challenges, you have also found hope in the knowledge that something good may be closer than you think.

Warner L. Thomas President & CEO, Ochsner Health

Wilmer ‘Bill’ Freiberg

Pamela Steeg

Steve Nathanson

Norris Williams

John Kennedy

Cliffe Laborde

Seated from Left:

Todd Johnson

Desiree Harrison

Tommy Coleman

Miles Clements

Warner Thomas

Lee Giorgio, Jr.

Tommy Fonseca

Not Pictured:

Gayle Benson

Robert Boh

Frank Dudenhefer

Greg Flores

Paul Flower

Sarah Freeman

Marcel Garsaud

John Hairston

Tara Hernandez

Michael Maenza

Karen Stall

Catherine Burns Tremaine

Photo by Stephen Legendre

OCHSNER EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Warner L. Thomas

President and Chief Executive Officer

Robert Hart, MD, FAAP, FACP

Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Michael Hulefeld

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Scott J. Posecai

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Pete November

Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP

Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

Mark Muller

Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development

Michelle Dodenhoff

Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Jennifer F. Bollinger

Senior Vice President of Consumer Strategy

David M. Gaines

Chief Executive Officer of System Retail Services and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs

Tracey Schiro

Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

David Carmouche, MD

Senior Vice President and President of Ochsner Health Network and Executive Director of Ochsner Accountable Care Network

OCHSNER MAGAZINE

Melissa Landry

Editor

Lea Witkowski-Purl

Editor

RENAISSANCE PUBLISHING

Topher Balfer

Custom Publishing Editor

Ali Sullivan

Art Director

A Gesture of Kindness

The Ochsner Art Program brings the healing power of art to patients and visitors.

A Tale of Two Triumphs

A rare domino transplant gave Dr. Charles Williams and Benny Capagnano a renewed lease on life — and a friendship to last a lifetime.

Artist at Heart

Pediatric oncology patient

Deyron Alvarez finds healing through the power of art.

FreeWill

A new partnership enables Ochsner patients to conveniently create a legally valid will.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Molly Kimball shares a recipe from The Eat Fit Cookbook: Chef Inspired Recipes for the Home

Glimpses

Grateful patients and dedicated members of the community help Ochsner continue to provide high-quality care through events and celebrations of Ochsner and the generosity of its donors.

Cover Photo by Stephen Legendre

A Gesture of Kindness

The

Ochsner Art Program brings the healing power of art to patients and visitors

By Topher Balfer | Photos by Stephen Legendre

Just a few days after Thanksgiving 2008, Mikell Johnson pulled into the circular turnaround outside Ochsner’s River Road entrance with her husband, Peter, in the passenger seat. That morning, Peter urgently woke his wife and told her he needed to see his doctors.

Peter’s battle with cancer had begun just a few months prior, but his condition had worsened rapidly. What started as lung cancer had metastasized in his back, and while doctors couldn’t say for sure how much time he had left, they knew he didn’t have very long. By the time Mikell parked her car outside the hospital that day, Peter’s pain was even worse. He could barely move, much less get out of the SUV on his own.

Mikell rushed into the hospital looking for a wheelchair when a passing doctor asked if she was having a problem and needed help. With tears in her eyes, she told him she couldn’t get her husband out of the car.

The doctor got a wheelchair, followed her out to the entrance and “literally lifted Peter out of the car, put him in the wheelchair and took him in.”

Peter passed away the following month, but Mikell never forgot the incredible kindness and compassion that doctor showed her and her husband that morning: how he’d welcomed them with open arms and done whatever he could to support and comfort them.

That moment was still at the forefront of her mind 11 years later when Mikell received a call from Catherine Burns Tremaine, daughter of Ochsner founder Dr. Edgar Burns. Catherine was working to acquire a sculpture called “Gesture,” crafted by local artist Lin Emery, to contribute to Ochsner’s Art Program. She was hoping that Mikell would consider co-funding the donation. Made in Emery’s traditional style, “Gesture” is a kinetic sculpture, the design incorporates movement to bring the work to life and create a dimensional visual effect.

