n Cochlear Implant Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital

Cochlear Implant Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital Transformational for Richton Park Man

We’ve Expanded Our Birthing Center with Your Comfort in Mind

Much to his surprise, Larry Miller of Richton Park shares something in common with The Incredible Hulk’s Lou Ferrigno. Both underwent cochlear implant surgery earlier this year. Miller had his at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, and both agree their lives have been transformed.

Miller had been wearing hearing aids for 10 years, following years of working around loud machines, despite donning ear protection. But even after retirement, his hearing grew worse, especially in his right ear.

“Every time I would go to the audiologist, I would say, ‘Turn it up,’” said Miller, 71. “He said, ‘I can’t turn them up any higher. You need to go to a specialist to see what’s going on.’”

Miller found Dr. Scott DiVenere, an otolaryngologist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital. After running some tests, Dr. DiVenere told Miller he was a candidate for a cochlear implant, and referred him to Dr. Matthew Bartindale, an otolaryngologist specializing in head and neck surgery – and cochlear implants.

“Patients who are cochlear implant candidates don’t just have a volume issue, they also have a clarity issue,” said Dr. Bartindale. “You can think of hearing like an old analog radio; there’s the volume knob and the frequency knob. Larry’s volume knob wasn’t great, but that can be ‘turned up’ with hearing aids. His problem, especially in the right ear, was the frequency knob. Even amplified to a loud enough volume where he should have been able to understand based on his ‘volume,’ he only understood 8 percent of words on the right ear and 52 percent on the left.

“We then did a formal cochlear implant evaluation, which is simulating the real world where you wear hearing aids with full sentences. That showed he only understood 23 percent of sentences in the right ear.”

About Cochlear Implant Surgery

Cochlear implant surgery has been around since 1978, and the most notable case was earlier this year when former champion body builder Lou Ferrigno, better known for playing“The Incredible Hulk” on television, was able to hear the world clearly after nearly a lifetime of almost total deafness. Miller’s decision to have the surgery was easier after learning insurance, including Medicare, covers cochlear implant surgery, unlike hearing aids, which are not covered. During his one-hour surgery, Miller was under general anesthesia as Dr. Bartindale made a 1-inch incision (no hair trimming necessary)

When you start your family at Silver Cross, you’re in good company! In fact, more families choose and placed the cochlear implant. Several weeks later, Miller received his external processor, which receives and processes sound. This connects to an internal receiver/stimulator through the skin with a our Birthing Center than any other hospital in Will magnet. The receiver/stimulator has an electrode which goes into

County. That’s because we’ve created a unique the inner ear and directly stimulates the hearing nerve. place for special arrivals—the Women and Infant “Your brain will learn how to understand those electrical impulses Services Birthing Center, where you and your family are at the center of everything we do. when you start using your cochlear implant,” Dr. Bartindale said. “You will take the external processor on and off like a normal hearing aid, and the internal receiver/stimulator will stay in permanently.” During a test last November with his hearing aids, Miller repeated From the personal attention of our highly trained staff to the 8 percent of words correctly; after five weeks of active use with comfort and luxury of our private mother-baby suites, we’ve the cochlear, that increased to 44 percent. In other tests, when designed it with you in mind. Everything’s ready for you from the moment you arrive—even complimentary valet parking and shuttle service. Audiologist Kristine Eubanks, who works with Dr. Bartindale, checked his hearing again after those five weeks, Miller went from 37 percent to 70 percent in understanding words, and sentences from 23 percent to 70 percent in understanding sentences. “I can hear the refrigerator running now; the dishwasher going,” Miller added. “I could hear my daughter texting and my dog’s nails on our hardwood floors.” Dr. Bartindale said patients have most of their improvement in the first three months, continuing to improve for at least a year. Miller’s volume levels are normal now, he said, as is the TV volume, his wife added. Improvement continues not only with use, but Miller has an app on his phone that tests his ability to hear words and sentences. “I still have a little trouble with loud background noise like trucks,” Miller said. “But I can hear and understand two conversations at once again.” Miller expects his hearing to be even better when he receives Each of our birthing suites has soft lighting and soothing décor a new hearing aid for his left ear that will work in concert with the designed to put you at ease with thoughtful touches you’ll cochlear implant. “Right now, it’s like they fight each other,” he said. appreciate. The moment you walk in, you’ll feel at home. Every “I can hear so much more now … even some things I don’t want private birthing suite has an easily adjustable labor bed and to hear!” labor ball available. For more information, visit silvercross.org 3 New Labor/Delivery/Recovery Rooms To accommodate the growing number of special deliveries at Silver Cross, we’ve added 3 spacious LDR rooms to our Women and Infant Services Birthing Center, bringing our total from Dr. Matthew Bartindale 12 to 15. And just like our existing LDR rooms, these beautiful new rooms feature a host of amenities designed for your comfort – with an important new addition: large immersion tubs for laboring moms. Other amenities include: • Private bathroom • Sofa sleeper • Glider chair • Blanket warmers Everything for Your Peace of Mind An obstetrician/gynecologist is in-house 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Upon your arrival, you’ll be “partnered” with a specially trained obstetrical nurse certified in electronic fetal monitoring who’ll assist you through delivery. Our unit also features mother/baby couplet care, which means that the same experienced nurse will care for both mother and baby until it is time to go home. This ensures continuity in care and improved communication between the patient, family, nursing staff and physicians. At Silver Cross, we also have several certified lactation consultants available for support to new moms who choose to breastfeed their babies. They offer education and support before and after delivery as well as when you return home.

