Download - Shepherd Center January 2011 Newsletter
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Were Not Horsing Around! Hippotherapy Comes to Shepherd Center
Shepherd has a reputation for always looking for diverse therapies maximize the rehabilitation of its patients, and the use of Equine Assist
Therapy (also known as hippotherapy) is no exception.
About a year ago Michelle Nemeth, a Research Scientist here at Shephe
connected her friend Anne Preston (the founder and Director of Stride Ahea
Inc., a therapeutic riding program at Little Creek Farms in Decatur, Ga.) w
Katie Krauseneck in Recreational Therapy. The idea of using hippothera
with Shepherd patients began to develop! After months of planning by o
staff, this type of therapeutic recreation is now used three Wednesdays
month at the Decatur stable with appropriate patients who have multi
sclerosis or a spinal cord injury.
Although therapeutic horseback riding is led by a certied riding therapist with a goal of better horsemaship by the rider, hippotherapy is quite different. It must be led by an occupational therapist, physical ther
pist, or speech therapist, with the goal of facilitating neurophysiologic systems in the participant.
To the uneducated eye of a visitor, a patient atop one of the trained therapy horses may look like they a
ust along for the ride, and not gaining any benet. To the contrary, this treatment strategy is very effect
n achieving functional outcomes. Horses movements are used to facilitate systems that support daily
ng skills. Among other things, participants increase trunk strength, control, and balance, and build postu
strength and endurance.
Volunteer Services is thrilled that a volunteer assisted during the pilot portion of this program, and we no
have an opening in this ongoing program. If you have a passion for contributing to the rehabilitation of a clie
n an outdoor setting and are comfortable around horses, please contact Alex Seblatnigg, Volunteer Manag
at [email protected] or 404-350-7316 to learn more.
January
2011
VOLUNTEERnewsA Newsletter for the Shepherd Auxiliary & Volunteers
Therapists work alongside a patient
uring a hippotherapy session.
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from theAUXILIARYPRESIDENT
Dear Auxiliary Members,
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a happy and
healthy holiday season and are off to a great startin 2011.
Pecans on Peachtree 2010 is now behind us and
I would like to take this opportunity to thank every-
one who helped make this fundraising effort another
huge success. First of all, I want to thank all of the
Shepherd employees who helped us with logistics,
security, technology, promotion and of course, pur-
chasing pecans, too. Midge Tracy, Gale Eckstein,
and Alex Seblatnigg, all from Volunteer Services,
are always supportive and assist us in a variety of
ways. We could not function without them and all
the other Shepherd employees!
Our own Candy Sugarman is amazing and runs
the website, phones, shipping and accounting
for Pecans along with a host of other things! She
continues to be a treasure to the Auxiliary and we
appreciate her so much. Mary Kay Howard took
on the HUGE job of scheduling all the volunteers.
She did an incredible job and we cannot thank her
enough! She makes it all look so easy.
Our Day Captains worked hard assisting Candy,managing daily shifts, labeling, pulling orders and
keeping the sales locations running smoothly. This
year we were fortunate to have Bonnie Capsuto,
Maureen Escott, Debbie Goot, Ann Kay, Mary
Sue Howard, Anne Jones, Molly Lanier, Valerie
Sikes, Linda Stephens and Jane Ulicny serve as
Day Captains. Jane also served as Consignment
Chair and delivered pecans to multiple sales loca-
tions. Thank you to each of them for their weekly
commitment!
We also were pleased to have pecan parties hostedby Emory Schwall, Buck Rogers and Angie Shagi-
naw. They graciously opened their homes to their
friends and family to celebrate the holidays and to
purchase pecans. We thank each of them for their
generosity. Thanks also goes to the members who
worked at these parties: Mary Sue Howard, Betsy
Cozine, Midge Tracy and Jane Ulicny. Wed also
like to thank the following pecan business
partners who either sold pecans at their places
of business or allowed Auxiliary members to sel
pecans: Coca-Cola, Canterbury Court, Carter
Barnes Phipps Plaza, Carter Barnes Paces
Ferry, Felicity Hair Design Salon, Westminster
School and Woo Cosmetics. Bart Marks and
Mary Sue Howard sold at Canterbury Court and
Mary Kay Howard and Carol Olsen sold at
Coca-Cola.Last but not least, a BIG thank you to everyone
who volunteered to work a Pecans on Peachtree
shift. Many of you worked multiple times! We
absolutely could not take on this project without
your time, commitment and energy. You are what
makes this fundraiser complete!!!