When Mikell saw the sculpture — and when she learned where it was going

“Gesture,” a kinetic sculpture created by artist Lin Emery, sits in the turnaround outside Ochsner’s River Road entrance.

to be placed — she made up her mind on the spot to help.

To her, the sculpture looked just like someone holding out their arms and even more symbolic was the sculpture’s placement, in that same circular drive where Mikell and her husband had been helped more than a decade before.

“To me, that’s what I think of Ochsner. It’s saying to people, ‘Come and we can heal you, we’ll be kind to you,’” Mikell said. “It just reminded me of the time I was there in the exact spot. That’s why it was an easy decision to help Catherine fund the sculpture.”

Catherine said that “Gesture” is part of Ochsner’s widening effort “to increase the range of art” through the Ochsner Art Program, which operates with the simple mission of bringing the healing power of art to the traditional hospital environment. Since 1994, the program has sought out pieces for both permanent collections and temporary galleries, all in an effort to inspire and uplift the patients, doctors, visitors and staff that see them.

“The name of the sculpture ‘Gesture’ gives us the opportunity to say that the gesture is welcome,” Catherine said. “And indeed, that is what the sculpture does. It welcomes all who enter the clinic from the River Road entrance.”

Art Volunteers Bill Cullison and Lorene Holbrook have worked with the Ochsner Art Program for the past 25 years to expand the artistic presence in Ochsner’s various facilities. Along with an Art Committee comprised of Art Volunteers, Volunteer and Guest Services staff, several Ochsner doctors and representatives from the Physical Plant, Bill and Lorene have sourced and organized exhibits, solicited donations and maintained the permanent collection. Art is personal for both of them. They were both inspired by the power and influence of art at young ages and now hope to share that experience with others.

“Art is like chicken soup for the soul,” said Bill. “It nourishes the human

spirit, and when the spirit is nourished, the body responds in kind.”

“A landscape, portrait or still life can offer the onlooker a sense of identification, while color harmonies and formal relationships will often please the eye,” said Bill. “Even an abstract work may offer a respite from illness or distress by allowing the onlooker to interpret the work through his or her own experience and imagination.”

Lorene saw this effect firsthand with her own mother, who expressed her gratitude for Ochsner’s efforts to expose patients to art.

“My mother was an eight-year dialysis patient and said she appreciated, actually needed, to see art with color, movement or a story to discover,” Lorene said. “It was what she needed to keep fighting to live.”

Because of the work of volunteers like Bill and Lorene and donors like Catherine and Mikell, Ochsner is now home to two galleries (Art Walk I and Art Walk

II), a Spirit of Ochsner glass case in the first-floor atrium that contains smaller objects and paintings, several permanent exhibits and more. These offerings only stand to grow, and the art committee hopes to add interactive elements like a self-guided art tour with a map or digital app. Ultimately, Bill said, the Ochsner Art Program can effectively transform the way people think about — and how they feel inside — modern medical centers by simply humanizing the environment and providing peace and comfort.

“Over the years, as we stand on ladders hanging paintings and adjusting lighting, so many people have stopped to thank us and talk about the importance of what we do,” said Lorene. “This need for art is universal.”

If you would like to help bring artwork to Ochsner, please visit ochsner.org/healingart or contact Marjory Harper at mharper@ochsner.org or 504-842-7117

ABOVE: Mrs. Catherine Burns Tremaine (left) and Mrs. Mikell Johnson (right) made a coordinated donation to bring the Lin Emery sculpture to Ochsner.

A Tale of Two Triumphs

A rare domino transplant gave Dr. Charles Williams and Benny Capagnano a renewed lease on life — and a friendship to last a lifetime.

By Topher Balfer

Though they are separated by hundreds of miles and, until a few years ago, had never met or heard each other’s names, the lives of Dr. Charles Williams and Benny Capagnano are inextricably linked — by shared challenges, shared triumphs and, most significantly, by an unprecedented operation.

