CHI - St. Joseph's Health - MN

Medical Sta Dentists James Matthiae, DDS – CHISJH Robert Mork, DDS – CHISJH Jesse Nease, DDS – CHISJH Lindsey Tischer, DT – CHISJH Emergency Medicine Darryl Beehler, DO, FACOEP-D – CHISJH Jane Churchill, MD – CHISJH Joseph Corser, MD – CHISJH Larry Kobriger, MD – CHISJH Todd Officer, MD – CHISJH ENT, Otolaryngology Alan Bruns, MD – EH David Tsen, MD – EH Family Medicine David Benson, MD – EH Jason Davis, PA-C – EH Marnie Davis, PA-C – EH Kathryn Dobbs, MD – EMC Beth Hirt, PA-C – EH Rae Keashly, MD – EH Thomas Rollie, MD – EH Gregory Sperle, MD – EH Michele Thieman, MD – EH Jessica Wirth, FNP – EH General Surgery Brian Brattlof, MD – EH Brenda Norby, PA-C – EH Daniel Smith, MD – EH Robert Wroblewski, MD – EH Hospitalists Bonnie Conner, FNP – CHISJH Nathan Harris, MD – CHISJH John Lageson, MD – CHISJH Larry Leadbetter, MD, FACP, PhD – EH Internal Medicine Vern Erickson, MD – EMC Larry Leadbetter, MD, FACP, PhD – EH Eric Mjelde, PA-C – EH Mary Nelson, CNP – EH Seth Roiko, FNP – EH Obstetrics Kathryn Dobbs, MD – EMC Charlotte Rollie, CNM, CNP – EH Ophthalmology Ashley Lundin, MD – Independent Orthopedics Erin Chen, PA-C – EH Qing-Min Chen, MD – EH Francis Cormier, MD – EH Linda Lohnes, CNP – EH Michael McGregor, PA-C – EH Brennen Smith, DO – CHISJH Pediatrics RaNae Doll, MD – EH Podiatry Jared Aelony, DPM – EH Rheumatology Joseph Sleckman, MD – EH CHISJH – CHI St. Joseph's Health EH – Essentia Health EMC – Erickson Medical Clini c A seed of an idea from a shopper at Meryle O'Connor's garage sale turned into a project benefiting CHI St. Joseph's Health breast cancer patients. W hen Meryle and her daughter, residents of Walker, held a garage sale, they never anticipated it would eventually provide comfort to more than 100 local breast cancer and surgery patients. "While vacationing in Minnesota, a lady named Janell Burk happened by our garage sale, and she bought some scrap material," Meryle says. "She said she was donating the fabric to a group she belonged to who made heart-shaped pillows for women who had breast cancer surgery." Patients hug the pillows to their bodies as a way to buffer their healing incisions during situations such as riding in a car, coughing, or sleeping after surgery. Meryle recognized a great idea when she saw it, and she took it to her church group. "After returning home, Janell mailed information and a pattern for the Hands-On-Heart Pillow to Meryle, and Meryle's enthusiasm for it launched our Mission Hearts for Breast Cancer project," says Jo Horak, Community Church of Walker Women's Fellowship President. "Meryle wrote a letter to CHI St. Joseph's Health, and we decided the pillows we made would go to their patients." The Mission Hearts project, started by Meryle and sponsored by Community Church of Walker Women's Fellowhip and Friends, made more than 100 pillows for CHI St. Joseph's Health patients. From cutting the fabric to sewing and stuffing pillows to crafting the beautiful gift tags, the project was truly a labor of love. Pastor Lynn Strandt, Community Church of Walker, blessed all of the heart pillows before they were donated. "Our goal is to let others know that we love them," Meryle says. "A small group can make a big difference in making others feel nurtured and cared for." CHI St. Joseph's Health and the patients who receive Hands-On-Heart Pillows send a heartfelt thank-you to Meryle and everyone who contributed to the project. the Heart Straight From Meryle O'Connor (seated, second from the right) and her church group (also pictured) made more than 100 Hands-On-Heart Pillows for CHI St. Joseph's Health patients. www.CHISJH.org | CHI St. Joseph's Health 9

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