A Letter
from the President
By Rich Reinsburrow
It is time for the annual Hershey Hearts picnic again and that means
that it is time for elections of officers. As stated in the Hershey Hearts
By-laws, in even number years the term of the President, Secretary, and
one member-At-Large are up and in the odd number years the position
of Vice-President, Treasurer , and the other Member-At-Large are up.
Therefore, at this year's picnic we will be holding elections for the
President, Secretary, and one Member-At-Large. The Hershey Hearts
By-laws also state, "Each member of the Board of Directors may hold
office for only two consecutive two-year terms, but may be reelected for
additional terms after a hiatus of at least one year." Therefore,
this will be my last message as your president. I have enjoyed the past
several years as your president helping to develop our group into what
it has become.
As I bid farewell as your president I am reminded why I became your
first president. In 1992, when my daughter was born with a congenital
heart defect, I wanted someone to talk to about her future. I wanted
some comfort in knowing that there was hope beyond the crisis I was
going through. In 1992, the only comfort that was available at Hershey
Medical Center was that of the doctors, nurses, and support staff. There
were no parents, no lists, and no Internet chat rooms available to
answer my questions or offer comfort. It was years later when I was
asked to be the first president of this newly forming group and I
answered yes. As the years pass, individuals will come and go from the
various leadership positions of Hershey Hearts. There will be
disagreement, miscommunication, disappointment, frustration, and
mistakes between board members, but the ultimate goal of Hershey Hearts
is that we are, "committed to supporting, helping, and educating
families of children with heart disease... Our aim is to strengthen
families during their long journey from despair to hope."
My final message to each of you is, volunteer. If you do not get a
reply, be persistent. If you are asked, make your answer YES!
Hershey
Hearts Picnic
By Paul Sipe
The 6th annual Hershey Hearts Picnic will be held on Saturday, July
20th from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The picnic will be at Hoffer
Part in Middletown. Please use the directions included. Please bring a
covered dish and/or a dessert. Hamburgers, hot dogs, silverware, plates,
napkins, cups, and drinks will be provided. We will eat at 12:00 noon.
Activities will include clowns and a
magic show at 1:00 p.m. We will also be giving away a "Special
Mystery" door prize. A brief meeting will take place after the
magic show.
The picnic shelter is enclosed, therefore
the picnic will be held rain or shine. The picnic shelter is handicap
accessible (Handicap parking at the shelter with macadam walkway up to
the shelter.) Everyone is welcome! Please come and join in on the fun
and fellowship.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE !!!
Directions to the Hershey
Hearts Picnic
Saturday July 20, 2002, 11am to 4pm.
Hoffer Park in Middletown, PA
From
Hershey Medical Center
Take 322 West toward Harrisburg to the
"Middletown/Hummelstown" Exit. At the stop sign off
the exit, turn left toward Middletown. At the first traffic
light, turn right, follow signs toward Middletown .At the next
traffic light, turn left onto Middletown Road. Follow Middletown
Road for about 5 miles into Middletown Boro.
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From
Harrisburg
Take 322 East toward Hershey to the
"Hummelstown/Middletown" Exit. At the traffic light
off the exit, turn right onto Middletown Road. Follow Middletown
Road for about 5 miles into Middletown. Use the *****Inside
Middletown Boro***** directions |
From
Lancaster
Take 283 West to the "Middletown/Hummelstown" Exit. At
the stop sign off the exit, turn left toward Middletown. Follow
Middletown Road for about 1 mile into Middletown Boro.
Use the *****Inside Middletown Boro***** directions |
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From
York
Take 83 North to the PA Turnpike East (76) toward Philadelphia.
Continue on the Turnpike to Exit 19 - Harrisburg East. Take 283
East - Exit 2E toward Lancaster. Get off at the
"Middletown/Hummelstown" Exit. Bare right off the
exit, follow signs toward Middletown. Follow Middletown Road for
about 1 mile into Middletown Boro. Use the *****Inside
Middletown Boro***** directions
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****Inside
Middletown Boro*****
Middletown Road becomes Vine Street inside Middletown Boro.