The following members and volunteers worked
at least one shift: Cookie Aftergut, Lesa Bell,
Marla Bennett, Polly Bowman, Bee Breiten-
bach, Bonnie Capsuto, Kathy Caputo, Cathy
Compton, Betsy Cozine, Maureen Escott, LoraFishman, Diann Gillenson, Debbie Goot, Larry
Greenberg, Randa Hamdan, Ann Kay, Mary
Kay Howard, Mary Sue Howard, Anne Jones,
Carol Jones, Betty Kreimer, Molly Lanier,
Bart Marks, Karen Mathews, Barbara McArdle,
Queen Noreiga, Phyllis Nygaard, Gwin Oliver,
Carol Olsen, Lois Puckett, Shirley Rich, Bun-
ny Rosenberg, Jennifer Sauers, Valerie Sikes,
Eiren Steele, Linda Stephens, Gloria Stone, Ja-
net Sunshine, Jan Thurston, Midge Tracy, AnnieYork-Trujillo, Jane Ulicny, Sandy Unruh, June
Weitnauer, Cheryl Watkins, and Ginny Wolf.
Wed like to offer special thanks to CB Richard
Ellis, our Pecan Partner. Each year they send us
wonderful volunteers to staff the sales kiosk, and
we appreciate their continued support.
I think I have included everyone but please
forgive me (and let me know) if I have left anyone
off. Pecans on Peachtree is a group effort and we
appreciate everyones contributions. We should
know just how successful we were in time for mynext letter.
Have a warm and wonderful January and Ill see
you around the Center!
Sincerely,
Marla Bennett
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January is a time to look at the year ahead with fresh perspective and set goals for
ourselves. Some are lofty, others are funny, but they give us a sense of purpose as
we usher in a new year. What will you resolve to do in 2011?
Chuck Nicolaysen (Patient Tutor) - to make a contribution in some way that the
world may be a better place because I did something worthwhile. Jeff Savier (Lo-
comotor) - to earn a position as a Physical Therapist aide. Holly Kelly (Patient
Tutor) - to listen more and talk less. Ted Denning (Locomotor) - to graduate with
my Bachelor of Science in Recreation Therapy from Western Carolina University,
become a Certied Recreational Therapy Specialist, then become a recreational therapist and complete
my journey from Shepherd Center patient with a traumatic brain injury, to Shepherd Center volunteer for
3+ years, to recreational therapist working with fellow traumatic brain injury survivors. Betsy Cozine
(Auxiliary) to designate my time more wisely next year and save a little more time for my painting.
Linda Stephens and Alice Patterson (Breakfast Feeders) to get airway training so Bill Pritchard
and Zach Wilson dont have to do all the airway feedings themselves. Kiel Voight (Locomotor) - to
run my rst marathon. Zada Weston-Hill (Welcome Desk) to build great mental and spiritual health
with a positive attitude while achieving better physical health. James Curtis (Foundation) - to be the
best I can be for Shepherd Center. In the past, I have beneted as an outpatient from Shepherd Center
I want to continue showing my appreciation.
When their daughter completed nursing school and joined thestaff in the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Unit of Shepherd in 2007
Bruce and Laura Allen had no way of knowing that they would
one day become volunteer Peer Visitors there. However, it was
not their daughters budding career that brought them to Shep-
herd; it was Bruces unexpected brain injury.
