Signal Features Editor
mbuttelman@the-signal.com
Posted: Nov. 19, 2009 9:54 p.m.
Celebrating independence was the theme of Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital's annual Healthy Homecoming, a popular event that reunites former trauma and acute rehabilitation patients with their caregivers.
Though they came into the hospital on stretchers or barely able to move, all three testimonial speakers were able to walk to the stage on Thursday to give a heartfelt thanks to the staff that helped them regain function.
"It was hard work, but you gave me the determination and motivation. Without you all, it would not have been done," said car accident survivor Violet Fabian-Laff, 70, of Valencia. "I am very grateful."
Initially launched as a casual lunch in the hospital's cafeteria, over the years Healthy Homecoming has grown into a full-scale buffet hosted underneath a huge tent in the parking lot, with hundreds of guests in attendance.
"Out of all the events held on our campus, Healthy Homecoming is the most rewarding for our staff. It truly demonstrates what our hospital is about and exemplifies our mission to improve the health of our community through compassion and excellence in health care services," said Roger Seaver, Newhall Memorial president and CEO.
Heather de Cordova, assistant director of rehabilitation services at Newhall Memorial, took to the podium next.
"Our job as a rehab team is to get you back to your life. We work together to break down your goals into small bits. Then we get you through each step, which ultimately helps you meet the overall goal," she said. "Nothing gives us more joy than seeing you back in your element."
Fabian-Laff, a former nurse and cancer survivor whose husband was also injured in the auto accident last June, had suffered a broken right ankle, fractured knee, and ribs.
Led to the stage by physical therapist John Adam, she described the team efforts that led to her recovery: From her initial time in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit to the occupational therapy that helped her learn how to dress to the home visits that continued her progress on "the path to Healthy Homecoming."
"The key to a Healthy Homecoming is survival. If it wasn't for the acute care I received, I would not have survived," Fabian-Laff said.
Following Fabian-Laff, David Sokolowicz was accompanied to the stage by speech therapist Shauna Bolick.
The first month of Sokolowicz's experience at Newhall Memorial remains a little fuzzy for the Canyon Country resident, 22, who suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling down a hill and off a 15-foot retaining wall onto asphalt following a seizure.
"I woke up surprised to find myself in the acute rehabilitation unit," Sokolowicz said. "The nurses told me later during the 10 days in the ICU I required more supervision than a four- or five-year-old in preschool. They watched over me 24/7 to make sure I didn't injure my brain, which was covered with a helmet."
Sokolowicz gave special thanks to his neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Liker. "He saved my life by getting me into surgery within 10 to 15 minutes," he said. "I owe Dr. Yudell one, too. She checked on me every day."
After his discharge, Sokolowicz continued with outpatient therapy on campus for some residual paralysis issues, often arriving dressed as Jack from Jack In The Box to the delight of staff, who encouraged him to visit young patients in the hospital.
"I regained my social life that way," Sokolowicz said with a smile.
The slow, steady effects of arthritis and degenerative disc disease initially brought Mary Wagner, 65, of Canyon Country to Newhall Memorial.
Wagner was escorted to the podium by physical therapy assistant Lori Senft.
"I couldn't walk anymore," she explained.
Wagner had an emergency MRI, followed by immediate surgery. She was surprised to find that recovery wasn't instant.
"I woke up and thought all would be well, then I tried to sit up and it didn't work," Wagner said. "Gayle Hoover told me I could do three hours of physical therapy a day to learn how to walk again, or transfer to a convalescent hospital."
With encouragement from her daughter, Jeannie, and grandchildren, Wagner followed orders from her physical therapy staff and was soon regaining function, graduating from a wheelchair to a walker within months.
Following a subsequent knee replacement on March 19, Wagner was reunited with hospital staff and got back on her feet in record time.
"You all got me through more than one hard night," Wagner said, tearing up. "I can't begin to thank you all. You are just the most wonderful bunch of dedicated caregivers in the world and if someone has to go through something like this, this is the place to be."
For more information on Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, visit www.henrymayo.com.
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