Volume 33 Issue 1 Driscoll Volunteers Do Outstanding Work Feb/March 2018

Right to Left:

Marihelen Boyd President

Susan Webb President Elect

Terri Robertson Recording Sec.

Pat Kring Corresponding Sec.

Anne Baker Treasurer

Beverly Rogers Assist. Treasurer

Barbara Stafford Financial Sec.

Kathy Jenkin Past President

Jane Kisner Parliamentarian

Missing:

Vice President-

Sarah Bickham

Norma Almaraz

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 2

Driscoll Volunteers Do

Outstanding Work

Driscoll Children’s Specialty Center - Brownsville

The Brownsville Auxiliary Volunteers joined together with LaHuan Guthrie for a Special Driscoll Community Luncheon at the

Driscoll Specialty Center in Brownsville.

Welcoming guest speakers were Mrs. Reba Cardenas McNair, Director, Governing Board and Mr. Steve Woerner, President & CEO Driscoll Health System. The keynote speaker was Dr. Ryan Loftin M.D., Maternal Fetal Medicine.

It was a great turn out from our community and a wonderful opportunity to spread the news of what amazing Driscoll doctors we have for the Driscoll patients. Our Specialty Clinic is growing year after year. The Driscoll children from the Rio Grande Valley are receiving exceptional care without having to travel far from home. This is a tremendous step on their road to recovery.

Thank You LaHuan for putting together a beautiful & special event.

Sincerely,

Suzy Spencer, Brownsville Chairperson

Marihelen Boyd, President

Greetings for a New Year with Driscoll Children’s Hospital Auxiliary...

I’m honored to be chosen as your new President and I’ll try to do the best job possible but I will

need all of you to help me. As many of you heard my "tearful" short words... I Love

Driscoll and want to give my best.

I had the fun opportunity to go to the Rio Grande Valley Christmas Luncheon. What an awesome

dedicated group, who are not many, but give a lot. Thank you to all of you in the Valley.

What an awesome Annual Luncheon we had --- food was good, decorations were great and the

camaraderie was tops. That was the culmination of an over the top Christmas season at Driscoll.

Where else would an awesome donor give 85 baskets to our children and families for Christmas,

as well as all the other toys given. Our auxiliary is the best.

In case you missed the luncheon, my goal this year is for every Auxilian to bring in one new person

to join our great group.... and we have a pretty good start on it.

Thanks to all Volunteers and I am looking forward to what next month brings.

Marihelen Boyd, President

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 3

26th Annual Fiesta de los Niños

The American Bank Center Exhibit Hall was packed on Friday, Jan. 26, for the 26th annual Fiesta de los Niños, presented by title sponsor Flint Hills Resources. The ever-popular event featured silent, bidboard, and live auctions, a barbecue dinner, and live

entertainment by country music artist and Corpus Christi native, Roger Creager. Proceeds from this year’s event will help with the successful completion of the new North Pavilion that will house both a new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and new

Outpatient Surgery Center. These projects will add much-needed child-friendly and efficient space to fulfill Driscoll’s mission of offering hope and healing in an environment of trust, compassion and care for the children of South Texas.

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 4

5 Years of Service Award

Cyndy Haby

Pennie Parker

Salinda Vergara

10 Years of Service Award

Beverly Frontera

Joan Benys

Maria Vasquez

Marihelen Boyd

Jake Jacobi

Imelda Garcia

Dot Van Burkleo

20 Years of

Service

Award

Helen Swank

15 Years of

Service

Award

Pat Kring

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 5

The Thursday group at the Gift Shop Volunteer Service Group

WINTER CHALLENGE

During the winter months, cold temperatures can make life challenging for everyone.

1) Avoid Slipping on slick surfaces

Slippery sidewalks and cold weather can cause a wide range of injuries and illnesses -- especially for seniors.Here is some help-ful advice for preventing common winter dangers that the elderly population faces.Make sure to wear shoes with good traction and non-skid soles, and stay inside until the roads are clear. Replace a worn cane tip to making walking easier. Take off shoes as soon as you return indoors because often snow and ice attach to the soles and, once melted, can lead to slippery conditions in-side.

