I was a stranger and you invited me in..."  -Matthew 25:35 NIV

Anniversary Celebration

If you were not at the Anniversary Benefit you missed a great time. Whether people were taking pictures at the photo booth or dumping their desserts, laughter was heard. Whether you purchased a champagne or beer glass, funds were being raised. Whether you bought basket raffle tickets or bid on live auction items, you were supporting the operations of Frederick Place.

The committee should be proud of themselves as the Hodag Banquet Center was dressed for success that night, and the event was very successful. We were able to raise just over $15,000 in one single night. One hundred and fifty-five people attended the event, but many more made this a profitable night.

Thank you to all who attended.

Thank you to our Table Sponsors: ABX, Nancy Nebgen and friends, BMO Harris, Joe and Joy Smogor, Newcomers & Friends, Dick & Mary Meier and friends, Trinity Lutheran Church, Bill & Carol Miller and friends, Chis & Jane Sharkey, Woodruff TV & Appliance, Park City Credit Union, Hildebrand Funeral Home, Bob Wolf & Susan Bartels and friends, Dave & Linda Jerzak and Ripco Credit Union.

Thank you to the event sponsors: Dale Bishop, Jeff & Joyce Wagner, Bill and Tracey Barnes, Business Insurance Group, CoVantage Credit Union, Eric & Lisa Eggman, Kohls Cares, Dennis & Patricia Perlberg, Steven & Eunice Incha, and Harry & Jean Kroll.

Thank you to the many individuals and businesses who donated items for prizes.

Thank you to the bakers who provided the delicious desserts for the Dessert Dash.



Congratulations to Rhinelander GM-Toyota. They were named “Partner of the Year” for their continued support of NATH - Frederick Place.



Mark your calendars to join us at the 8 th Annual Anniversary Benefit. We hope to see you there on Saturday, February 2, 2019

Rhinelander GM/Toyota was awarded NATH Partner of the Year.

The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but rising again after you fall

I never thought to write about Jim when he left in July of 2016, and I don’t believe I was meant to at that time. I think “the powers that be” waited until this moment in time to send me a sign that it was now time to share Jim’s story. The sign I received was a visit from Jim. That visit made me think of a few Vince Lombardi quotes, because they are so inspirational, just as is Jim’s attitude towards life.

Jim was a model resident during the time he called Frederick Place home. He did everything asked of him and more. He quickly got a job, but along with that job he faced an all too common dilemma. Jim had to choose between working a minimum wage job and affordable health insurance. If he accepted the position he would no longer qualify for state assisted insurance. As a diabetic, insurance was a necessity. Long story short, Jim chose to buy insurance and live a paycheck to paycheck existence That choice impacted his future drastically.

Last Spring Jim noticed a minute cut on one of his right toes. A cut of this size would be a momentary nuisance to most, but to a diabetic that same cut could be catastrophic. Diabetes causes blood vessels of the feet and legs to narrow and harden which compromises circulation. In a foot with poor circulation, even the most minor breaks in skin integrity will not heal as would a foot with normal circulation. The longer an open wound is present, the higher the chances of getting an infection. In my former life as a surgical technologist, I was often part of the team urgently called in to remove a diabetic’s toe(s) because a small cut had turned into a raging infection in a matter of days. The reasons these patients waited so long to see a physician varied. Many had had minor cuts that healed well in the past so they took their chances. The main reasons they chose this route were cost and fear of what their doctor would do. 

Jim knew about this complication of diabetes, but he was also painfully aware that he could not afford his $7000 deductible, so he did not go to a doctor right away. Jim took care of the wound and hoped it would heal. A couple days later he knew his efforts failed. He found himself in a doctor’s office being told he needed to get to a hospital right away. That little cut had rapidly grown into a raging, vertically moving, gangrenous infection. The offending toe and right side of his foot had to be removed. I wish I could say that was the end of Jim’s trips to the operating room, but I cannot. He was taken to the operating room to have the wound cleaned up three times. Bacteria cannot be seen with the naked eye, so the surgeon debrided any visible dead tissue and scheduled an MRI. Jim saw the MRI and knew just how bad it was. He told the surgeon to just take the leg rather than continue trying to save it. On his last trip to the OR a below the knee amputation (BKA) was performed.

         Obstacles are what you see when you take your eye off the goal.

