Torrance Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary

Between Us The Healing Garden

December 2014 Vol. 61 Issue 12

President’s Message 2014

What?? It's December already? Where did the year go? This year has passed by so quickly. What a year for me! Thank you for letting me serve as your President for this fascinating year. I have enjoyed every moment that I spent at Torrance Memorial. I have tried to participate in as many events/meetings/trainings/trips as I could, so that I could meet with as many volunteers and staff as I possibly could. I am very glad that the Lundquist Tower opened six months earlier than scheduled, so I could participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event. On November, 1, the new gift shop was opened for the employees, physicians, volunteers and their families during the Lundquist Tower Open House. Although the new POS system was not yet ready to go “live,” we still had a pretty good day and made lots of sales. The Clown School Graduation took place on November 4. Joyce Payne, Evelyn Silverman and Judy Fullenwider did a great job teaching this class. I enjoyed the student clowns’ individual performances. Hopefully, a few of them will join the Auxiliary and become our own special clowns. On Sunday, November 16, the Lundquist Tower officially opened for business. Patients were moved from the main tower starting at 6:00 a.m. It was a hectic and exciting day for everyone involved. Although we had a few "hiccups" here and there, overall it was a successful move and all the patients were safely transferred to their new private rooms. The magnificent new Gift Shop also opened for business on November 16. Everyone was so impressed with how gorgeous it looked. The displays are out of this world. If you haven’t yet done so, you have to come and see it for yourself, and do some holiday season shopping. “Good job” to all those who helped decorate and worked to make the gift shop ready to open. The bake sale was a huge success! Thank you to all you "bakers" and to all those who helped organize the event, not to mention everyone who participated. My favorite general meeting/luncheon this year will be held on December 12. It will be so nice to see all the Past Presidents again. The food will no doubt be delicious and the entertainment will be superb. In late October, I had another opportunity to attend the Community Benefits Meeting. Sally Eberhard expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who helped with the Grand Opening events. She said there were volunteers everywhere, and that without us, it would not have been a successful event. We had over 2000 community members visit The Lundquist Tower on September 19 and 20. Also at this meeting, Dr. McNamara (Sr. VP and Chief Medical Officer) updated us on the Ebola situation and assured us that Torrance Memorial is well prepared if an Ebola case comes up. The stage is already set for a great start for 2015 as Beth Zager and her new Board head into the next year. Come and join us in welcoming this new group of volunteer leaders as we install them in office at our 2015 Annual meeting and luncheon on Jan 6. I hope to see you all there. Happy Holidays and best to all in 2015.

Schola Tsai

Schola Tsai

From the Director’s Desk Mary Matson

Welcome to the Lundquist Tower! The time has finally arrived that we have all prepared for so diligently. As I spent time in the new tower during its first days, the word that kept coming to mind is “alive”. The tower that was once a construction site became a building that is now a living, breathing facility full of people coming for medical services, registering for admission, visiting patients, eating in our café, shopping in the gift shop, and taking solace in our healing garden and chapel. Whether or not you perform volunteer service in the Lundquist Tower, I hope you are enjoying this spectacular building. I cannot thank you enough for all you have done to bring us to this momentous occasion in Torrance Memorial’s history. For months you have helped us prepare for this moment in time. If you were here for the Move Day you know what a special day that was as our patients were moved and settled in their new rooms. It was an arduous yet remarkable day. Just before I left that evening I sat at the Grand Lobby information desk taking it all in. You would never know we had just moved in that day. Everything had quieted down and I felt like the Lundquist Tower was all tucked in for the night. As I pulled out of the employee lot across the street I looked at the tower as I have done many times during its construction and realized it was full of patients for the first time. I felt a surge of emotion as I drove down Lomita Boulevard, as I do now as I write this. Thank you again for your commitment to Torrance Memorial. You stepped up in so many ways to support us and continue to do so as we get our new service areas on their feet. I also appreciate the encouragement you have shown to me and our hardworking Volunteer Services staff during the homestretch to the new tower. Let me take this opportunity to thank them as well for their hard work. They are the best! I hope you all enjoy some down time during the holidays celebrating with family and friends. Happy Holidays to all!