2.) Dress for Warmth

Cold temperatures can lead to frostbite and hypothermia -- a condition where the body temperature dips too low. According to the CDC, more than half of hypothermia-related deaths were of people over the age of 65. Don't let indoor temperatures go too low and dress in layers. Going outside? Wear warm socks, a heavy coat, a warm hat, gloves and a scarf. In very cold tempera-tures, cover all exposed skin. Use a scarf to cover your mouth and protect your lungs.Your body temperature should never dip below 95 degrees -- if it does get medical assistance immediately.

3.) Check the Car

Driving during the winter can be hazardous for anyone. But it is especially dangerous for older people, who may not drive as often anymore or whose reflexes may not be as quick as they once were. Get your car serviced before wintertime hits -- or ask a family member to bring it to a garage for you. Checking things like the oil, tires, battery and wipers can make a big difference on winter roads. Also make sure your AAA membership or similar service, is up-to-date in case of emergencies.

4.) Prepare for Power Outages

Winter storms can lead to power outages. Make sure you have easy access to flashlights and a battery-powered radio in case the power goes out. Stockpile warm blankets. Longer power outages can spoil the food in your refrigerator and freezer so keep a supply of non-perishable foods that can be eaten cold on hand. If the power goes out, wear several layers of clothing, including a hat. Move around a lot to raise your body temperature.

5) Eat a Varied Diet

Because people spend more time indoors and may eat a smaller variety of foods, nutritional deficits -- especially Vitamin D defi-ciency -- can be a problem. Nicole Morrissey, a registered dietician in southwest Michigan, recommends consuming foods that are fortified with Vitamin D, such as milk, grains and seafood options like tuna and salmon.

6) Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Using a fireplace, gas heater or lanterns can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Ensure your safety by checking the batteries on your carbon monoxide detector and buying an updated one if you need to.

The most important tip to keep in mind during the colder months is to ask for help. If you need to clear your property of snow and ice, don't hesitate to ask a family member or neighbor, or hire a professional. Arrange rides to the grocery store and doctor's ap-pointments-many communities have shuttle services specifically for seniors. Finding a caregiver to assist your senior on a regular basis can also help keep them safer all year round. Don't be afraid to reach out for help.

Wintertime certainly poses challenges for seniors, but with a bit of planning and awareness, you will stay healthy and experience the joys of springtime soon enough

Gary Nycum, RN, CPN

Occupational Health Services

Driscoll Children’s Hospital

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 6

Lizette Saenz - Fregoso

Good morning.

Today, on behalf of the Volunteer Services Department and Driscoll Children’s Hospital, I am proud to recognize you all. Be-

cause of you, together we make great things happen for our patients and families at a time when life may not be so easy for

them.

Reflecting on this year, I want to highlight how you continually give back and shine strong.

Art Cart – You shine strong by…engaging patients in the creation of art, whether it helps pass the time or simply nurtures

creativity.

Child Life Volunteers - You shine strong by…interacting with patients, siblings and families in the play areas and at the patient’s

bedside. You help to lessen the difficulties of hospitalization.

The Clowns Who Care – You shine strong by…providing everlasting smiles, and this year you logged 192 patient visits.

Cuddle Club – You shine strong by…providing the added human interaction that helps lead to improved development in our

newborns.

Half-Pint Library - You shine strong by…encouraging literacy and sharing your love of reading through the distribution of books.

The clinic readers made 2,463 patient visits and gave 6,112 books, coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, activity books and

magazines to our patients.

Holiday Card Project – You shine strong by… partnering with 10 retail businesses to promote our new Holiday Box Project,

which helped raise an extra $3,200 as well as awareness of Auxiliary-supported scholarships. We also had the faithful 10 holiday

card sponsors that brought in $15,000.

OR (Operating Room) Holding - You shine strong by…supporting parents and children as they wait for surgery to

begin. Whether you are reassuring a parent or getting a coloring book for a child, your service makes this process a little bit

smoother for everyone concerned.

Ortho Registration Desk - You shine strong by…supporting the Medical Office Specialists as they get patients ready to see the

doctors. This busy area combines clerical work experience along with patient interaction.