Follow Vine Street until the traffic light (about 1.5 miles). At
the traffic light, turn right onto Main street (Route 230). Turn
left at the next street "North Race Street". (J&J
Pizza Family Restaurant is on the south/west corner) Follow
North Race Street until the fifth stop sign. Turn left at the
fifth stop sign into Hoffer Park. |
Creative
Memories Fundraiser
By Bonnie Stauffer
Scrapbooking! It's that time of year again! The 2nd annual Creative
Memories Fundraiser will take place at Hershey Medical Center on
September 14th from 9am - 5pm. Last year, we all had a great time
working on our album projects ALL day long and also got acquainted with
other Hershey Hearts families!
Are you NEW to Creative memories? There will be time for me to sit with
you and start your album projects. Just let me know in advance if you
have an interest in beginning that day!
Are you an avid scrapbooker? There will
be breakout sessions throughout the day to highlight new products and
even specific projects related to your "Hershey Hearts" baby!
I have a sample "Medical ABC/123 Album" for Desirae, my
daughter, to learn about her previous three surgeries. She loves it!
Bring your family and friends! Spend time
together! Bring lots of photos! Win door prizes galore! Registration
will be $10 and lunch will be provided. Registration will start at the
Hershey Hearts picnic but call me with any questions.
Thank you and I look forward to seeing
you all there! Bonnie
Stauffer, CM unit leader.
Heart
Beat Raffle
By Jill Hester and Rich Reinsburrow
The Fourth annual Heart Beat Auction/Raffle will be held Monday, July
15th through Friday, July 19th in Room H-1260 at the Hershey Medical
Center, which is located in the main corridor from the main entrance to
the cafeteria. We are trying something different this year by only
raffling off one large prize. You will purchase chances to win either a
Kawasaki 4-wheeler or a Sea-Doo watercraft. Please note that the auction
is being held separately from the picnic (which is July 20) again this
year. The drawing for the winner will be held following the Hershey
Hearts' picnic. The winner will be notified on Monday, July 22, 2002.
Treasurer's
Report
By Jill Hester
In the February newsletter, it was reported that the total balance in
both our savings and checking accounts as of December 31, 2001 was
$14,714.00. During the past five months (January through May 2002) our
receipts totaled $7,170.56, which consisted of $614.80 that was
designated for the "For Hearts" Fund, $594.78 in various cash
donations, and $5,827.70 from the Basket Bingo that was held in Red Lion
at the end of April. The savings account earned $133.28 in interest.
Disbursements totaled $4,634.12 from
January to May. They included $634.80 to the "For Hearts"
Fund, $897.39 in Basket Bingo expenses, $125.00 for a raffle license,
$679.61 for the February newsletter printing and mailing, $212.18 (for
babysitting and refreshments) for the March general membership meeting,
a $500.00 donation to Woody Woolfe (Heart to Hand Ministries), $175.00
for the HH Fluted Wine Glasses that were sold, $253.75 for CHD Awareness
Day on February 14, 2002, $201.47 for the Family Meal Program, $755.64
in Survival Kit costs, and $199.28 in miscellaneous supplies and
expenses.
The total balance in both our savings and
checking accounts as of May 31, 2002 is $17,250.44.
As always, if anyone would
like to make a donation or contact us for any reason, our mailing
address is:
Hershey Hearts
P.O. Box 163
Hershey, PA 17033-0163
Wish
List
By Jill Hester
The Survival Kits that Hershey Hearts is providing to our families when their
child is receiving treatment at Hershey Medical Center is an on-going
project and continues to be well received and appreciated by the families.
The canvas tote bags printed with the "heart in hand" design
are filled with many items to help the families during which can be a
very stressful, both emotionally and financially, time. They are an
important way for Hershey Hearts to support and help families of
children with heart disease. On average, Warren Smith, our pediatric
cardiac social worker, distributes about 12 survival kits a month.
If you would like to donate
any items (perhaps in honor of a birthday, special occasion, etc.) or
can obtain donations for the Survival Kits, the following is our
""Wish List":
. 45 minute phone cards
. Individually wrapped snacks
. Mints or hard candy
. Toothbrushes and toothpaste
. Purse size packs of tissues
. Travel or personal size toiletries
If you can donate any of these items, you may bring them to the Hershey
Hearts Annual Picnic on July 20, 2002, or you may call the Hershey
Hearts number at 1-800-864-2349 mailbox #3388.