Mary

Mary Matson

Lundquist Tower Move Day! Welcome to the Lundquist Tower

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Welcome to the Lundquist Tower

"The 2nd Happiest Place On Earth" Torrance Memorial Clown School

By Allen Scarpetti

A class of twelve recently graduated from Clown School here at Torrance Memorial. They be among the happy clowns seen in patient rooms, hallways, elevators and cafeterias, (yes, clowns eat, too!). This class is now among the 130+ clowns that have come through Clown School and graduated under the leadership of Joyce Payne and her nucleus of leaders. At the core of every one of our clown's heart is love, and it is within each of them the desire to put a happy face, a smile, a grin or whatever you call it, on the faces or our patients, family, friends, visitors and our Torrance Memorial staff and volunteers. When our clowns are not on the campus, they can be found participating annually in the American Heart Association Heartwalk, Tour de Cure (for Diabetes), National Clown Week and several South Bay Community Parades.

1st row (left to right) "“Freckles" Evelyn Silverman (Instructor), " “Daisy"“ Angela Jussen, "“Lulu" Stephanie Higa, "“Twinkle Toes"“ Priscilla Streisand, "“Giggles"“ Cynthia Lewis (Instructor), "“Sam the Party Clown"“ Samuel McAllister, "“Joy" the Clown” Joyce Payne (Instructor), " “Granny"“ Diane Roosth, "“Ichi Michi" Warner Adachi, "“Grandma Buttons"“ Wilma Lopez. 2nd row (left to right) "“Zap"“ Willie Jussen, "“Benji"“ Dennis Bosch.

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From the Gift Shop

November 16 was a grand day! Patients moved into their new rooms in the Lundquist Tower and our Gift Shop opened. It looks absolutely beautiful and makes the Grand Lobby shine. You will be amazed and proud. Gift Shop volunteers have been busy, busy, busy. We thank them for the long hours they spent in making the shop so attractive and so welcoming! Please make sure you take time to visit and to shop! There are many unique gifts. A correction to last month’s article. The Opportunity Drawings will continue until Tuesday, Dec. 23. Buy some tickets and you might be lucky to win a beautiful holiday decoration. We send you our wishes for a warm, wonderful and blessed holiday. And a joyous New Year.

Jeannine Frandsen Spirit White Co-Manager Co-Manager

KINDNESS KORNER

While working at the Day Surgery Registration Desk, on Tuesday morning, I was approached by three nice young ladies. One of them, that was registering for her surgery, handed me a large handbag that they found at the entrance to the lobby, and were hoping to find its owner. I kept it at the Registration Desk where it would be in my site. About 15 minutes later, an elderly gentleman, who appeared quite upset, approached the Registration Desk asking about a handbag that had been left by the door. I showed him the handbag the three ladies turned in, and instantly he was relieved! He approached the three young ladies who were involved and attempted to award them all with a financial gift, which I knew they'd refuse - and they did! It was a perfect end to a simple demonstration of the good side of people. Betty Andersen Day Surgery Desk

Have Volunteers Will Travel

Kerry & Bill Eyre; Niagara Falls, Canada October, 2014

Pete & Lindsay Inwalle on a Vespa. Tuscany, Italy September, 2014

Betty Anderson visits: Biltmore Estate Asheville, North Carolina October, 2014 (Right) U.S. Space Center (NASA); Huntsville, Alabama - October, 2014

Save The Date

Installation of Officers Luncheon & General Meeting January 6, 2015 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Coming Soon February, 2015 America's Funniest Videos Taping Raleigh Studios, Manhattan Beach

December Birthdays The following volunteers have birthdays in December. During their birthday month, active volunteers receive a 20 percent discount in the Gift Shop. You only receive the discount once during your birthday month. So, stop and buy yourself something special. If you have a birthday in December and do not see your name listed, please contact the Volunteer Services department.

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December

*Inactive Volunteers

1 * Keri Folks 1 Sonia McCoy 1 Adela Moreno-Saenz 1 Nadine Walker 2 Karl Jackson 2 Nancy Tomlinson 2 Arlene Zingery 3 Betty Jane Holtz 3 Melody Sprague 3 Jenna Tong 5 * Marylen Ruston 5 Laura Wallace 6 Lorrie Marino 7 Tillie Imamura 7 * Jenene Schafenacker 7 * Cheryl Todd 8 Doris Garber 8 Denise Navarrette 9 Neil Bautista