Paws Up - You shine strong by… visiting 658 patients, 675 visitors and 458 staff members. What a difference a dog’s visit can

make in the life of a hospitalized child.

Room Service - You shine strong by… delivering movies, magazines and the occasional meal, visiting waiting patients and their

families in the Emergency Department, not to mention running errands and working on projects with the Volunteer Services staff.

School Room - You shine strong by… aiding the classroom teachers as they help keep the patients on target academically

during an illness.

Surgical Waiting Room - You shine strong by… caring for families as they wait for surgery to be completed. You are the

connection between families and medical staff, offering priceless communication and updates.

Toy Room – You shine strong by… giving every admitted child and every birthday child a new toy. The Toy Room volunteers

made more than 300 visits to Day Surgery and the patient floors, giving out more than 9,000 toys and stickers.

Welcome Center - You shine strong by… creating a welcoming atmosphere at the main entrance of the hospital, as well as

providing directional assistance for our guests. Last year, this area saw more than 95,000 visitors.

Cookie Shop – You shine strong by…baking more than 28,000 delicious cookies. That’s 8,000 more cookies than the previous

year, totaling $14,000 in cookie sales alone. The Cookie Shop had their biggest year yet with more than $60,000 in sales. That’s

more than a $12,000 increase from last year.

The Gift Shop - You shine strong by…continuing the shop’s fast pace, grossing more than $550,000. You sold more than 4,500

T-shirts and 750 snack baskets.

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 7

Group made baskets for Valentine's Day

on Tuesday February 14th, 2018

Mark these dates down and come and join us for a good time!!!

For Easter on April 1st, 2018 Basket Making Date will be Tuesday March 20th, Auditorium 12:30 to 4:30. For Administrative Assistant Day (Secretaries Day) on April 25th, 2018 Basket Making Date will be Tuesday April 17th, Auditorium 12:30 to 4:30. For Bosses Day on October 16th, 2018 Basket Making Date will be Tuesday October 2th, Auditorium 12:30 to 4:30.

The Cottage Shop - You shine strong by…earning more than $150,000. In October you hit an all-time monthly high of $18,000.

Even with the months of construction, you still made a profit for the year. You also continue to provide more than $1,000 worth of

vouchers (for those of you who don’t know, this is free clothing/merchandise) to our families to help meet their needs during a

hospital stay.

This year you volunteered more than 46,000 priceless hours! This has a monetary value of about $1 million and is equivalent to

the work of 24 full-time employees. We love and appreciate that you put your own time aside in order to help others. There is

truly no kinder act.

During 2017, your notable contributions include:

· $500 for gift items to celebrate A Patient’s Final Day of Chemo and A Patient’s Final Day of Dialysis.

· $1,500 to the Council of Hospital Volunteers for Nursing Scholarships.

· $2,450 in order to bring bowling back for our kidney patients at Camp Rock’n. You helped to fund transportation to and

from the bowling alley, as well as souvenir T-shirts.

· $3,000 to Radio-thon.

· $10,000 to the annual Neonatal Intensive Care Unit reunion.

· $10,000 to the annual “Remembering Our Children” memorial event.

· $12,000 to the Emergency Department for installation of televisions in each patient room while waiting to be seen.

· $21,400 to Driscoll’s Summer Camps Program. This donation allowed 40 DCH patients with chronic illnesses a chance

to make friends and share experiences with other young patients with similar illnesses.

· $30,000 to purchase toys for the toy room as well as for three of the Driscoll’s satellite clinics.

· $50,000 as part of the 5-year, $250,000 commitment to the Futures Bright Building Campaign.

· $71,250 in patient and Volunteen scholarships, which include:

o $16,500 - Clara Spirit Teen

o $24,750 – Marcia K. Wilcox

o $30,000 – Dr. James Duff

· And a donation of $75,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon.

You will never know the profound effect that you may have made on a person’s life. A kind word, a gentle touch or a listening ear

can mean so much to someone who is lonely, sick or in pain. You generously give of your time to provide support, encourage-

ment and sometimes humor, to make someone’s day a bit more bearable because you have taken the time to care and to listen.

