Foundation Patient Stories
Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation is dedicated to helping our patients by increasing community awareness, delivering health and wellness programs, and funding medical and personal necessities for those who are uninsured or underinsured.
Each year, support for our foundation has enabled us to improve the quality of life for countless patients and their families throughout Upstate New York. We graciously thank everyone who has supported our foundation over the years through donations, volunteer hours and more.
Learn how support to the foundation has helped our patients:
Scott’s Patient Story
by Heather Fisher, Physical Therapist
Scott is the kind of guy who doesn’t let anything slow him down. He was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility, but this never stopped Scott from doing what he wanted to do. His positive attitude, humor, and infectious smile allow Scott to make friends with anyone he meets.
Over the past year, Scott has developed some health issues that have caused him to be in and out of the hospital and less mobile. After discussing trying to get up in his chair more and out of bed, he mentioned that his overhead lift was not working properly. He was worried that because it was failing and inconsistent, he would get stuck in it and was not using it much. In order to transfer to his wheelchair, he always had to have multiple people available to help. This made it difficult to schedule appointments and he often had to cancel or reschedule. We explored repairing the lift, but due to its age, we were advised that the motor would need to be replaced. The lift is very costly and is not covered by insurance. Scott and his family were unable to take on the burden of the cost, but he still needed to be able to get out of bed and to appointments. After discussion with my supervisor, Shauna, we felt that the Charitable Foundation might be able to help. With collaboration between Shauna, the Foundation, and Scott’s care team, we were able to get this lift installed. He and his family are so thankful to have this burden lifted and for the ability to safely get Scott into his wheelchair to allow him to eventually get back to his active self.
I am so thankful as a clinician to be able to have a place to go for my patients when they are in need. The Charitable Foundation is truly a godsend to so many people and their families. They allow us to help fill in the gaps between insurance and what our patients are able to afford, to get the best quality of life possible.
Read more in the latest Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation newsletter.
Nazarian’s Patient Story
The Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation selected five families from our pediatric program to receive gifts this holiday season. Among these recipients was Nazarian, a resilient two-year-old who faced a challenging start to his life due to premature birth and significant developmental delays.
Nazarian is currently under the devoted care of three family members, his father and two uncles, who navigate the complexities of providing around-the-clock support.
The Charitable Foundation, with the help of Kara Foti, a dedicated speech language pathologist, stepped in to make a significant difference in Nazarian’s life. Reflecting on the impact, Kara says, “the therapy equipment and toys directly benefited his progress and development.” Kara’s frequent visits have created a child-friendly and safe environment for Nazarian filled with essentials such as new bottles, food, toys, books, blankets, and a crawl pad. Kara has become an indispensable part of Nazarian’s support system, creating a nurturing ‘village’ for him.
Read more in the latest Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation newsletter.
Katana Safety Boosts Sense of Security
Thanks to the generosity of our Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation donors, we were able to purchase Katana Safety devices for all Nascentia Health staff. This device is an innovative personal security solution for staff as they live and work in the community. It’s a multi-functional device attached to a smartphone with a panic button for immediate alerts, GPS tracking for real-time location, and a “walk with me” feature to share their location with a trusted contact.
Our staff frequently face challenging situations during the course of their work. Katana Safety not only safeguards our staff but also enables better patient care by reducing the risks associated with their work. Carrying Katana Safety with them during patient visits boosts their sense of security, ensuring their vital work is carried out with confidence and peace of mind.
On one occasion, while our clinicians were tending to a patient in an upstairs apartment, the patient’s two daughters engaged in a heated verbal altercation downstairs. Unfortunately, this dispute unfolded with two small children present in the midst of the argument, raising concerns about the children’s safety. The clinician informed the patient that they were activating the “walk with me” feature as a precaution, in case it became necessary to involve law enforcement to intervene. The patient understood, and thankfully, the situation did not escalate to that point.
Zendaya’s Special Surprise
Zendaya is a 5-year-old girl who was born prematurely and with cerebral palsy, but is now able to walk. She has microcephaly and requires extra feedings via her G tube. Due to the fact that both her mother and grandmother are unable to provide the care she needs, Zendaya is in the loving care of her great-grandmother. Even though her great grandmother’s resources are very limited, and her own health is not the best, there is never a shortage of love and care for this little girl.