Together, Dr. Williams and Benny were part of a domino liver transplant.

This rare medical procedure is performed when a liver needs to be replaced in one patient but may still be functional for another. Even more astounding is the fact that, while Dr. Williams was both donating his own liver and receiving a new one, he simultaneously received a new heart. There was simply no precedent for a multiorgan domino transplant at

Ochsner, but thanks to the innovation and collaboration of both patients’ care teams, this incredible operation was not just imagined — it was made a reality, and Dr. Williams and Benny are alive today because of it.

One Breath at a Time

For Dr. Charles Williams, who retired from the Air Force in 2012 after more than 36 years as an orthopedic surgeon, the trouble began with shortness of breath.

He made an appointment with his primary care doctor in Bluewater Bay, Florida, hoping to ease his concerns that something more serious was happening. He didn’t find the comfort he was looking for, an X-ray showed that Dr. Williams had an enlarged heart.

Since the cause was a mystery,

Benny, Dr. Williams and their families meet for the first time following their operations and recovery. The two are close friends to this day. Photo by Stephen Legendre.

Dr. Williams didn’t exhibit any of the problems typical for heart disease, his primary physician concluded that this was likely a case of post-viral cardiomyopathy, which can occur when a virus like the flu or an upper respiratory infection makes its way to the heart.

“For the next year, my doctor put me on cardiac medicines, diuretics and diet restrictions, everything else you would do to stabilize a congestive heart failure patient, but I kept getting worse,” Dr. Williams said. “After about a year, he was getting really concerned that I wasn’t staying stable despite what he was doing for me. So that’s when he sent me to Ochsner, to have their heart transplant doctors look at me in case he was missing something.”

The doctors at Ochsner agreed with the previous assessment, that they were likely looking at a case of postviral cardiomyopathy, but they also had another theory: that Dr. Williams was suffering from amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis is the buildup of abnormal proteins around tissues and organs, which can cause severe peripheral neuropathy and, ultimately, organ failure. Tests revealed that Dr. Williams had a rare hereditary form of amyloidosis, which was causing a protein buildup around his heart. Because he had been adopted at birth and never knew his biological family, the revelation was shocking.

“We knew from research that once you’re given a diagnosis of hereditary ATTR, you only have two or three years left to live,” Dr. Williams said. “I knew there was nothing to treat with, other than a transplant, and I knew that even when you’re put on the list for a transplant, most people die waiting for a heart.”

Dr. Williams spent the next several months preparing for the worst-case scenario, and by August 2018, it seemed to have arrived. Unable to sleep, he spent most nights lying in bed, consciously willing himself to breathe in and breathe out again; he says that without deliberate effort, he knew he would likely stop breathing in his sleep.

Exhaustion was setting in, and Dr. Williams was ready for a resolution — whatever that might be.

Benny’s Battle

Meanwhile, Benny Capagnano was in the midst of his own health struggles, the culmination of a years-long battle with addiction.

“I got caught up in a little bit of drinking, but mostly drugs that made me not feel,” Benny said. “And that’s what my ultimate goal was — to not feel.”

Benny had violated his probation and spent several years living in hiding before deciding to turn himself in. Once in police custody, he said got down on his knees and prayed for the chance to make things right.

“I just said to God, ‘Just stick with me, stay with me while all this goes through, and when I’m done with it, I’ll get clean,’” Benny said.

That was on a Tuesday night. The next afternoon, he was called out of his cell, brought in front of the magistrate, and informed that the state of Louisiana had

dropped all charges against him. Benny was released from jail on Thursday and, sticking to the promise he’d made himself, was in rehab by Friday.

“My life was trash before that,” Benny said. “I had abused my body and I was in active addiction for 25 years. I hurt so many people. And I had this opportunity. It was the biggest wakeup call of my life.”

