Hey there E-Connecters,

Another Tuesday is here again with lots to share since our last E-Connect two weeks ago. You will read about it all here including a special way you can share your heart through our annual Tree of Lights Campaign, a spotlight on one of our deserving People, an easier way to give the gift of time to HDGH, a recap on the impressive year of our Changing Lives Together Foundation, and a tranformational donation by a local family.

We can't wait to share what happens over the next two weeks!
Maciah
NOVEMBER 19, 2019
Sharing our Hearts: 33rd Tree of Lights Campaign to support Cardiac Wellness Services
It’s been nearly a year that Dave Waddell’s family dog, Geordie saved his life after losing his own.

On November 28 th , 2018, the Waddell family brought Geordie to the vet for a risky surgery. Over the course of the afternoon Geordie put the family through a rollercoaster of emotions as his health improved and declined in waves. Unfortunately, Geordie didn’t make it, leaving the Waddell’s heartbroken.

As the night went on, Dave began experiencing some shortness of breath, slight chest heaviness, and what he thought was acid reflux and an upset stomach from the pizza they had eaten for dinner, but by morning the feelings still hadn’t improved and his appearance became slightly jaundice in nature. It was off to the hospital to see what was going on.

Turns out, Dave suffered a heart attack due to significant blockage in his arteries – one being 100 per cent blocked and another 80 per cent. The stress of losing Geordie released a small amount of the stress hormone cortisol, triggering the cardiac event and revealing a much bigger, looming problem. Miraculously the cardiac event wasn’t more tragic due to Dave’s unique, resourceful heart. You see, his heart, knowing it needed to pump blood, took matters into it’s own hands, growing an additional artery, a clear passage to keep blood flowing. This new artery was Dave’s lifeline and saving grace.

After a number of tests, two angioplasties, and a week in hospital, Dave was on the mend and headed home, just in time for the holidays. In the New Year, the next phase of his journey would begin as he started the Cardiac Wellness Program within the Petro Family Exercise Centre at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

Though his first few days of the program tugged at his nerves, Dave quickly realized there was something special at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare . “Listening to other patients speak, I realized how helpful and useful they were finding the program,” Dave recalls. “I quickly went from feeling nervous and as an outsider to feeling included in the group.”

Dave’s care at the Petro Family Exercise Centre was all-encompassing; through physical activity he strengthened his body, through educational courses he broadened his knowledge, through nutritional classes he fueled his hunger, and through support from staff and fellow patients he gained motivation and healed his heart.

Today, Dave still regularly attends courses at the Centre in order to maintain his new state of health through the program’s Maintenance arm. As he approaches the one-year mark of his cardiac event, Dave holds his head high as he feels the strong, steady beating in his chest and gives thanks to all those who saved and changed his life, including Geordie.
It is thanks to many donors like you that Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare can continue to support patients from our Cardiac Wellness, Pulmonary Rehab, and Stroke programs through the Petro Family Exercise Centre. These programs play an integral role in supporting our patients as they recover from their significant health event. It is the piece of their story that makes them healthier, makes them stronger. You can be a part of that. It is our sincerest wish that during this year’s Tree of Lights Campaign and Giving Season that you consider a donation to Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Changing Lives Together Foundation, becoming a future patient’s saving grace, their extra artery when they need it most.

For every Tree of Lights donation made, our Changing Lives Together Foundation will hang a special ornament in memory or in honour of your loved one on our Christmas tree and send you a paper ornament for you to place on your own tree at home.
 
To support the campaign and honour someone special this holiday season, please call 519-257-5234 or visit  our website .
A Guiding Hand
Overflowing with optimism and a commitment to her clients and colleagues, Andjela Andric, Chemical Dependency Counsellor with Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Withdrawal Management Centre, is our most recent recipient of our Values In Action Award as part of our Changing Lives Together Recognition program.

This monthly award recognizes an individual whose actions exemplify the values of Respect, Teamwork, Compassion, and Social Responsibility and Andjela possesses all four and has been noticed for it.
 