Your support, skills, talents and abilities give so many the hope, strength and courage to face another day.

I thank you, and I appreciate your commitment to Driscoll Children’s Hospital.

Be on the lookout in the next couple of months for my end of the year Rio Grande Valley volunteer report. I look forward to cele-

brating with you in March at your annual luncheon. I’m also looking forward to another amazing year with you.

Lizette Saenz – Fregoso

Director of Volunteer Services

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 8

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GIFT SHOP

TEAM FOR A MOST SUCCESSFUL

VALENTINE SEASON.

In late January a team of volunteers made 80 beautiful baskets. A huge thank you goes to this team: Margaret Meinecke, Beverly Rogers, Anne Baker, Kathy Jenkin, Pat Kring, Dot Van Burkleo, Susan Webb, Skip and Beverly Frontera. Thank you Barbara Stafford for lining up this team and thank you Marihelen Boyd for getting the snacks

here. This team helped the Gift Shop in a huge way.

RECORD BREAKING DAY/WEEK IN THE COOKIE SHOP

AMAZING is the BEST word to describe this Tuesday team effort on the last Tuesday of January. This team sold t-shirts, cookies and almost anything else to our customers to break this record. We could not be more proud of Gay Keeble, Norma Almaraz,

Averill Walters, Pat and Jim Covington.

THE GREAT COOKIE SHOP TEAM BAKED THEIR HEARTS OUT! Thanks to Norma for starting the team off at 7 in the morning on Valentines. Then Diane Pretzer and Melvin Kronk joined them to bake over 30 dozen cookies for our special orders and customers. When Pat and Jim Covington got here, they manned the cookie table baking cookies in the lobby. To say the least the chocolate aroma was heavenly. Zac Lail and Jennifer Olalde worked the Cookie Shop and did a ton of business in that shop

too.

The days before actual Valentine’s Day were all extra busy days for the volunteers. Everyone that worked those days did an outstanding job in delivering the best customer service. Kathy Herrman and

Ben Tintera baked up the cookie orders plus waited on a

ton of customers in the Cookie Shop.

The Tuesday evening team of teens with Leonor Braswell

and Erin Gonzales in the Gift Shop really made that night happen.

The 2 t-shirts that we sold for the Valentine season were terrific sellers. We intro-duced a pink long and short sleeve in late January. In early February, we introduced a new black “Sweet Hearts” t-shirt. The black shirt had 3 designers from rehab that made the sales even sweeter.

Thanks to Pat Kring for working 2 full days in the back room organizing the special orders. Gracie Cooley was a bonus on Tuesday. Delivery folks

delivered not only flowers, balloons, fresh baked cookies and baskets, but LOTS of SMILES. The team included Selda Scott, Leeza Stephens, Jules Hardendoff, Susan Webb, Kathy

Jenkin, Kathy Herrman and Jake Jacobi.

Come see us soon; we have new spring fashions and new items arriving daily.

Enjoy every day!!

Kathyk, Manager

Selda Scott donated

a large beautiful

cookie bouquet for a

door prize.

The winner was

Mary Alice Gatica

from Oncology.

The Cottage Shop fiscal year ended on January 31, 2018, with sales totaling $152,335. This is an impressive figure considering the fact that everything that is sold in the shop has been donated by individuals or by local businesses. The shop also faced major hospital construction in our area for several months earlier in the year, but our loyal customers still found their way to our door! We are grateful and feel very blessed by this fact!

January 2018 sales totaled $12,378 with $4,469 in payroll deductions and $301 in vouchers honored. We welcome new

volunteers Analee Gonzalez and Taylor Tunches.

We congratulate volunteer Kathy Jenkin who has just completed her year as president of the hospital Auxiliary! She did an

outstanding job of leading “The Stars That Light the Future”! Congratulations to Imelda Garcia and Dot Van Burkleo who

received their 10 Year Service Awards at the recent Annual Meeting. Lydia Bluntzer, Becky Bowers and Rosie Hinojosa

received their 5 Year Awards.

