May 2021 Honoree
The 5 West Team Award
Cathy Hill, Unit Secretary • Juanita Perriot, Unit Secretary • Maureen Schmidt, RN • Lauren English, RN • Colleen Thomas, RN • Arielle Fisher, RN • Michele Butz, RN • Linda Matthius, Nurse Leader • Betty Reed, RN • Kate Cabrera, RN • Daisy Olivera Macareno, RN • Florence Miller, RN • Holly Timmons, RN • Kristina Poli, RN • Yvonne Desbordes, RN • Wanda Holmes, PCT • Jessica Rivera, RN • Kim Carpenter, PCT • Elizabeth Muratore, PCT • Catherine Palamar, APN • Alicia Clark, Monitor Tech • Jessica Chapmen, Monitor Tech • Mary Toner, PCT • Donna Johnson, Unit Secretary • Alexis O'Reilly, Physical Therapist • Ellen Addario, Physical Therapist • Anna Saad, Physical Therapist • Amy Flanagan, Physical Therapist • Teresa Giammarino, Physical Therapist • Megan VanSchaack, RN • Meghan Vasquez, RN • Jessica Evans, RN • Rebecca Mikula, RN • Joanne Mendez, PCT • Leila Bracken, RN • Rhea Patio, RN • Jennifer Dunn, Physical Therapist • Sara Isaacson, Physical Therapist • Melissa Silvani, PT Aide • Michelle Gottesman, Physical Therapist • Deandrea LaFrance, Physical Therapist • Nicole Wagner, Occupational Therapist • Nicole Leone, Occupational Therapist • Steve Ryan, Physical Therapist • Robin Sacerdote, Case Manager • Mo Preston, PT Aide • Kristin Bolinski, RN • Melanie Kerekes, RN • Meghan Kerekes, RN • Kathy Pouso, Director • Stefanie Thomson, RN • Diane Hoffman, Rehab Coordinator
On the Daisy website, the team award discusses not only making a difference in the lives of a patient or family member but even employees. This past Saturday marks exactly one year that our nurse P, lost her sister after 3 week battle with COVID. N was first diagnosed at RMC and later transferred to JSUMC where she, unfortunately, passed after battling the disease for so long.
P had a very tough time losing her sister at only 41 years old. As a unit, we wanted to do something for her. We of course gave her flowers and sent food to her family, but later on I found a website called Mayan Hands which makes friendship bracelets and donates proceeds to a cause of your choosing.
P and her sister have tons of family in Guatemala, in fact, P actually has her own small business where she sells handmade bags from Guatemala and donates the money she makes to help women and children there.
When I first saw the website it seemed like a calling as the bracelets were also hand-made by women and children in Guatemala. I signed up to work with Mayan Hands and had 100 bracelets shipped to me to begin selling at RMC. The fundraiser lasted for about 3 weeks and over that span of time I requested more bracelets to be shipped here and sold over 500. Over $1,000 was collected for P's small business and was donated to women and children in Guatemala in honor of her sister. The title of the fundraiser was called "Never Forget N" and P was so grateful. She now works with women in Guatemala to get handmade bracelets to continue selling in honor of her sister- she calls this "the purple collection" and has all purple bracelets made as this was her sister's favorite color.
This fundraiser would not have been possible without the team of 5 West. Not only did each team member buy bracelets in honor of P's sister, but they also spread the word to so many different people within and outside of the hospital that I had to contact the company to get an additional 2 shipments of bracelets, selling over 500 total. The love that this team has for one another is like no other and it truly showed during this time.
P had a very tough time losing her sister at only 41 years old. As a unit, we wanted to do something for her. We of course gave her flowers and sent food to her family, but later on I found a website called Mayan Hands which makes friendship bracelets and donates proceeds to a cause of your choosing.
P and her sister have tons of family in Guatemala, in fact, P actually has her own small business where she sells handmade bags from Guatemala and donates the money she makes to help women and children there.
When I first saw the website it seemed like a calling as the bracelets were also hand-made by women and children in Guatemala. I signed up to work with Mayan Hands and had 100 bracelets shipped to me to begin selling at RMC. The fundraiser lasted for about 3 weeks and over that span of time I requested more bracelets to be shipped here and sold over 500. Over $1,000 was collected for P's small business and was donated to women and children in Guatemala in honor of her sister. The title of the fundraiser was called "Never Forget N" and P was so grateful. She now works with women in Guatemala to get handmade bracelets to continue selling in honor of her sister- she calls this "the purple collection" and has all purple bracelets made as this was her sister's favorite color.
This fundraiser would not have been possible without the team of 5 West. Not only did each team member buy bracelets in honor of P's sister, but they also spread the word to so many different people within and outside of the hospital that I had to contact the company to get an additional 2 shipments of bracelets, selling over 500 total. The love that this team has for one another is like no other and it truly showed during this time.
Thank you for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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