In December of 2007, Bruce started having trouble complet-
ing basic daily tasks. He had undergone routine outpatient sur-
gery just three weeks earlier, and now doctors discovered a fast-growing infection that had spread to his brain and was wreaking
havoc. After surgery and weeks of recovery, Bruce was admitted
to Shepherds ABI Unit. During his stay, his wife Laura attended
the weekday ABI Support Group meeting, where family members could ask questions, share concerns
and experience empathy. As Bruce continued his recovery both at Pathways and at home, they both felt
that the Lord was leading them to encourage and support other families in similar circumstances.
Eventually the Allens trained with Ann Boriskie, Director of the Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association.
They become part of her team of volunteer Peer Visitors, initiating a second weekly ABI Support Group
meeting at Shepherd on the weekend. It was well attended from the very beginning, as even working
family members could nd time to participate on Saturdays.
The Allens complex life experiences, caring hearts, and great communication skills are an excellentmatch for families supporting a loved one that has sustained a brain injury. We are very grateful they
continue to reach out to others as ABI Peer Visitors throughout the year, sharing their story of healing
and hope.
Starting with a Clean Slate: Whats Your New Years Resolution?
Peer Visitors Laura and Bruce Allen greet
ABI patient family members.
Volunteer Spotlight: Peer Visitors Bruce and Laura Allen
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Above: Carol Malia helps
decorate the Shepherd
Center walkway for the
holiday season.
Right: Damaris Alvarado
from Courtyard MarriottMidtown greets family
member Maria Cook at the
Family Brunch.
Scott Sikes, Executive Director, Shepherd Center FoundationMidge Tracy, Director, Volunteer Services
Alex Seblatnigg, Volunteer Manager & Newsletter Co-editor
Gale Eckstein,Volunteer Services Assistant & Newsletter Co-editor
Membership in the Shepherd Center Auxiliary, Peach Corps, SCS,
and Junior Committee is open to all volunteers. Members provide
ongoing fundraising and volunteer support to Shepherd Center.
For more information on becoming a member of one of these
groups, contact Midge Tracy at (404) 350-7315 or visit www.
shepherd.org.
Shepherd Centers mission is to help people with a temporary or
permanent disability caused by injury or disease rebuild their lives
with hope, independence, and dignity, advocating for their full
inclusion in all aspects of community life while promoting safety
and injury prevention.
VOLUNTEERnews
spotlight
Left: Auxiliary members wrap b
kets for Shepherd Center patien
- an annual holiday gift from the
Auxiliary. Front row: Ginny Wo
Bart Marks, Ellie Bernhardt, and
Mitzi Richardson. Back row: BeCozine, Mary Sue Howard, Mar
Bennett, Barbara McArdle, Sand
Unruh, and Linda Stephens.
Left: Dr. Lewis
Wheaton and his
son, Lewis Wheat
Jr., donated dozen
of toys to entertain
visiting children in
Family Lounge.
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Holiday Happenings at Shepherd Center
Members of the Ft. McPherson Band played beautiful holidaymusic for our patients, family members and staff.
Jan Stair from Peachtree GardenClub adds the nishing touch toholiday decorations in the cafeteria
Volunteer Lynne Elander works with a patient atthe Holiday Art Clinic.
Volunteer Anne Muller-Wise strings beads at thHoliday Art Clinic.
Left: Kathy Healy,volunteer masseuse,shares holiday cheer
with a patient familymember.
Right: RebeccaBaker, JessicaHarrison, and AliciaDunn from FaireldInn & Suites got intothe holiday spiritwhen they hosted aFamily Brunch.
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Top left: Singers fromAcademe of the Oaks sang
Christmas carols in the cafeteria and put us all in a
festive mood.
Top center: Volunteer Amy Bartholomew readies her
station at the Holiday Art Clinic.
Top right: Credit Suisse employees spent an after-
noon decorating gingerbread houses with patients and
their families.
Right: Dr. Leslie thanks the volunteer gift wrappers
from Accord Services.
Holiday Happenings at Shepherd Center
Above: Members of the Peachtree Garden Club decorated
the cafeteria for the holidays.
Center Right: Dan Miears of Accord Services wraps gifts
with a smile for patient family member Tena Testerman.
Right: Carolers from Christ Church serenaded patients and
their families.