Benny had made the choice to turn his life around, but even once he was clean, he was still suffering from the effects of addiction. He started experiencing stomach and chest pains and, thinking he was having a heart attack, checked into Ochsner.

“That’s when they discovered my liver was in bad shape,” Benny said. “I had been in and out of the hospital with various symptoms, mostly with my heart and my stomach. It was just baffling. I had no idea what was going on, so that four-day stay at Ochsner informed me that I had Hepatitis C, and I had cirrhosis, and I was in need of a liver transplant.”

An Innovative Idea

It’s easy for Dr. Williams to imagine a world in which he didn’t stop his wife from leaving for the grocery store on August 31, 2018. It’s a world without him, where his story ends early.

Still at home in Florida awaiting news about his transplant, his condition was worsening, and that day, he was having more trouble breathing than ever before. His wife, Gwen, had just informed him that she and their son were leaving for about 45 minutes and would be right back.

Looking back, Dr. Williams doesn’t

It has been a long journey for both of them — but things are finally looking up, and they each plan to make the most of the opportunity their doctors have given them.

“ We started thinking outside the box. We started pushing the envelope ”

think he could have waited that long.

“She left the room and a voice came to me and said, ‘Stop them from going,’” Dr. Williams said. “It took me quite a bit to get from my bedroom into the hallway. I had to stop several times to catch my breath. But I finally got to the entryway and I called out to Gwen just as she was going out the door, getting ready to pull it shut behind her.

“That’s when I said, ‘Gwen, change of plans. You guys are going to take me to the emergency room. And I’m not coming back home.’”

Once at the emergency room, doctors arranged for Dr. Williams to immediately be transferred to Ochsner. Under the care of Ochsner Surgical Director, Dr. Aditya Bansal, Dr. Williams was stabilized, but there was still a long road to getting a new heart.

“Dr. Williams was very sick and very debilitated,” said Dr. Bansal. “We could not get him the transplant right away, so we really worked hard to get him physical therapy, improved his nutrition and made him walk every day. I would find him walking every afternoon as I was making my rounds, and we’d talk for a few minutes to keep him positive. So, he really worked hard and turned around big time.”

Around this time, Dr. Bansal began to

worry that the heart transplant wouldn’t be enough. Because the dangerous amyloid protein originated in Dr. Williams’ liver, there was always a risk that further build up would occur around a new heart. It seemed that the best option to prevent any further issues would be to perform a multiorgan transplant, which brought Dr. John Seal, liver transplant specialist, onto Dr. Williams’ care team.

“The concern when you go to do a heart transplant is to figure out if amyloidosis is going to be a problem in a new transplant down the road, or if it’s going to continue to accumulate in other tissues,” said Dr. Seal. “That’s how we ended up deciding that Dr. Williams would benefit from a combined heart and liver transplant. Replacing the liver basically stops the ongoing process of amyloidosis; it doesn’t reverse it, but it would prevent the progression of his other symptoms.”

There was a precedent for multiorgan transplants at Ochsner already, and both Dr. Seal and Dr. Bansal said that it’s not uncommon for different caregivers to come together and collaborate on new and innovative solutions. It’s that interconnectivity that led to the decision to perform a dual transplant in the first place, and once united, Dr. Bansal said they took their collaboration even further

than that. Functioning as “a well-oiled machine,” an environment he says is unique to Ochsner, the teams began looking for a way to save more than just Dr. Williams’ life.

“We started thinking outside the box. We started pushing the envelope,” said Dr. Bansal. “We said, ‘You know what? We can’t do just the heart transplant because of this factor. But wait a second, can we do a heart and a liver? Okay, we do a heart and a liver — but wait a second, can this liver work in somebody else?’”

It turned out that Dr. Williams’ liver could work in someone else — particularly, an older patient, who would be less likely to suffer from amyloidosis, which can take decades to manifest any symptoms. And there was a patient who fit the bill exactly.