This second quote is another one of St. Vince’s that is germane to Jim’s life after his BKA. The first obstacle he faced was where to go to recover. One just doesn’t lose a limb and go home. Jim lived alone so returning to his apartment was not an option so he ended up going to a nursing home for his post-op recovery and wound care. When he was deemed healed enough to go home, he had to have his apartment evaluated to determine if it was compatible with the wheelchair he would be using until he received his prosthesis. His apartment did not pass this inspection, so back to the nursing home he went until he could find suitable housing. Therein lay his second obstacle. The apartments he found that had accommodations for a wheelchair were either beyond his means or there was a mile long waiting list.

                 The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.

Jim’s attitude is so positive it is stunning. He has been diabetic for years and knew this could happen. He does not blame himself or the decisions he made. He chose to accept his fate and move on rather than letting this loss fill his thoughts. Of course he wishes this had not happened (or would have happened to his left leg in which he has a very painful condition called Charcot’s joint), but it did so why wallow in self-pity? He could have wasted last summer away feeling sorry for himself, but he instead he helped out at brat sales in his wheelchair. He wanted to give back for all he received while at Frederick Place. He is 57 years old and has been living in a nursing home since June of 2017 (he is still there). The only complaint I’ve heard is that his roommate’s TV is a little loud at times. He still does not have his official prosthesis but is thrilled with the temporary one because it allows him to drive, and driving means freedom. Jim is currently on a waiting list for an apartment in his hometown of Kenosha. He is waiting patiently for word that he is at the top of the waiting list.

Wherever Jim goes he will continue to face new challenge, and I don’t doubt he will have days in which he feels he is fighting an uphill battle. I also don’t doubt he will maintain his amazing positive attitude, because he has been climbing that mountain since June and knows, as Vince did, that the man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.

In Memory of

  Jeanette Kuziej

Betty Birginal

 

We’ve joined the Buzz Points network! Buzz Points has partnered with Ripco Credit Union or Park City Credit Union to give their cardholders a free rewards program.

 Here’s how it works:

Ripco Credit Union

or

Park City Credit Union

Cardholders earn points for every dollar they spend using their enrolled debit or credit card.

When enough points are accrued, they can be redeemed for rewards to local or national  businesses. Points can also be redeemed as a monetary donation to local charities on the Buzz Point network.

If you’re a cardholder of either establishment, it’s now easier than ever to donate to a local cause. When your ready to redeem your points, our organization will be listed in the Buzz Points online and mobile Rewards Directory. Please consider donating in this manner to NATH.

If you debit or credit card is not registered go to  https://www.buzzpoints.com/

Shop and earn cash back. Do your everyday shopping with hundreds of great brands and earn cash back for your organization on every purchase! 

We earn even more when you share this program with your friends and family. When they shop, their purchases will earn us additional cash back.

Click on the link to start helping now.  www.flipgive.com/teams/87888-nath

Some of the sites that you can shop from thru this site are:

Walmart - Target - Disney Store - Under Armor - Nike - Toms - JCPenny Apple - Best Western - Bed Bath & Beyond - Schwans - Verizon  

Are you a member of Thrivent?

Apply for your Thrivent action Team to assist NATH.

Go to Thrivent.com/action team to get started. Here are some questions you may see when applying. What is the need you and your volunteer team want to tackle? How will your volunteer team spread generosity in your community? When will your project take place? How will you use your $250 seed money to make a bigger impact?

Once you submit your application, it’s typically review within a few days. When you project is approved, you will get to customize a hand packed Thrivent action kit based on what your team needs, including promotional banner, Live Generously T-shirts, step by step guides, invitations, thank you notes and a $250 Community Impact Card to use as seed money to get your project off the ground.

Some of the ways you could help NATH/Frederick Place, would be as a sponsor for Summer Raffle, Anniversary Benefit, Harvest Hoedown, Soup for Shelters, Golf Scramble or by preparing a meal or two for the house residents. Any contributions are greatly appreciated.



Thank you to all who use Amazon Smiles

to Help NATH when you shop

What is AmazonSmile?

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at  smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as  Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly  one million organizations to support.

How do I shop at AmazonSmile?

To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to  smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to  smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.

Each month many partners in the community donate meals to Frederick Place. This month NATH and Frederick Place thank the following groups.