Easter will be arriving on April 1 this year; so in early February, Easter items were placed on the sales floor. We have decora-tions, cards, cuddly stuffed animals and other neat things! Come in and browse around the shop and pick out what you need to get ready for Easter and springtime! The soft pastel colors are quite welcome after the cold weather we’ve experienced this win-ter! We are also moving Spring and Summer clothing to the floor.

Many donations have been received since the first of the year by local individuals. We are most appreciative of their continued support! Gatherings, a local business on Alameda made several donations in February. Business donors, like Gatherings are very important in helping us keep a variety of unique merchandise on the floor. “The Cottage Shop Angel” blessed the shop again with a wonderful donation of jewelry and holiday decorations.

Please come by for a visit and see all of the new seasonal merchandise we have available now! You’ll always receive a warm welcome from our team of volunteers!

Susan Barnett, Manager

Barbara Jue and Theresa Shea, Co-chairs

News

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 9

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 10

Perception

Optimists Don’t Know What it’s Like to Have Bad Luck.

Reality

They most definitely experience adversity, but they see the silver lining, says Steven M. Southwick, M.D. coauthor of

Resilience. “Instead of catastrophizing a situation, optimists tend to take a step back and keep things in perspective,” he

says. Suppose you bungle a presentation. Instead of writing it off as terrible, optimists frame it as, “That was bad. How can I do better in the future?”

Experts believe you can develop this type of resilience. “We often over predict how extreme and long-lasting our negative emotions will be,” says Robert L. Leathy, Ph.D. Director of the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy and author of The Worry Cue. Circumstances don’t drive happiness. It’s your response. For instance, there’s more than one way to react to a test that didn’t go well. An optimist thinks, “Maybe I didn’t study hard enough. I’ll do it differently next time.”

In other words, you didn’t fail; your approach did, and you’ll think of other strategies to try.

Student Spotlight

This month we are shining the Student Spotlight on our teen volunteer, Jeremiah Guy-Williams. Jeremiah is a senior at Moody High School and is involved in many clubs and activities. His favorites include the National Technical Honor Society, the AVID Mentor Program, the University Interscholastic League, and the Triumph Over Kid Cancer Club which he founded and

continues to lead. Jeremiah has been serving at Driscoll since the summer of 2015 and has over 500 hours of service.

There are so many things about Jeremiah that make him a fantastic volunteer! He always has a smile, a positive attitude, and a

true heart for service. He is a huge help every Saturday in the Gift Shop and always says yes to any project, request, or

assignment. Jeremiah is a natural leader and his kindness and compassion is apparent in his interactions with customers as

well as other volunteers.

We are shining the spotlight on Jeremiah this month as we proudly announce that he has been accepted to the Business School at the University of Texas in Austin. Jeremiah has not only been offered a $48,000 scholarship to pay for his tuition, but he is also a finalist for the Terry Foundation Scholarship which will pay all of his expenses including tuition, room and board, and books.

Jeremiah says that his experience at Driscoll has taught him so much about

having empathy towards others. He enjoys his role in the Gift Shop and says, “I love being a part of something that makes each customer’s day a little bit

brighter… That’s what counts.”

We are so proud of our shining student, Jeremiah, for his accomplishments and his dedication to his community and to the patients and families at Driscoll. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Jeremiah and wish him all of the best along his journey.

Submitted by Andrea L. Czartorysk

Volunteer Coordinator

(Part 2 of a 4 part series)

Jeremiah accepts his award with his grandparents,

Mr. and Mrs. Williams.

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 11

Educational Opportunities Please call 694-5011 or e-mail

volunteer@dchstx.org to register

Driscoll Way Training

Required for every adult volunteer and every

Year-Round Volunteen

Part I - S.T.A.R.T. with Heart - March 29th

Part II - Respond with H.E.A.R.T - March 29th

Held in Furman I Conference Room

Annual Orientation Refresher To ensure Joint Commission compliance, all volun-

teers will be required to attend an

Annual Orientation Refresher. Each year your

refresher will be due the month you

attended in the previous year.

Choose one of the following:

New Volunteer Orientation session offered the

first Wednesday or third Saturday of each month,

5:00pm - 6:30pm.