Second Chances

The operations happened just a few rooms apart: in one room was Dr. Williams, about to receive a new liver and a new heart. In the other room, Benny was preparing to receive Dr. Williams’ liver, which was not fit for its original body, but which was a perfect match for him.

It took twelve hours, but both operations were successful.

“When my eyes opened, I was looking

Dr. Williams and his wife, Gwen, celebrating his retirement from the Air Force in 2012.

Dr. Williams and Gwen enjoying the retired life.

Benny with his foster animals following his successful transplant.

at the ceiling,” said Benny. “I remember saying, ‘I made it.’ And I thank God for it.”

Dr. Williams reacted in much the same way when he finally woke up. He opened his eyes after three days of intubation to find his wife, Gwen, sitting beside him. She had never left his side.

“I immediately started talking out loud, and all that came out of my mouth at that point was praising God, and thanking God,” Dr. Williams said.

Since that day, life has changed in every conceivable way for Benny and Dr. Williams. Against all odds, they each received another chance at life, and both of them are trying to make the most of it. For his part, Dr. Williams feels it’s his calling to share his experience with the world, whenever asked.

“That’s why I’m here,” he said. “Whether it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me, or encouraging me that whole time, I realized I’m doing God’s will just by being alive today. This is why He saved me and brought me through this, so I can give my testimony. And I’m doing it every day.”

On the other side of addiction, Benny feels extremely blessed and is taking whatever steps he can to give back to the community. Right now, he finds comfort in fostering dogs at the

home he shares with his cousin, making sure they feel loved and safe until they find their forever homes.

And, even better, both Benny and Dr. Williams have formed a friendship that will last a lifetime. They shared their emotional first meeting at Ochsner just a few months after the operation and were even honored by the New Orleans Saints — along with Dr. Bansal and Dr. Seal — as Ochsner Heroes of the Game in November 2019.

It has been a long journey for both of them — but things are finally looking up, and they each plan to make the most of the opportunity their doctors have

given them.

“All the Ochsner doctors and nurses are very talented, and God worked through them,” Benny said. “They saved my life. They would never know how much I appreciate and love them for doing this for me and for my donor. It’s still overwhelming to think about…but it’s been amazing.”

If you would like to support innovations in transplant please visit ochsner.org/ transplantinnovation or contact Lauren Phipps at lauren.phipps@ ochsner.org

Benny and Dr. Williams stand with Dr. David Gachoka at the Brent House Hotel on the day of their first meeting. Photo by Stephen Legendre.

Artist at Heart

Pediatric oncology patient Deyron Alvarez finds healing through the power of art

Deyron Alvarez is nine years old. He is active, caring and outgoing. He loves any kind of dance, playing basketball and, above all else, art. Deyron is also a patient in Ochsner’s Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic.

In August 2019, Deyron began spitting up blood. His mother, Leticia, took him to the hospital, where she received news no parent wants to hear. Deyron was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Anne Zegel, Deyron’s Child Life Specialist with the Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Clinic, knows how devastating that news is to receive.

As a Child Life Specialist with Ochsner Hospital for Children, Anne’s job is to take the disorienting and unfamiliar — the size and feel of a hospital, the process of treatment, the fear that comes with an illness — and make it understandable and manageable both for the patient and for their parents. The Child Life team works with children and their families, teaching them everything from how to process grief to the ins and outs of getting around the hospital.

They are also behind birthday parties, holiday celebrations, entertainment and more, including providing art supplies to patients who want them.

Deyron wanted art supplies from

“His favorite thing to do in his clinic time and infusions is drawing and painting,” Anne said. Acute promyelocytic leukemia requires Deyron visit Ochsner for daily

Deyron Alvarez stays positive and inspired during his hospital visits by drawing some of his favorite artists.

infusions, leaving him spending a lot of time in the clinic. His artistic adventures follow his steps through his healthcare experience, Anne said. Leticia agreed, adding that art has become his primary means of expressing how he’s feeling during his treatments.

“He gets paper and he just starts drawing. He takes out his emotions, frustration or pain, on his art. He works out what he’s feeling on the paper,” Leticia said.

