C
yndie is pacing around her home, panicking, clothes and toiletries in a heap. Somehow, her belongings have to get in the suitcase. Her chest is tight and she’s overwhelmed. She feels a panic
attack coming on. This is the last hurdle, the final task she has to overcome. To most, packing a bag is irritating but not impossible, but Cyndie’s mind is in a dozen other places. She’s going to rehab and this time is going to be different.
Three and a half weeks ago, Cyndie made the resolution to
detox and enter a rehab facility. She knew if she didn’t make a change, she would be dead.
Several factors had increased her use in the past few
months. She lost her job when Coronavirus hit. COVID further isolated her from her support. She wasn’t able to go to support groups or meet with Erika Syzmanksi (her care coordinator at Evergreen) face to face, instead relying on long phone calls. If she was going to get sober, Cyndie knew she would have to be smart about it. She would need medical help. She went to two local hospitals but neither would admit her because she didn’t have a high enough blood alcohol level. They sent her home. Discouraged, she drank more.
“I was trying to do the right thing,” said Cyndie. “I felt like
my whole world was upside-down.”
What followed were calls with Erika, who mediated the
situation between the hospitals, to no avail. Cyndie was too intoxicated to remember to fill out the medical record release forms so the hospitals could share her information. She felt like she couldn’t get anywhere and just wanted to get better.
Ultimately, Cyndie, Erika and her primary doctor landed on
she had put into getting detoxed and going into rehab felt so
an at-home detox. She would be prescribed medication to help
fragile. What if she missed her cab? What if she couldn’t get
her get through but she would be physically alone. Cyndie
everything packed?
would have to do it herself.
Over the course of several weeks, Cyndie managed to
feel like she deserved. Erika had already spent so much time
detox. It was the most difficult thing she had ever done. Her
mediating her care with doctors and rehab facilities, not to
withdrawal symptoms were a nightmare. What made it easier
mention the countless hours on the phone where Erika was
was having Erika’s support. They were in contact every day
more counselor than care coordinator. Cyndie explained that
and Erika believed in her, when Cyndie wasn’t even sure
she felt on the verge of a panic attack and she just couldn’t get
if she believed in herself. After a lifetime of ups and downs
the clothes in her suitcase.
with alcohol use, she was alone. When you lose the support of
family and friends, reaching out to anyone seems pointless.
easily addressed, if only those people are strong enough to
Believing that someone could care for her when she didn’t care
ask for help. Cyndie gathered her strength and asked for the
for herself was a massive hurdle to overcome. But she did it.
help she needed. Erika came over and told Cyndie to toss her
Cyndie continued her long talks with Erika. She didn’t shut her
clothes, suitcase and toiletries onto the porch and she would
out and even started believing Erika when she told her that she
pack her bags.
truly cared and believed Cyndie could do this.
As the days to rehab drew closer, Cyndie’s anxiety
mess,” said Cyndie. “Everything would be everywhere. I
escalated. She was so close to sobriety and this time felt
wouldn’t have anything packed. I don’t know how to express
different. She had support, someone who cared about what
the gratitude I have for her. When someone fights that hard for
happened to her for the first time in what felt like a lifetime. That
you, you just can’t—there’s no way you can give up now.”
made the massive difference. And she knew the alternative.
Drinking was going to kill her. Her body couldn’t handle it.
and acknowledge all stages of recovery. Gathering the
The day before she was to leave for rehab, Erika came by
strength to recognize what she needs to be healthy, asking
and they talked on her porch. They had to wear masks and
for help and taking those difficult steps truly makes Cyndie a
keep six feet of distance but they were able to come up with
hero. When she tells Erika that she will never forget this day
a timeline for Cyndie’s departure. They booked the taxi ride
for as long as she lives, neither will Erika or the countless other
to rehab and planned what she would need to bring with her.
people who will hear her story and think how strong she is for
Once the day had come, Cyndie was overwhelmed. The work
pulling herself out of what many would accept as defeat.