Our clinician quickly realized that Zendaya was sleeping on a small mattress on the floor of her great-grandmother’s bedroom, or, at times, shared the bed with her. Her great-grandmother didn’t have the money to buy her a bed of her own and was too shy to ask for help. A bed of her own would give Zendaya a better night’s sleep and significantly increase her overall quality of life. Our clinical team knew exactly where to go for help and asked the Foundation for a twin bed and new bedding.
Dea Kuiper, a pediatric nurse with Nascentia for over 20 years, reflected on the experience by saying, “We threw a surprise party for Zendaya after the new bed arrived. You had to see her happy face when she walked into the bedroom and saw her new bed, all done up and decorated with balloons. It melts my heart when I think back on that happy afternoon and the big hugs received by her great-grandmother. To be able to do something extra for families that are in need thanks to the Charitable Foundation makes this such a wonderful job.”
Increased Independence for Connie
Connie is the kind of person that you just don’t forget. She’s a retired teacher who will treat you like family and tell you a good story. She is always ready to lend some helpful life advice or share an intriguing fact about her past, and she absolutely beams when speaking about her dear husband, Pete. Connie has a zest for life but disability has slowed her pace over the past few years. She has been a client with Nascentia a handful of times, and always demonstrates such motivation to regain her independence. With the help of Nascentia clinicians and her supportive family, Connie has developed countless new skills and the strength needed to perform her daily activities. She recently expressed concerns with her ability to utilize her standard slide board for transfers. Connie is wheelchair bound and hated burdening her husband or family with the extensive level of assistance necessary to transfer between her bed and chair. It was imperative for her to find a way to move with the least amount of help from others. She was immediately interested when her occupational and physical therapy team proposed the idea of a Beasy transfer board. This special slide board features a disc on a track, which allows individuals to glide between surfaces easily. The board reduces the amount of effort required and improves the safety and efficiency of transferring.
Much to Connie’s pleasure, the Foundation was able to help! Connie was ecstatic. She even went the extra mile and sent a hand-written note to thank Nascentia: “This compels me to write a complimentary thank you note about all the care I have received… All of your employees ‘went the extra mile,’ were caring to me and kind to my family and the family dog, Maggie.”
New Doorbell for John
John faces severe hearing impairment, rendering him incapable of hearing when his caregivers or other visitors are at his door. To address this challenge, our clinician initiated a Foundation request for a visual doorbell system. This thoughtful addition now ensures that John is alerted whenever someone is at his door. The introduction of the visual doorbell has proven invaluable in simplifying the care process, eliminating the need for our clinicians to rely on the assistance of apartment building staff to access John’s apartment. John has expressed his gratitude on numerous occasions, highlighting the positive impact the visual doorbell has had on his daily life and his ability to maintain independence while receiving the care he needs.
Transforming Trinity’s Living Environment
Trinity, a pediatric patient, was navigating the challenges of spending her time on the floor in her family’s cluttered apartment, an environment filled with safety and health hazards for a child. Our clinician submitted a request for a playpen in efforts to keep Trinity off the floor and safe from harm. The introduction of a new playpen has brought a transformation to her living situation. This playpen now provides Trinity with a secure and nurturing space in which she can engage in play and therapy activities. It serves as a sanctuary in her home, effectively mitigating the safety concerns that once plagued her daily life.
Supporting Continuous Learning
The Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation plays a pivotal role in advancing the education and development of Nascentia’s in-home care providers, ensuring the sustained availability of highly qualified caregivers for our most vulnerable patients. By supporting continuous learning, the Foundation helps provide caregivers the tools necessary to ensure comprehensive and compassionate in-home care. This support not only elevates the quality of care but also promotes career growth for caregivers, fostering a skilled and dedicated workforce for the long term. The Foundation’s commitment to caregiver development is an investment in the well-being of our most vulnerable, ensuring they receive the exceptional care they deserve well into the future.
Other donations from our Foundation include items that bring considerable value to each patient and their families, enabling them to maintain or increase their independence, health and self-sufficiency. These items include:
- Adjustable bedrails to prevent falls/slipping out of bed for an elderly patient
- Hoyer Lift Scale to monitor a congestive heart failure patient’s weight
- Beasy slide transfer board for a wheelchair bound patient to slide between surfaces easily with safety and efficiency
- Training for a Nascentia Nurse to advance skills on pediatric feeding
- Comfort heel pillows to relive pressure ulcers on a bed bound patient’s foot
- Stroller for a mother to transport her child to and from doctor’s appointments with a carbon monoxide monitor, oxygen, and enteral feeding pump
Learn how support to the foundation has helped our patients:
Scott’s Patient Story
by Heather Fisher, Physical Therapist
Scott is the kind of guy who doesn’t let anything slow him down. He was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility, but this never stopped Scott from doing what he wanted to do. His positive attitude, humor, and infectious smile allow Scott to make friends with anyone he meets.