“He has a natural artistic talent, and he takes his time with everything he draws.

I’ve seen him practice the same picture over and over, and I think that is such a great representation of how he’s mastered his experience since being diagnosed with cancer,” said Anne. “He was the first patient that came to mind when I was asked who might be interested in drawing a holiday card.”

The concept of a patient-drawn holiday card stemmed from Traci Lucas, CFRE, Director of Philanthropy for Ochsner Hospital for Children.

As the holiday season approached, Traci approached the Child Life team

looking for an artist. The project and Deyron were a perfect match.

Deyron’s artwork, a carefully rendered snowman surrounded by trees and gifts, was proudly displayed on the front of Ochsner Philanthropy’s holiday card last year, bringing with it messages of hope and gratitude for the donors who, among other things, make purchasing art supplies for patients possible.

As for Deyron’s future as an artist, he likes to see how far he’s come, and how much he’s improved. For Anne, that improvement has been in both art and in his handling of his experience.

“It has been such a joy to see Deyron master his healthcare experience and cope with each challenge along the way,” Anne said.

Challenges aren’t uncommon for patients undergoing treatment; they’re an inevitability. Part of Child Life’s work is to assist families as they navigate those challenges. No family is prepared for the emotional strain of a child suffering from a serious illness, nor for the pain of watching them press through treatments that are often taxing. This is why the work of a Child Life is paramount.

Aside from helping normalize hospital procedures and environments and supporting the grieving and bereaved, they provide spaces that help children continue their growth and development, little moments in the process where they can just be kids rather than kids and patients. The importance of maintaining that space, allowing for birthdays and holiday parties, drawing and playing, can’t be understated — and these spaces are often dependent on donations.

Child Life relies on donations of both funds and supplies to continue to provide

“ It has been such a joy to see Deyron master his healthcare experience and cope with each challenge along the way ”

For Deyron, outside of treatment, dancing and, of course, his art, he likes to keep his focus on his family.

“He loves his brother and his sister so much,” said Leticia. “Even though he’s sick, he still finds ways to take care of them.”

patients with a treatment experience that helps them balance their illness with their allows Leticia to keep her focus where it should be — on her children Deyron,

Ochsner and Child Life Services make sure to return Deyron’s care in kind.

“

I’ve seen him practice the same picture over and over, and I think that is such a great representation of how he’s mastered his experience since being diagnosed with cancer ”

Deyron shares one of his favorite drawings.

A Will & A Way

A partnership between Ochsner Health and FreeWill gives patients a fast and convenient way to create — and protect — their legacy.

Contributed by Craig Bardell

Shape the future of healthcare, while planning for your future, all from your couch.

Looking for a way to change and save lives forever? Ochsner Health has partnered with FreeWill to give our supporters an online resource to write a legally valid will in under 25 minutes for free.

An AARP survey shows that 60% of Americans lack a will or estate plan, which can cause unnecessary difficulty for families after losing a loved one. As a way to thank our benefactors, and to provide them with the tools to complete their plans, Ochsner is pleased to provide this service without cost or obligation.

You can easily use the resource to make a gift for the future of Ochsner that costs nothing today. A gift in your will could provide quality, affordable healthcare for communities across Louisiana and the gulf south for generations to come. Your gift can provide a needy patient with assistance, support innovative medical research, or fund a critical, lifesaving program. The service is 100% free whether or not you choose to include a gift, but we hope you consider creating a legacy with Ochsner.

Go to FreeWill.com/Ochsner so that you can create your legacy today. We also have other resources to help you support Ochsner with a gift of stock or through an IRA.