Cyndie called Erika again to ask for support she didn’t
So often barriers for people in heightened states can be
“What she did for me today, without her I’d be a complete
Cyndie’s story isn’t over, but at Evergreen we celebrate
C
Evergreen's Marketing Team has been working to create a library of photographs featuring Western New Yorkers to replace generic stock photography in our ad campaigns and on social media. People from the community - supporters, patients and even staff - were recruited to be the "faces" of Evergreen. You'll be seeing these familiar faces and many more in the coming months. More photographs on the next page.
Buffalo Pride Week wants YOU to deck your homes in the most colorful and jubilant Pride decorations you can find to remind our beautiful community that Pride week is here. In this “reverse parade” (instead of floats going by houses, we decorate the houses as we would floats!), we want to show everyone our support for the LGBTQ+ community on the week of August 17. The “Home Sweet Pride” event encourages our community to decorate homes, businesses, apartments and even our sidewalks. Share your pictures with the hashtag #buffaloprideweek and tag @buffaloprideweek. Learn more at buffaloprideweek.com.
CAS teamed with Victory Sports Global Outreach to host a community event through the Project Jump Rope Program. Hand sanitizer, masks and other protective equipment were given out to the community to promote health wellness and movement. Thanks to Arica Rouse for the photographs!
Rachel Voelkle-Kuhlmann has baby Leia on flag duty already! We can't wait to see more photos of baby Leia.
Proud mom Stephanie Vroman-Goodrich sent us these photos of "pandemic baby" Isaac Remy. Says Stephanie, "Big sister Nora couldn't be prouder!"
Did you know those who have been exposed to trauma often have a slower response time due to a delayed ability in processing? This is usually because certain words and content capture attention differently for individual people. For trauma survivors, trauma-related words actually slow response time due to their emotional relevance. YES - language really does matter! Therefore it’s crucial to speak with intention and sensitivity. For example, examining our tone of voice, word selection and even how we phrase our questions can help our patients respond in a much easier way. Essentially trauma survivors feel before they think so creating a sense of safety for a person starts the second you begin to interact with them. Here are some ways you can speak with intention and sensitivity: l
avoid labels
l
remove judgement
l
ask the patient which words they prefer
l
validate feelings and needs
l
examine your posture
l
maintain a steady voice and calm tone
l
slow down - we often say things out of habit that could easily be said with more sensitivity if we thought about it
l
replace ‘why’ which can imply judgment with other choices such as ‘tell me more about that’ or ‘what went into that decision?
Remember that safety is essential to recovery from all illnesses. So it’s crucial that we maintain awareness and sensitivity in how we communicate! - Carrie Rich
Evergr ready excitin
reen's new state of the art dental clinic is open and to see patients. Watch for more news about this ng new service in future issues of Connections.
DO YOU
have a cough? Fever? Shortness of breath?” Until recently, this was most of my work conversation with you all while working at the wellness check at Elmwood. Moving
from a place of fear and lack of knowledge, through near-hourly protocol changes, to periods where we weren't sure which supplies we might have the following week, I’m amazed to feel, at least for right now, like we're looking back at some of those times.
When we entered this period of uncertainty, one thing was for sure: things were going to change. Our entire
model of care was shaken but, thanks to everyone’s hard work, not broken by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of 17+ weeks, several staff volunteered to work at the wellness check-in, which was essential to keeping our doors open and maintaining confidence in our countermeasures against the spread of COVID-19 among staff and patients. Some wellness checkers were in a period where their regular work couldn't be done. Others had altered work schedules and sought to help in whatever way they could, whenever they could. Some saw no change in their job duties, and continued working in the lobby as though it were a normal office. And some continue checking temperatures and symptoms to this day, giving us the ability to show up to work with a sense of safety. Despite their different situations, all of the wellness checkers stepped up during a time when little was known about a potentially deadly virus spreading through the community, keeping in mind that sick people needed care and compassion, not fear and closed doors.
