FALL-winTer 2019-20 TheDifference Three families: Journeys of gratitude Glendale Foundation In this edition 1-2 MESSAGES Helen McDonagh: It’s a privilege… FALL-winTer 2019-20 Irene Bourdon: The greatest joy… Alice Issai: “We’ve come a long way in the past year” 3 COVER FEATURE Promise made, promise kept 4-5 COVER FEATURE Marilyn’s journey of gratitude 6-8 FOUNDATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND Transforming clinical practice Mission Armenia Reducing childhood obesity On the cover 9 COVER FEATURE Hattie praises the hospital Marilyn and Chip Brooks 10-11 PHILANTHROPY relax with Cocoa the cat Testing your family’s financial readiness (page 4) A Legacy of Giving Wall Jayson Lee honors his 12-13 Live Well Senior Program mother (page 3) Senior Health Fair Oct. 13 Hattie Eick’s gifts to 14-18 THE GUILD new moms (page 9) Summer membership party Courage Awards Oct. 24 The Guild President Anita Aghajanian profile 19-23 GALA 2019 “When You Wish” and thank you to our sponsors Remembering Hernan and Orfi Barros 24-25 Hospital acquires advanced 3-D mammography system Volunteer profile: Karen Saunders and Elan the therapy dog 26-30 Thank you, donors! (January 1 - June 30, 2019) Tribute gifts: In honor of, in memory of (January 1 - June 30, 2019) Understanding planned giving options 31 Golf Classic 2019 and appreciation for our sponsors 32-33 Care Hero program: A meaningful way to say “thank you” ”Light Up a Life” Dec. 5 13 10 24 It’s a privilege… …to lead the Foundation Board during these two years and serVe alongside my fellow Board members who often refer, in the first-person, to Adventist Health Glendale as “my hospital.” As a local business owner, I’Ve been involved in business-related activities in Glendale and a large portion of the Los Angeles area for many years. Selecting the “best” hospital, particularly with the sizable number of highly regarded medical facilities within and located a short distance from Glendale, is an important health care decision to those who live and/or do business here. So, when emploYers and other business leaders tell me of the positive experiences they’Ve had at Adventist Health Glendale — for themselves, a family member, perhaps a friend, a business colleague — that’s a great feeling worth sharing. Helen McDonagh It’s a great feeling because I experience first-hand the Foundation Chair, Foundation Board’s efforts in securing the resources needed that help support the Board of Directors hospital’s mission and future goals. As volunteers, it’s a privilege for each one of us to serVe such a noble cause. And for me, personally, I’m also proud to say that Adventist Health Glendale is “my hospital.” The greatest joy… …that my Foundation team — staff, volunteers and Board members — and I experience is witnessing the deep satisfaction and fulfillment that everYday donors feel when they make a philanthropic gift. It doesn’t matter if it is a monetary gift, a gift of time and talent, or if it is the simple gift of offering and accepting thanks. Giving back to others makes us happy and can not only contribute to a purposeful and meaningful life, it can also be an important part of one’s healing process. The “everYday donors” you will meet in this issue of The Difference illustrate this far better than any words can express. The cumulative impact that our annual donors have on the lives of our patients and our clinical staff is truly exponential. Together, we do more, we accomplish more and most of all, we all e njoY more. Irene Bourdon, MPH, CFRE President, Adve ntist Health Glendale Foundation 1 ‘We’ve come a long way in the past year’ Dear donors and friends: Readers of the Glendale News-Press Voted us “Best Hospital.” The next Compassion in Action — Mission When I joined this hospital in July 2018, I saw tremen- Armenia is planned this fall, once again reaching thousands dous potential for growth and positive change. Since then, of patients in need of care. I’Ve shared with you my optimism and ideas for the future. I’Ve also done a lot of listening, and what I’Ve heard is that FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN You have pride in our physicians, nurses, associates and the I was appointed at a critical time when this hospital quality of services we provide. I really like hearing that! strongly needed strategic direction for the future. I want Adventist Health Glendale is hearing that from others, You to know of the exceptional steps we’Ve already taken to too. Most recently, U.S. News & World Report ranked us develop a five-year strategic plan and the momentum we’Ve 10th among the 130 hospitals in the Los