Orientation Refresher during Gift Shop or Cottage

Shop training (if you volunteer in one of these

areas) lasting only 15-20

minutes.

Cuddle Club Training Third Tuesday, 9:30am, Third Floor

Child Life Training Last Wednesday of the Month @ 3pm

Thinking of You

Pat Kring

Lina Rocha

Rebecka Gonzales

Linda Woods

Yvette Barbola Child Life, Welcome Center

Janet Daehne Gift Shop

Lauren Denny Child Life, Cuddle Club

Bethany Fricks Child Life, Cuddle Club

Christina Garcia Cookie Shop, Cottage Shop

Rachel Mapa Book Cart and Cuddle Club

Ileana Pabon Ortho/Neuro, Toy Room

Danielle Smith Child Life, Cuddle Club

Samantha Aguirre 2016

Caleb Cano 2017

Ellen Carruthers 2007

Kimberly Cifuentes 2017

Ted Daniel 2015

Heather Double 2011

Erica Frosch 2017

Clarissa Garcia 2017

Shania Garcia 2017

Adelina Garza 2005

Dionicio Garza 2005

Emily Gaytan 2016

Jules Hardendorf 2017

Paityn Havelka 2017

Mary Hyde-Hinojosa 2014

Kathy Jenkin 2009

Matthew Klabonski 2016

Alexa Lara 2017

Victoria Longo 2016

Esequiel Perez 2005

Debra Phillips 2017

Carolina Ramirez 2017

Gerry Reeves 1999

John Rodriguez 2016

Arianna Romero 2017

Stephanie Romero 2017

Josiah Salinas 2017

Caitlin Shook 2007

Brigid Sorrell 2017

Karen Springer 2000

Jialu Sun 2017

Maria Wolfe 2017

Marisa Ybarra 2014

Hannah Young 2017

Gabriela Young 2016

Frances Rocha 3/01

Renee Shapiro 3/01

Gwen Veltri 3/02

Richard Alaniz 3/06

Carla Blevins 3/06

Victoria Longo 3/08

Salinda Vergara 3/09

Marivelle Acosta 3/13

Carlos Carroll 3/15

Rick Garcia 3/15

Yaritza Almaguer 3/17

Gloria Martinez 3/17

Sally Moron 3/17

Kelly Richards 3/20

Terri Robertson 3/20

Dora Pena 3/22

Laurie Plant 3/25

Avery Papp-Jones 3/26

Hannah Young 3/26

Sue Barley 3/29

Kayla Buchi 3/31

If you know a fellow volunteer who does things The Driscoll Way, Volunteer Services would like to hear about it. Fill out a Driscoll Way Service Star nomination form, call 694-5011 or just send us an e-mail at volunteer@dchstx.org.

Volume 33 Issue 1 Page 12

Auxiliary to

Driscoll Children’s Hospital

3533 South Alameda

Corpus Christi, TX 78411

Phone: (361) 694-5011

Fax: (361) 808-2096

volunteer@dchstx.org

www.driscollchildrens.org

Auxilian Designer and Editor: Margaret Meinecke, Volunteer

Proofreader: Volunteer and Volunteer Service Office

To submit articles or information for publication, turn them in to the Volunteer Services office

or EMAIL to auxiliary.newsletter@dchstx.org

Deadline to submit is the second Thursday of the month.

Volunteer Service Star Award

This month, we would like to recognize Dot Van Burkleo for the Volunteer Service Star Award. Dot has been volunteering at Driscoll for over ten years and has served over 6,000 hours. She is very dedicated to her Monday afternoon position in the Cottage Shop. Dot writes the Cottage Shop ‘sales and goings-on’ article for the Auxilian monthly newsletter and she is always willing to help when we close the shop and change the season. She takes home donated clothes that have small stains and cleans them so that they can be sold and make more money for DCH. She makes the best Spinach Dip in town! Dot is also regularly involved with the basket making projects for the Gift Shop, helping to ensure that each basket is filled with goodies and created with love. Dot does all of this with a smile and good attitude. She is a true Volunteer Service Star and we are very grateful for her service to our patients, families, and visitors here at Driscoll.