There were certainly tough days. Beyond the basic questions, the job involved handling situations with a public
that was rightfully stressed and concerned by the ever-changing situation. We experienced scrutiny as patients, whose requests for masks previously could not be fulfilled, were now being required to wear a mask in order to enter the building. We innovated to create makeshift face coverings out of unused swag t-shirts when it seemed impossible that we would get our hands on real masks to give to the patients who arrived without one. The focus always remained centered on ensuring as close to a normal experience as possible for our patients.
We were there for each other when the situation seemed like Groundhog’s Day, and when we started feeling the
sameness would never end. We played road-trip games like “Celebrity”, told jokes, and danced to “contraband” radio
stations (shh don’t tell Justin). In these ephemeral moments of joy, I found myself bonding with people in a way that allowed me to, however briefly, forget that the reason we were all there in the first place was neither fun nor passing.
In this issue of Connections, many of the wellness checkers are pictured with paper plate awards celebrating
their hard work. Nearly every part of Evergreen is represented on this team. Many of the people involved only recently joined Team Evergreen, immediately demonstrating that they get it by stepping up to the plate.
It wasn’t all temperatures and questions and coping. In 17 weeks of temperature checks, I got the chance to learn
a lot about what you all do.
As patients came in with questions beyond my knowledge base, I became familiar with how crucial, and urgent,
various supportive services are for our patients. I saw how the rapport between a care coordinator or case manager and their patient takes time, and cannot be simply assumed by any old person (me). I learned just how complex it is to secure our building while prioritizing our patients’ comfort. I witnessed some of you ask patients day after day, “Do you want some Narcan?” realizing that for some, that simple reminder was the difference that put a lifesaving tool in their hands when they needed it.
In addition, the “magic” that happens in Primary & Specialty Care and Testing was revealed to be more than a
wave of a wand. As patients strolled by, I realized how many of you they know by name, and the way you make each of them feel seen and cared for. I came to more wholly appreciate why it is we do what we do, and the work involved to make it happen.
I wasn’t alive when the HIV epidemic emerged. I was not born yet when the first tests and treatments for HIV
were developed. I’m not trying to flaunt my youth, but until now, I was uncertain of who I might have been during that period of fear and uncertainty. While I still cannot be sure, I am proud to see the lessons we learned from the HIV epidemic applied in our COVID-19 response: that sick people should not be feared or ostracized, that healthcare is a right and not a privilege and that our patients need us to function no matter what the circumstances. “That’s not my job” was a phrase that was in nobody’s vocabulary. Instead, I heard, “I can do that,” or, “Can I help?” and “I’m not sure. Let me see what I can do.” We do not know what the future holds, but we can rest assured knowing that we are surrounded by a team that will be ready to take on whatever challenges it has in store for us. - Michael Canty
Mark your calendar! The submission
If you have follow-up questions for the Thursday update from Ray and the team, you can submit them via email at COVID19questions@evergreenhs.org.
deadline for the September 2020 issue of Connections is Friday, August 21. Be sure to get your content in before the deadline to guarantee placement. Kids, pets, recipes, your new home office - we want to share them all! Send
In addition to Ray’s weekly email messages, you can find up to date information about how Evergreen is dealing with the situation by logging in to the ADP portal or checking the Evergreen website.
to EvergreenConnections via Outlook.