Angeles metro gained to continue improving patient outcomes, enhance area, with special recognition for high performance in six the physician-patient experience, grow and expand our specialty areas including neuroscience, orthopedics and services, and moVe closer toward becoming a destination geriatrics, nephrology, urology, and GI & GI surgerY. medical center for Southern California. Earlier this year we earned The Leapfrog Group’s Among advancements is the addition of more than a Hospital Safety Scorecard “A” grade for the ninth consecu- dozen world-class doctors in several specialty areas at our tive time! This put us among the top 4% of hospitals medical center. We will continue to recruit more “top nationwide. The American Heart Association/American docs” to our medical staff so you will receive an even Stroke Association certified the hospital with the highest wider selection of services right here on our campus. rating for stroke and cardiac care. The City of Glendale We’Ve come a long way in the past year, and with also recognized the exceptional life-saving care at our Your continuing support for this medical center and Comprehensive Stroke Center. the Foundation, there’s no limit to what we can achieve together. Thank you for being a valuable part of the Adventist Health Glendale team! Sincerely, Alice Issai, President Randy Miller, RN, left, and Edith Pierson, RN, give Jayson Lee a tour of the NICU. “We know this gift is going to help children (today) and children to be.” — Jayson Lee Promise made, promise kept A mother’s gift is fulfilled for saving her son’s life ORTY-FOUR YEARS AGO, JAYSON nurse manager; John Mapp, MD, Lee’s mother made a promise. Some- neonatal-perinatal specialist; and Irene “What a privilege it was to witness day, when times were better, she Bourdon, Foundation President, plus F Jayson’s gift and to see how happy would make a gift to the Neonatal Inten- NICU nurses and other members of the and complete it made him feel to sive Care Unit (NICU) at Adventist Health Foundation staff. fulfill his mother’s promise. It was Glendale, where in the summer of 1975 “We know this donation is going to also very meaningful for the NICU the doctors and nurses saved the life of her help children (today) and children to be,” team, Randy and Dr. Mapp to meet premature babY. said Jayson, who presented a generous one of their miracle babies 40+ years later.” “My mother made a promissory pact check as a gift from his mother, who wishes with the Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ, to remain anonymous. — Irene Bourdon, that if He alloWed her son to live,” Jayson “It is with much gratitude that our Foundation President said. “Maybe you could call it pay it NICU accepts this generous gift from the forward.” Lee family,” Randy said. “I was very proud His mother’s promise is now fulfilled. and impressed to hear Jayson’s story and This past June, Jayson made a surprise to know that even 40 years ago our Jayson Lee (center) is visit to the Foundation office. He shared community NICU was making such welcomed to the NICU the story of his mother’s “promissory pact” a great impact in Glendale.” by Nurse Manager and wanted to make a contribution on her Randy Miller, RN, behalf to the department where he was and Dr. John Mapp. born and cared for during the first weeks of his life. “My mother always had this in her mind,” Jayson explained. “She prayed that When we’re in a better place in our lives… that she wanted to make good on her promise. I applaud that in her; that’s a good trait to have.” Jayson grew up in Los Angeles and for the past 10 years has driven a bus for the city’s Metro Transit Authority. On a recent day off from work, he visited the NICU and was welcomed by Randy Miller, RN, 3 Marilyn’s journey Each New Year’s Eve, Marilyn remembers a life saved ike clockwork, on or “GODSEND OF ALL GODSENDS” “which turned out to be the godsend of all about New Year’s EVe, On a Wednesday at around 9 p.m., Chip godsends,” Marilyn recalls. Marilyn Brooks makes a was at home with Marilyn when his stroke “Glendale in their protocol had the donation to the Foundation at occurred. It was attributed to “atrial flut- ability to go up with a probe and clamp Adventist Health Glendale. ter,” a heart-related abnormality when and remoVe the clot. The other hospital did LShe has done this faithfully since 2006, upper and loWer chambers beat at a differ- not (at that time) have that capability. Had the year her husband Chip suffered a ent rate. In other words, they’re out of he gone to the other hospital, my guess is a stroke, because, in her words, “I credit synch.