The Nomination Letter:
I want to nominate Andjela Andric who is valued member of the Withdrawal Management Services Counsellor team. From the first day our team met Andjela she has been nothing short of an incredible, reliable, optimistic, and overall empathetic leader. Andjela is continuously bettering herself professionally through the use of workshops and certificate trainings, as well as using her own personal time to read up on content and news that affects our clients at Withdrawal Management daily. Andjela can be counted on to brighten the mood of everyone that she encounters, and ensures that everyone around her feels comfortable, safe, and most importantly heard. Andjela takes it upon herself to ensure that our clientele is properly looked after and that no client leaves without a safe treatment plan to fall back on. Andjela is a role model to not only those staff members who joined the team after her, but also to senior staff above her in seniority. I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Andjela Andric to receive this award, as she is a great representation of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, valuing Our People, Our Patients, and Our Identity every shift she works.

Thank you Andjela for being a light for those in our community on their recovery journey, a positive form, and guiding hand.

As part of this nomination, Andjela will be considered for the Outstanding Demonstration of HDGH Values Presidents Award in spring 2020.
The gift of time
Every day, our volunteers enrich the lives of hundreds of patients and their families by giving generously of their time, and contributing to the well-being of our healthcare community, the vitality of our services, and the quality of patients' experiences at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

Representing diverse cultures, age groups, abilities and life experiences, our volunteers complement the professional role of our staff by enhancing services to patients and their families beyond the scope of regular patient care. Some are looking ahead to future careers in healthcare; others are looking back over the rich life experiences that have equipped them for their role as volunteers. Whatever their backgrounds, all of our volunteers are working to support the personal dignity, safety, security and quality care offered in our hospital.

We are excited to share that the ability to become a volunteer at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare has become even more convenient with our new Online Application form.

By visiting hdgh.org/vsapplications potential volunteers can easily follow the necessary steps involved in the application process, including completing the application form that asks basic contact information, past school, work, or volunteer experience, availability, and what drives you to give back to your healthcare community.

We encourage our Windsor-Essex community to consider the impact they can have as a volunteer at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare; your gift of time and energy would be invaluable to our patients and staff. 
Collaborating with CAMH
Last week, we were thrilled to host representatives of the Workplace Violence and Health and Safety committees from  CAMH (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health).

These groups traveled to Windsor to meet with Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare representatives including those from our Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee, Security Department, Addictions Services, and more.

During this meeting we shared some of our best practices and innovations; specifically, the innovations cited by Health Standards Ontario that resulted in our Leading Practice designation as part of our Accreditation process this past June. Some of these innovations include our communications and Zero Tolerance Strategy, the role of our Safe Workplace Advocate, and our threshold case review policy.

We have forged a strong partnership with CAMH and plan to continue to share our respective best practices on a regular basis. It was a tremendous day of learning for all that participated.
Celebrating a year of giving
It was in the late 1800s that Reverend Dean Wagner and the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph (RHSJ) began their philanthropic journey to have a hospital built and operational to help the sick and needy in Windsor.

We often say that the role of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare has not wavered from what it was over 130 years ago and in many ways, the same remains true for the role of our Changing Lives Together Foundation. Whether it be through major gifts, direct mail appeals, planned giving, or supporting our signature events, our Changing Lives Together Foundation is able to fulfill our role of supporting the areas of greatest needs at our organization.

Last week, we celebrated another successful year of giving as dozens of staff, community partners, and donors filled our Brown Auditorium for our Foundation's Annual General Meeting.