Birthdays Ryan Richter................................................ August 2 Michaela Chatmon................................... August 3 Santana Ladd.............................................. August 5 Ekua Mends-Aidoo................................... August 6 Suzanne Lambie........................................ August 8 Alicia Kohlhagen....................................... August 8 Christopher Banks................................... August 9 Debrah Rodriguez.................................... August 10 Charles Smith.............................................. August 11 Jonathan Puma........................................... August 11 Mariana Gonzalez.................................... August 12 Christine Baczkiewicz........................... August 13 Melissa Gulino............................................ August 13 Stephanie Borowiak................................ August 14 LeAnna Shanks.......................................... August 14 Carolee Corbitt........................................... August 14 Becky Siuta................................................... August 14 Kelly Thompson......................................... August 16 Amy Usiak..................................................... August 17 Anuj Jain........................................................ August 18 Michael Ludwick....................................... August 20 Magali Maldonado.................................... August 21 Megan Mogavero...................................... August 22 Ethan Chase................................................. August 24 Gabe Ortega................................................. August 26 Patrick Hildenbrandt.............................. August 28 David Haefner............................................. August 28 Arlene Andrade-Johnson..................... August 30
Anniversaries Santana Ladd................................................1 Years Abbie Burd.....................................................1 Years Shaina Beck....................................................1 Years
Ashleigh Worthy.........................................1 Years Shateer Douglas...........................................1 Years Lilkizzy Tell....................................................2 Years Kristina Moore..............................................2 Years Seanna Pratt..................................................2 Years Jasmine Padilla............................................2 Years Johnelle Ferby..............................................2 Years
Annual Trainings Round Two The next round of Annual Trainings will be available in your Evergreen University profiles later this month. Employees will have until December 31, 2020 to complete these trainings. Be sure to check your company emails for further communications!
Training Opportunities
Natalie Gerdy................................................2 Years Lauren Voelkle.............................................3 Years Shirley Swenson..........................................3 Years Margaret Prell...............................................3 Years Megan Mogavero........................................3 Years Lindsay Kelly.................................................3 Years DeJuan Burnell.............................................3 Years Christina Cornell........................................3 Years Leslie Anderson...........................................4 Years Elizabeth Pijanowski.................................4 Years Eliud Kosgei....................................................4 Years
Here are upcoming virtual training opportunities:
Josh Matecki..................................................4 Years
•
Opioid Overdose Prevention Training (Narcan Training) August 12, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Contact Liz Miller to register
Quinn Lee........................................................4 Years
•
LGBTQ Cultural Competency August 18, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Contact Rachel Parrino to register
Brian Orlikowski.........................................5 Years
Jason Rein.......................................................4 Years Aaron Spare..................................................4 Years Ekua Mends-Aidoo.....................................4 Years Kimberley LaVare.......................................5 Years Joseph Ryan...................................................5 Years Jessica Stack..................................................5 Years Cherrelle King..............................................5 Years James Thompson........................................6 Years Melissa Talbett.............................................6 Years Roy Golia..........................................................8 Years Cecil Sutton....................................................10 Years Lizzie Calcano...............................................12 Years Murray Wire..................................................12 Years Kate Gallivan.................................................14 Years Richard Smiley.............................................20 Years
Aaron Spare
Johnelle Ferby
Abbie Burd
Katherine Marr
Alan Jacyszyn
Katherine Meg
Alex McGann
Matthew Edson
Alicia Kohlhagen
Melissa Nagro
Brittany Price
Michael Blasde
Chanel McDaniel
Santana Ladd
Conor Sweeney
Shakiya Bell
Ingrid Burgos
Suzanne Lamb
Jason Perez
Recognizing Excellent Work at Evergreen from
y
rero
go
n
ell
bie
m June 20 - July 19
Publisher/Layout John Carocci
1.
Dial extension 2222.
2. Follow the prompt to record the Code Blue or Mr. Webber and say the exact location and building of the incident. 3. Hang up your phone. This will prompt your message to be broadcast to all Evergreen locations. 4. The Code Blue team and Security will respond to the incident. You'll have 30 seconds to record your message. If you're not done in 30 seconds, you'll be cut off and your message will be automatically broadcast. It's imperative that you say the location and building in your message: “Code Blue in the men’s lobby bathroom in the Elmwood building” or “Could Mr. Webber please come to the Mathews building counselor room?.” The Code Blue/ Mr. Webber Softkey has been removed from all phones.
Copy Editor Melissa Meyer
Contributors Jocelyn Leising Shakiya Bell Melissa Delgado Carrie Rich Arica Rouse Melissa Meyer Michael Canty
Connections is the monthly newsletter for employees and Board members of Evergreen Health and its affilliates, the Pride Center of Western New York and Community Access Services. Please send us your story ideas, photos, feedback or just a friendly hello at Evergreen Connections via Outlook.