Visitation
Program
By April Weaver
The Visitation Program has been a successful outreach
program of the Hershey Hearts Support Group. The volunteers who are
members of this program are to be commended for their commitment to
helping those who are beginning their pediatric cardiac journey at
Hershey Medical Center.
As many of you know, Kelley
and I have been co-chairs of the Visitation Program for several years.
Because of changes in our personal lives, Kelley and I are looking for
co-chairs to take over our duties. We are looking for people who are
willing to commit themselves wholeheartedly so that the Visitation Program can continue to be
dynamically-sound in order to accomplish our
goal of helping those families who need us. We would like to have our
replacements by September 2002. Duties would include creating Visitation
schedules (currently done twice a year), updating the Visitation Program
Volunteer mailing list, updating the telephone contact list, sending
reminder cards, and fielding phone calls from new people interested in
becoming a Visitation Volunteer. Kelley or I would be happy to discuss
any part of the Visitation Committee Co-Chairs" duties with those
of you who are interested in becoming a facilitator of this worthwhile
program, Please contact Kelley Houtz or April Weaver.
Kelley and I extend our
sincere thank-yous to all the current (and past) volunteers of the
Visitation Program. You all have given your time unselfishly to help
others with children who have been afflicted with some form of cardiac
anomaly. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by all who have benefited
from your visits at Hershey Medical Center.
3rd Annual
Basket Bingo
By Terisa Johnson
Hershey Hears held it's 3rd annual Basket Bingo event on April 28th. We
had another successful turn out. We had $1250.00 in Sponsors. We had a
profit of $3837.06 after expenses. That's Great! Everyone had a fun
time. All the baskets were filled and we also had 3 great raffles and a
50/50.
First, I would like to thank
my dad, Bernell Kohler for calling bingo for this event. Other people I
want to thank from the bottom of my heart and Hershey Hearts are: Gail
Garrett, Dawn Snyder, Chris Yohe, Paul Sipe, Mr. & Mrs. Jim
Hester, Michelle Frey, Tammy Cassel, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Garvin, Jan
Miller, Joelle Hevner, Jackie Kohr, Jill Repoley, Wendy Nafziger, Lisa
McCoy and Husband, and let's not forget my husband, Eric. Let's just
give great thanks to all these special people. Without these people
& our great sponsors this wouldn't have been another great success.
Again, Thank you for another
great event. Helping all the families and their children in going
through some tough times like some of us had to . Also to make their
stay a little more easier to handle. Take Care all of you and see you
next year.
To Our Visitation
Program Workers
By Warren Smith
I would like to send a very warm thanks to all those involved with
visiting families here at the Children's Hospital and especially to
Kellley Houtz and April Weaver, the Program Coordinators. It is quite
impressive to see the change in the people after your time with them, It
happens like clockwork; a mom or dad are naturally afraid of the risks
of surgery and following a talk with you "veterans," a
considerable amount of the load is lifted. At times it is actually
visible in their faces.
So from Dr. Myers, Dr. Cyran,
the nursing staff and all the cardiac team, we give a hearty WELL DONE!
However there is one note of
concern I must mention. During the past several weeks, some of those who
were scheduled to visit did not do so. Most have called to let me know
that your were unable to visit, however some did not call and did not
visit. Please know that I understand when the unexpected happens, it can
change you plans and it is not possible to visit.
But when you do not call, we
all lose. The Visitation Program does not work without visitors;
the Hershey Hearts group is viewed in an unfavorable light; and the saddest
loss is by the families waiting to lean on and learn from your
experience.
So please check the old commitment
tank. If your schedule is nearing maximum levels and 24 hours isn't
enough in the day, by all means, ease up!! If this means you can no
longer be part of the Visitation Program, we understand. We hope this
isn't the case for you. Our program's strength is with you. Take time to
consider your involvement to your benefit, as well as the families who
so greatly appreciate what you have done.
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