shepherd center january 2011 newsletter

8/8/2019 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.


2/6

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

[email protected]


3/6

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


4/6

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.

shepherd center january 2011 newsletter

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