At the event we shared the successes of 2018-2019 and gave thanks to all those who made it possible.
Two key supporters of the Changing Lives Together Foundation were honoured:
In honour of Sister Cecile LeBoeuf who dedicated her life to the Sisters of the RHSJ and considered it her mission in her later years to make a difference by supporting small fundraisers on campus, we presented the Sr. Cecile LeBoeuf Spirit of Philanthropy Award to our friends and invaluable supporters, Transition to Betterness (T2B). This award was in recognition of their tireless efforts in improving the care and comfort patients and their families receive. On our campus alone, T2B has gone to great lengths to support our patients first with the incredible gift of a redesigned Palliative Care unit that is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. They further support those on the unit through the T2B comfort carts, blankets, holiday meal programs, and concierge service.

In addition to the work being done on the unit by T2B, this year our campus was gifted an expansion of our Healing Garden to incorporate a lovely statue, the assembly of the grotto from Ouellette Avenue, and future construction of a green house and family kitchen, creating a pleasing place for respite and reflection.
Second, we celebrated the dedicated time, tenacity, wisdom, and passion provided by our departing Foundation Board Chair, Barry Fowler. Thanking him for his support and leadership over these past few years. We look forward to continuing to work with Barry into the future.

It is thanks to these supporters and many more that we are pleased to share that our Changing Lives Together Foundation raised $1,326,049 during the 2018-2019 fiscal year! You can view just some of the many activities hosted by the Foundation in support of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare this past year in the video above.

As we wrap up another year, we would like to thank each and every one of our supporters for their time, financial commitments, and the trust they place in Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare to cultivate a healthier community.
Gift Shop Sale
This December, cross some people off your list or pick up a little something for yourself by shopping our annual Friends and Family Gift Shop sale.

Held on December 2nd, enjoy up to 75% off tons of items in store.

Located at 1453 Prince Rd, Windsor, in the Dr. Y. Emara Centre for Healthy Aging and Mobility.
Solcz Family Foundation
makes transformational donation
Last week, as a result of a transformational $350,000 donation made by the Solcz Family Foundation to the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Changing Lives Together Foundation, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) announced the future availability of Breaking Free™ Online, a virtual care solution for those experiencing substance use disorder in Windsor-Essex. 

"As a funder, one of the biggest responsibilities we have is to educate ourselves on the issues facing our community so we are able to determine exactly where our funds can best serve the population. Substance use disorder has been a significant concern for the local community, so we've made it part of our focus to fund organizations who are leading initiatives to tackle this issue," explains Kyrsten Solcz, Executive Director of the Solcz Foundation. "This virtual care solution will be transformative for our community and will positively impact lives. The Solcz Family Foundation is proud to partner with the HDGH Changing Lives Together Foundation, and OTN to bring this resource to the Windsor-Essex community." 
 
Breaking Free™ Online will be available in 2020 to clients of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare , with the roll out to local service providers following this launch. The tool can assist with early intervention, prevention, or rehabilitation, using electronic behaviour management programs, eliminating the need to attend in-person sessions. Addiction service providers can integrate Breaking Free™ Online as part of their client's overall treatment and be involved through their own online dashboards. 

"This program will provide clients and their providers tools for self-directed treatment. This is not to say that we will rely solely on the clients directing their care, instead, this solution can and will be used in conjunction with clinical support," explains Janice Kaffer, President and CEO of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare . "Part of our work here at HDGH is ensuring that our clients and patients are active members of their care and this solution is one more step in the right direction." 

People who use Breaking Free™ Online can obtain a powerful toolkit of psychoeducation, practical resources and positive coping skills to support their long-term recovery. They have the ability to reduce substance consumption and substance dependence, improve mental health and quality of life, and increase resilience and self efficacy. A demo of the solution can be viewed by visiting:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk1JL5He6u8&feature=youtu.be

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and OTN have partnered together to begin the work of rolling out Breaking Free™ Online. "A plan is being established to connect with healthcare service providers and the community to implement the solution in the Windsor-Essex region through a phased approach," says Laurie Poole, Vice President of Clinical Innovation at OTN. "After the tool is successfully integrated at HDGH next April, we will bring in other community partners as early adopters. The final phase involves scaling the program in the entire region by offering it directly to the residents of Windsor-Essex."