Over the past year, Scott has developed some health issues that have caused him to be in and out of the hospital and less mobile. After discussing trying to get up in his chair more and out of bed, he mentioned that his overhead lift was not working properly. He was worried that because it was failing and inconsistent, he would get stuck in it and was not using it much. In order to transfer to his wheelchair, he always had to have multiple people available to help. This made it difficult to schedule appointments and he often had to cancel or reschedule. We explored repairing the lift, but due to its age, we were advised that the motor would need to be replaced. The lift is very costly and is not covered by insurance. Scott and his family were unable to take on the burden of the cost, but he still needed to be able to get out of bed and to appointments. After discussion with my supervisor, Shauna, we felt that the Charitable Foundation might be able to help. With collaboration between Shauna, the Foundation, and Scott’s care team, we were able to get this lift installed. He and his family are so thankful to have this burden lifted and for the ability to safely get Scott into his wheelchair to allow him to eventually get back to his active self.
I am so thankful as a clinician to be able to have a place to go for my patients when they are in need. The Charitable Foundation is truly a godsend to so many people and their families. They allow us to help fill in the gaps between insurance and what our patients are able to afford, to get the best quality of life possible.
Read more in the latest Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation newsletter.
Nazarian’s Patient Story
The Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation selected five families from our pediatric program to receive gifts this holiday season. Among these recipients was Nazarian, a resilient two-year-old who faced a challenging start to his life due to premature birth and significant developmental delays.
Nazarian is currently under the devoted care of three family members, his father and two uncles, who navigate the complexities of providing around-the-clock support.
The Charitable Foundation, with the help of Kara Foti, a dedicated speech language pathologist, stepped in to make a significant difference in Nazarian’s life. Reflecting on the impact, Kara says, “the therapy equipment and toys directly benefited his progress and development.” Kara’s frequent visits have created a child-friendly and safe environment for Nazarian filled with essentials such as new bottles, food, toys, books, blankets, and a crawl pad. Kara has become an indispensable part of Nazarian’s support system, creating a nurturing ‘village’ for him.
Read more in the latest Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation newsletter.
Katana Safety Boosts Sense of Security
Thanks to the generosity of our Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation donors, we were able to purchase Katana Safety devices for all Nascentia Health staff. This device is an innovative personal security solution for staff as they live and work in the community. It’s a multi-functional device attached to a smartphone with a panic button for immediate alerts, GPS tracking for real-time location, and a “walk with me” feature to share their location with a trusted contact.
Our staff frequently face challenging situations during the course of their work. Katana Safety not only safeguards our staff but also enables better patient care by reducing the risks associated with their work. Carrying Katana Safety with them during patient visits boosts their sense of security, ensuring their vital work is carried out with confidence and peace of mind.
On one occasion, while our clinicians were tending to a patient in an upstairs apartment, the patient’s two daughters engaged in a heated verbal altercation downstairs. Unfortunately, this dispute unfolded with two small children present in the midst of the argument, raising concerns about the children’s safety. The clinician informed the patient that they were activating the “walk with me” feature as a precaution, in case it became necessary to involve law enforcement to intervene. The patient understood, and thankfully, the situation did not escalate to that point.
Zendaya’s Special Surprise
Zendaya is a 5-year-old girl who was born prematurely and with cerebral palsy, but is now able to walk. She has microcephaly and requires extra feedings via her G tube. Due to the fact that both her mother and grandmother are unable to provide the care she needs, Zendaya is in the loving care of her great-grandmother. Even though her great grandmother’s resources are very limited, and her own health is not the best, there is never a shortage of love and care for this little girl.
Our clinician quickly realized that Zendaya was sleeping on a small mattress on the floor of her great-grandmother’s bedroom, or, at times, shared the bed with her. Her great-grandmother didn’t have the money to buy her a bed of her own and was too shy to ask for help. A bed of her own would give Zendaya a better night’s sleep and significantly increase her overall quality of life. Our clinical team knew exactly where to go for help and asked the Foundation for a twin bed and new bedding.