If you have any questions about using FreeWill or making a Planned Gift to Ochsner, please contact Craig Bardell at craig. bardell@ochsner.org.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Adapted from original recipe in Eat Fit Cookbook by Ben Mclauchlin of Swerve

Makes 12 peanut butter cups

Peanut Butter Filling

½ cup no-sugar-added creamy peanut butter

¼ cup cacao butter, melted

¼ cup Swerve Confectioners

1½ teaspoons sea salt

2 tablespoons dried carrot powder

For the Chocolate Coating

¾ cup coconut oil, melted

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ cup + 2 tablespoons Swerve Confectioners

Time Saver Tip: Use natural food coloring, adding drops of red and yellow to the peanut butter filling until it reaches a bright orange hue.

In a mini-muffin pan, place liners into 24 cups. Set aside.

Make the Peanut Butter Filling: Whisk together melted cacao butter and carrot powder and set aside (the longer the carrots and melted cacao butter are together, the more orange-hued the filling will be). After about 15 minutes, add peanut butter, Swerve, and sea salt to cacao mixture.

Prepare the Chocolate Coating: Whisk together melted coconut oil, cocoa powder, and Swerve in a medium bowl. Spoon 1 tablespoon of chocolate mixture into each muffin liner. Freeze for 5 minutes, until mixture is no longer shiny on top. Remove muffin pan from freezer and add 1 tablespoon of peanut butter mixture on top of frozen chocolate coating. Return pan to freezer for 5-10 minutes.

After mixture has set, remove pan from freezer and add ½ tablespoon of the remaining chocolate mixture to each cup, covering the peanut butter layer. Freeze for 5-10 minutes until completely frozen. Store in fridge or freezer in an airtight container.

Per serving (1 peanut butter cup): 120 calories, 12 grams fat, 7 grams saturated fat (all plant-based), 120 mg sodium, 6.5 grams carbohydrate (2 grams net carbs), 1.5 grams fiber, <1 gram sugar (0 added sugar), 2 grams protein, gluten free, low carb, vegan.

Glimpses

Mary Lou and Johnny Conrad (right) with Director of Development, Marjory Harper (left) at a tour of the Ochsner Cancer Center expansion on January 27, 2020.

Natasha (right) and Ronnie (left) Lamarque at the expansion tour.

Paulette and Frank Stewart on the Riverview Terrace named in their honor at the expansion.

Rita Mitchell and her son, Bill Mitchell, pose for a photo in front of the donor wall that will honor Rita and her husband, Dr. William Mitchell.

Gayle Benson, who has served as Chair for the Moonlight & Miracles Gala since its inception, at the seventh annual event held on Friday, November 8, 2019 at the MercedesBenz Superdome. The event benefits patients and programs at the Ochsner Cancer Institute.

In October, Louise S. McGhee School held their annual Women’s Health Awareness Week. During this week, students learn about women’s health topics and help raise money to causes that support women’s health. This year, students selected the Ochsner Baptist Women’s Pavilion to receive funds. Three students, Sadie Thorne, Mollie McMichael and Elizabeth Drennan (center) visited Ochsner Baptist to present the funds raised. They are pictured with (from left) Donna Martin, CNO, Ochsner Baptist; Lisa Pellerin, VP of Women’s Services; Christy Migaud, CFO, Ochsner Baptist and Beth Walker, CEO, Ochsner Baptist.

On December 30, 2019, representatives from Unum presented a check to Ochsner Baton Rouge to help provide dental care for patients. Pictured from left: Shavon Knighten, Manager Corporate Social Responsibility, Unum Baton Rouge Region; Burke J. Brooks, MD, Section Head Hematology Oncology, Ochsner Baton Rouge and Vice Chair Hematology Oncology, Ochsner Health; Takeasha Drake, Hematology Oncology Social Worker, Ochsner Baton Rouge; Christy Reeves, Vice President, Regional Community Affairs and Government Relations.

Warner Thomas, President and CEO of Ochsner Health, talks to patrons of the Moonlight & Miracles Gala about the difference they make in cancer care.

The Rault family celebrates at the event. From left: Bonnie M. Rault, Emily S. Dunleavy, Michael J. Dunleavy, Miles K. Clements, Marilyn Garren and Kittredge Garren.