Honor a Caregiver

Len Franckowiak with Susan Bass, Susan Salley and Lisa Miller

"Making a donation to St. Mary in the names of the three nurses was just a small token of how much I appreciated their TLC."

— Len Franckowiak

Bill Tynan, Vicki Farrell, Barry Huret and Ginny Friel

Our Guardian Angel program allows grateful patients, their families and friends the opportunity to support patient services and programs at St. Mary Medical Center while recognizing the exemplary care received from a staff member or physician at St. Mary.

Hearing "thank you" is priceless to your physician, nurses and other healthcare professionals. We hope you take this opportunity to share your story about the St. Mary caregiver who meant so much to you.

For more information or to make a gift now please contact Heather Procaccino, Director of Hospital Philanthropy at 215.710.2443 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

A Guardian Angel Story: In my own words by Len Franckowiak

After experiencing occasional bouts of tachycardia for several years, requiring visits to emergency rooms, I opted for an ablation at St. Mary Medical Center. My decision to have the procedure was made easier with the installation of the new electro-physiology laboratory, installed as part of the last capital fund campaign. I liked the fact that the new equipment increased the odds for a successful ablation to near 99 percent.

Scott Burke, M.D. performed the ablation assisted by three wonderful nurses. Dr. Burke is good at what he does, but itwas the nurses who couldn't have been more caring, supportive and, calming, especially during the times when I was somewhat alert.

Having a good doctor at a modern hospital is a wonderful thing, but having a guardian angel at your side makes it a whole lot better.

 

Bonding over music, books and donuts

These days, Barry Huret only needs to visit St. Mary Medical Center once a year for his annual checkup with Dr. Cardinale, but he makes it a regular habit to pop in to the Cancer Center for a hug and a chat with a few of his favorite Guardian Angels.

Barry has a family history of prostate and other forms of cancer, so he always made regular screening with the top doctors in his native New York a priority. Then one day, after years of marginal changes in his PSA, a biopsy revealed that Barry had cancer.

Because of the aggressive nature of his treatment plan, Barry needed to put his faith in a specialist close to home, so his close friend and family physician placed him under the care of Dr. Cardinale here at St. Mary.

"I was very apprehensive and nervous during my first radiation treatment, but I noticed the music the nurses were playing and I struck up a conversation which took my mind off the treatment," Barry said with a smile. During the course of 41 subsequent treatments, Barry and his team of nurses and technologists bonded over music, books and an occasional box of donuts.

When Barry heard about the Guardian Angel program he was immediately interested. "Dr. Cardinale and each person on his team contributed to my well being. The level of care I received never wavered or diminished," said Barry. "I can't imagine knowing people that are any better than the ones who took care of me at St. Mary."