11 Carolyn Boettcher 11 Mimi Brody 11 * Kate Ponsen 11 Nel Stingley 12 Louise Colin 12 Mary Schaal 12 Della Weinhuff 13 Barbara Gauthier 13 Katie O'Brien 13 Evelyn Silverman 13 * Karen Whitehead 14 * Dale Karls 14 Barbara Mintz 14 Sahar Rupani 15 * Era Burgos 15 Kim Mizushima 15 Stuart Wilson 16 * Linda Prodromides 17 Rosemary Doll

17 Bruce Dolph 17 Wanda Yao 18 Jay Fodor 18 Gail Long 18 NorLu Longtin 18 Merla Wilson 19 * Barbara Cameron 19 Mary Ann Krauss 19 Jack Newman 19 Gail Quinn 21 Vanessa Arreguin 22 * Diane Augur 22 * Susan Lohn 23 * Shera Dolmatz-Finkel 23 * Jean Simril 23 Nancy Tanaka 23 Sandra Waters 24 * Shirley Florez 24 Jerry Funt

25 * Mary Crocker 25 * Carol Hull 26 * Betty Belsky 26 * Donna Bunn 26 * Marilyn Cohen 26 Pat Marlowe 26 Stephanie Sung 27 Jill Goodman 28 Brittany Christian 28 Madelene Francis 28 Rosemary Jangaard 28 Christian Shazad 29 * Mary Quilling 30 Lois Chapman 30 Tess Marquez 30 Priscilla Streisand 31 Joe Burrow 31 * Eileen Mahoney 31 * Karen Pano

Lundquist Tower Gift Shop Family & Friends Day

Volunteer Foot Bootie Party — Lundquist Tower

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Gift Shop Fantastic Fashion Show! Everyone was dressed up for the annual Gift Shop Fashion Show Luncheon. The tables were decorated with beautiful orange mums that looked like mini pumpkins. There were also several door prizes for the Opportunity Drawing. The menu of pumpkin soup and turkey Waldorf salad complemented the fashion show theme. The fashion show committee and our lovely models did a fabulous job preparing and executing all the details that were necessary for a wonderful afternoon. Thank you to all! Valerie Punzal Program Chairperson

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The Story of Twinkle Toes By Allen Scarpetti

As a young child and into her teens, Priscilla Streisand was a very shy person. It was in her early twenties that she was introduced to Greek music. It was at that time that she got up the courage to try dancing, including belly dancing, salsa, cumbia and even the hokey pokey. She loved it all, and it would stay with her for the rest of her life. As time went on, Priscilla found her passion as a pediatric nurse. She worked in the pediatric ward and in the office. She loves being around people and as a pediatric nurse she learned how to be empathetic, kind, loving and a good listener. She would go on to spend 38 years in nursing. Nine years ago she was everything but healthy, and her love for dancing was not being lived out. She suffered from Diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain and was 100 plus pounds overweight. In short, she was not taking charge of her health or her life. When she finally decided to do something about her life, she investigated bariatric surgery and found it to be a good option for her. She located an excellent gastric surgeon to perform the procedure. The surgery was just the tool. It was up to Priscilla to use it. The real hard work was in front of her. She made decisions that for the rest of her life she would need to adhere to, in order to be successful - and she has been! Priscilla's life took another turn when her only son died in August, 2013. "I had a void in my life" Priscilla told me. She wanted something positive in her life. Through memories of her son and the love and support of her husband and family, Priscilla turned to Torrance Memorial to get involved in volunteering and our clowning program. Clowning has given Priscilla purpose. She finds it rewarding to help others and to put a smile on their face. Priscilla graduated from Clown School as "Twinkle Toes" in October, 2014, and you can get her autograph at the Healthlinks desk on Wednesday afternoons, which is her volunteer position. Today, Priscilla's health has dramatically improved! She has lost over 100 pounds. She is no longer diabetic. She no longer has high blood pressure or joint pain. She has much more energy, and she dances more than ever, which helps her keep fit and trim. Her final words in our interview to me were "I'm very grateful."

Hospital Services - October 2014

Irene Goldman, V.P., Hospital Services Total Services Below: Volunteer Hours: 14,737 Baby Photos - 259 151 Photos Taken; Bingo - 4 Sessions: 404 Participants; Clowns - 13 9 Visits: Knitting/Crochet - 45 Items; Pet Visitation - 90 Visitation Hours; 18 Visits; Sewing Group - 114 Items

3330 Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505

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December 2014