Meet Teri Reynolds

A smiling woman stands on the front porch of her brick house on a sunny day.

Donor support of nurse navigators was a blessing for Teri during breast cancer treatment Teri Reynolds felt frightened and overwhelmed after a routine mammogram revealed a lump in her breast, which was diagnosed as cancer. Donations toward Mercy Health Oncology Nurse Navigators provided vital comfort. Her navigators guided her through the maze of appointments, tests…

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Meet Bill Wannemacher

A middle aged man stands outside on a sunny day, smiling.

Donor support for stroke care at Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center helped save Bill’s life Bill Wannemacher woke up one morning at 4 a.m. in obvious distress. His wife Suzanne could tell from his difficulty speaking that he was having a stroke. But, at the time, she didn’t know he was suffering a…

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Ethelia Bryant’s Story

An elderly woman in a floral blouse smiles while sitting in front of a mural.

Thanks to donors, music therapy was available to Ethelia and her family after her medical crisis It was a frightening time for the Bryant family when their mother Ethelia was rushed to Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital unable to breath. “They decided that she needed to have a pacemaker,” remembers her daughter, Latrice. “We had…

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Meet Wendy Doolittle

A professional woman in a blue shirt stands inside a building's hallway, smiling.

Wendy gives to local health care to be part of the solution As a former hospital board chair, Wendy Doolittle has a unique perspective on health care’s role in a community. After all, she had a front-row seat to the impact the Mercy Health Foundation Clark & Champaign Counties had on hers.   “Whether it’s…

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Meet Andraka Royster

A young, new mom holds her infant in her arms while standing outside their brick house.

Andraka’s premature baby got the specialized neonatal care he needed, thanks to donors Andraka Royster and her newborn, Zhamonte, were among the first patients to take advantage of the new neonatology services Mercy Health – Lourdes Hospital. Baby Zhamonte was born premature at 35 weeks. He needed oxygen, something that previously would have required a…

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Jeanna Angel’s Story

A nurse in red scrubs stands in front of a photo of trees, inside a doctor's office.

Thanks to you, Jeanna and her coworkers can now recharge in their new Lavender Room As a registered nurse, Jeanna Angel knows firsthand how tough it can be to be a caregiver. The amount of time that she spends bedside can take a toll. But, thanks to donors like you, Jeanna and her fellow providers…

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Meet Kathleen Bitsura

An older woman with a short brown haircut stands in her back yard during sundown.

Kathleen feels called to serve by giving to Bon Secours St. Francis Foundation Kathleen Bitsura found purpose in her career as an associate at Bon Secours St. Francis. Now, she’s finding new purpose in her retirement, as a donor to the Bon Secours St. Francis Foundation. “Bon Secours’ mission encompasses many things,” says Kathleen.  …

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Meet Bob Pyndell

A happy, older man smiles at the camera. He's standing inside his home in front of a window.

You helped provide the meditation sessions that gave Bob peace of mind during his cancer battle After 18 months of treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer, Bob Pyndell was spent. A combination of chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy left him physically, emotionally, and spiritually depleted. Your gift gave him strength. “There was so much pain…

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Lt. Felix Shanahan’s Story

An EMS officer sits inside an ambulance.

Mercy Health donors provide life-saving resources, such as stroke training, to EMS officers like Felix Lt. Felix Shanahan has been an EMS officer for more than three decades. He’s seen the medical field evolve over that time, and he knows the importance of continued training to provide the best in-field care to his patients. Your…

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Meet John Rinaldi

A senior man stands in his home, in front of a decorated fireplace. He's smiling at the camera.

John gives to Mercy Health Foundation Lorain because it fits his goals as a donor John Rinaldi made the greater Cleveland area laugh for more than 50 years as part of the comedy duo Big Chuck and Lil John. Today, John is a member of a new team, the Mercy Health Foundation Lorain board of…

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