Dea Kuiper, a pediatric nurse with Nascentia for over 20 years, reflected on the experience by saying, “We threw a surprise party for Zendaya after the new bed arrived. You had to see her happy face when she walked into the bedroom and saw her new bed, all done up and decorated with balloons. It melts my heart when I think back on that happy afternoon and the big hugs received by her great-grandmother. To be able to do something extra for families that are in need thanks to the Charitable Foundation makes this such a wonderful job.”
Increased Independence for Connie
Connie is the kind of person that you just don’t forget. She’s a retired teacher who will treat you like family and tell you a good story. She is always ready to lend some helpful life advice or share an intriguing fact about her past, and she absolutely beams when speaking about her dear husband, Pete. Connie has a zest for life but disability has slowed her pace over the past few years. She has been a client with Nascentia a handful of times, and always demonstrates such motivation to regain her independence. With the help of Nascentia clinicians and her supportive family, Connie has developed countless new skills and the strength needed to perform her daily activities. She recently expressed concerns with her ability to utilize her standard slide board for transfers. Connie is wheelchair bound and hated burdening her husband or family with the extensive level of assistance necessary to transfer between her bed and chair. It was imperative for her to find a way to move with the least amount of help from others. She was immediately interested when her occupational and physical therapy team proposed the idea of a Beasy transfer board. This special slide board features a disc on a track, which allows individuals to glide between surfaces easily. The board reduces the amount of effort required and improves the safety and efficiency of transferring.
Much to Connie’s pleasure, the Foundation was able to help! Connie was ecstatic. She even went the extra mile and sent a hand-written note to thank Nascentia: “This compels me to write a complimentary thank you note about all the care I have received… All of your employees ‘went the extra mile,’ were caring to me and kind to my family and the family dog, Maggie.”
New Doorbell for John
John faces severe hearing impairment, rendering him incapable of hearing when his caregivers or other visitors are at his door. To address this challenge, our clinician initiated a Foundation request for a visual doorbell system. This thoughtful addition now ensures that John is alerted whenever someone is at his door. The introduction of the visual doorbell has proven invaluable in simplifying the care process, eliminating the need for our clinicians to rely on the assistance of apartment building staff to access John’s apartment. John has expressed his gratitude on numerous occasions, highlighting the positive impact the visual doorbell has had on his daily life and his ability to maintain independence while receiving the care he needs.
Transforming Trinity’s Living Environment
Trinity, a pediatric patient, was navigating the challenges of spending her time on the floor in her family’s cluttered apartment, an environment filled with safety and health hazards for a child. Our clinician submitted a request for a playpen in efforts to keep Trinity off the floor and safe from harm. The introduction of a new playpen has brought a transformation to her living situation. This playpen now provides Trinity with a secure and nurturing space in which she can engage in play and therapy activities. It serves as a sanctuary in her home, effectively mitigating the safety concerns that once plagued her daily life.
Supporting Continuous Learning
The Nascentia Health Charitable Foundation plays a pivotal role in advancing the education and development of Nascentia’s in-home care providers, ensuring the sustained availability of highly qualified caregivers for our most vulnerable patients. By supporting continuous learning, the Foundation helps provide caregivers the tools necessary to ensure comprehensive and compassionate in-home care. This support not only elevates the quality of care but also promotes career growth for caregivers, fostering a skilled and dedicated workforce for the long term. The Foundation’s commitment to caregiver development is an investment in the well-being of our most vulnerable, ensuring they receive the exceptional care they deserve well into the future.
Other donations from our Foundation include items that bring considerable value to each patient and their families, enabling them to maintain or increase their independence, health and self-sufficiency. These items include:
- Adjustable bedrails to prevent falls/slipping out of bed for an elderly patient
- Hoyer Lift Scale to monitor a congestive heart failure patient’s weight
- Beasy slide transfer board for a wheelchair bound patient to slide between surfaces easily with safety and efficiency
- Training for a Nascentia Nurse to advance skills on pediatric feeding
- Comfort heel pillows to relive pressure ulcers on a bed bound patient’s foot
- Stroller for a mother to transport her child to and from doctor’s appointments with a carbon monoxide monitor, oxygen, and enteral feeding pump