• In-room refrigerators • Flat-screen TV • And more

of theNation’s BEST Hospitals Just GotBETTER!1

Earning the “TripleCrown” for healthcare –a 100Top Hospitals ranking,a5-Star Rating by the Centersfor Medicare and Medicaid andanAfor Safety from the LeapfrogGroup allinthe same year–isaproudmomentfor Silver CrossHospital.

This puts us in averyexclusive groupofhospitals nationwide that have achieved this level of excellenceinpatient safety, patientoutcomes andpatient experience.

So if youwantaward-winning care withoutthe commute, trustSilverCross Hospital.

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HarborChase’s mission is to celebrate senior living every day, ensuring each resident lives a full and active life. With exercise playing an essential role in the aging process and an individual’s overall health, their award-winning Life Enrichment Program provides a variety of fitness classes ranging from meditation and yoga to sports and cardio. These interactive classes encourage residents to enthusiastically participate with their friends and reach new fitness goals. “Before the pandemic, our residents were exercising three days a week. Now, they exercise 45 minutes, five times a week – and they absolutely love it! They’re noticing a huge impact on their mobility and ability to walk longer distances without getting as tired. It’s often a challenge to find an open seat in our Club Room,” said Nallely Tinoco, Director of Life Enrichment.

The Life Enrichment program at HarborChase was created to provide a variety of cultural events, learning opportunities, entertainment options, religious programs, and group events. Ensuring residents have fun and look forward to each day is paramount to the program. In addition to physical exercise, jeopardy, board games, and fun brain challenges help keep community residents sharp and engaged. trained chefs, an onsite salon and spa, beautiful courtyards, and spacious gardens ensure residents enjoy a balanced combination of convenience and care. Community care levels include assisted living, memory care, and respite care. For added peace of mind and security, HarborChase is staffed 24 hours a day. Residents receive the appropriate level of support needed to nurture and maintain independence for as long as possible.

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Heart Surgery and Cardiac Rehab at

Chuck Pappas admits he’s always been one to push himself. So, when he got a call early one morning from his son to help clear brush on his Morris riverfront property, Pappas and his wife, Nancy, drove from Justice to lend a hand.

They made the nearly 50-mile trip even though they had gotten home only a few hours earlier that morning from a Buddy Holly tribute concert in Wisconsin.

“What are you going to do? We love our kids, and they needed my chainsaw,” said Pappas, 68, retired from construction, but always willing to lend a hand with a project.

After a day of clearing brush, Pappas and his wife were heading back home when he told her he wasn’t feeling well. He convinced her to stop at “that big, beautiful hospital” along Interstate 355 north of Interstate 80 to get checked out. The hospital was Silver Cross in New Lenox.

And it’s a good thing they stopped at the hospital’s emergency department; in fact, it proved lifesaving.

According to Pappas, “They ran some tests, and they said, ‘We’re going to keep you here. We’re trying to figure out how you’re still alive.’ That got my attention.”

Those tests showed Pappas had suffered a small heart attack, and that coronary artery disease diagnosed and treated with stents 15 years before had progressed to severe multi-vessel blockages in need of surgical repair.

Pappas, who also was suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, told the admitting personnel he also was smoking half a pack of cigarettes daily, but “he could quit at any time, and didn’t need any medication or patches.”

Heart Surgery to Restore Blood Flow

Earlier this year, George Hodakowski, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon on staff at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, performed coronary artery bypass grafting to restore blood flow to Pappas’ heart. The surgery went well, and Pappas said the Silver Cross staff was there to support him physically and emotionally. “The first time I stood up to walk, they all applauded,” he said. “I haven’t felt this good in years. It even helped my soul.”

After a week recuperating from the surgery, Pappas was sent home, but not before he was scheduled for his cardiac rehabilitation. Three times a week for six or 12 weeks, Silver Cross’ highly trained cardiac rehabilitation nurses and exercise physiologists review risk factors with patients and discuss lifestyle changes and choices to help improve the success of their treatment.

Dr. George Hodakowski

Building Strength through Cardiac Rehab

Best of all, Pappas underwent rehabilitation of his heart muscle at Silver Cross Hospital’s recently opened Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation center on the second floor of Pavilion D. The new center features 3,000 square feet of additional space for rows of treadmills, recumbent bikes and other cardio equipment, all

Chuck Pappas working with hand-held weights.

At Risk for Heart Disease? Get Your Heart Scanned for $49!

Calcification in the coronary arteries is the earliest indicator of heart disease. The good news is that calcium artery scoring at Silver Cross can predict heart disease long before symptoms even start.

Calcium artery scoring is a quick, painless exam that uses high-speed CT scanning to measure calcium deposits in your heart. It's ideal for men over age 45 and women over age 55 who smoke, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a family history of premature coronary artery disease.