12400 Willowbrook Road | Cumberland, MD 21502
Our Donor Stories
Giving from the Heart
Grateful Patient
When Jeff Rhodes needed bypass surgery, he trusted the experts at UPMC Western Maryland with his life. He and his wife Liz, a member of the Foundation board, expressed their grateful thanks to the Cardiovascular Unit by presenting an air fryer to the staff.
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“We just want to say thank you for the incredible care that not only I received, but my family also during a difficult time,” he said. “Simply put, it’s second to none… all the way from Dr. Nelson and the surgical team to the folks on 3rd floor that take care of you when you’re recovering. It just couldn’t have been better for us, and we’re so appreciative of those folks.”
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Liz echoed her husband’s sentiments. “We are so lucky in this Western Maryland area to have this quality of care,” she said. “UPMC Western Maryland is state of the art, and that cannot be stressed enough. It’s something we are very blessed to have here, and it’s an honor to receive such compassionate care. We did not know what to expect when all this happened, but if I could have scripted it, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
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Kristin Pisula, unit director for the Cardiovascular Unit, said, “You both have been amazing. I know your experience – because our staff provides that same quality of care for every patient – but we really appreciate the time you took to recognize us with this gift. We are a family here, and you guys are now part of that family. It’s very rewarding for all of us to see how great you look and how well you are doing.”
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Jeff and Liz gave a special shout out to Adaline and Kim, who were there for them the night after surgery. “We’ll never say thank you enough,” Jeff said.
Life-Saving Care
Grateful patient Stephen Garner and his wife, Laura Phillips Garner, stopped by the hospital in July after presenting a sizeable gift to the WMHS Foundation. The gesture represents their deep gratitude to the clinicians at UPMC Western Maryland, who saved Stephen’s life last fall following a heart attack. The couple felt strongly that they wanted to return to thank the staff who put Stephen firmly on the road to recovery—nurses in the Cardiovascular unit, therapists and aides in Cardiac Rehab, and the experts on the Cardiology staff. “We want to thank all of you for taking such amazing care of me through all facets of my heart surgery and recovery,” Stephen said. “All of you were so professional and compassionate, and you each made me feel that I was your only patient.” Working with the Foundation, Stephen and Laura identified gifts for each of these units, and with tears in their eyes, expressed their gratitude for such excellent treatment and care to those who helped him. Savannah Kenney, director of the Heart and Vascular Institute and Critical Care Services, spoke on behalf of her teams. “We are profoundly thankful for the generous gifts provided by Stephen and Laura,” she said. “This kind gesture is a heartfelt acknowledgement of our teams' dedication and care. It inspires us to continue providing such exceptional care to our patients, realizing how truly impactful it can be.” Yet another satisfied customer, who trusted our extraordinary caregivers with his life! 💜
Help for the Broken
Patti DeArcangelis is on a mission. As the mother of two adult sons, one of whom struggled with substance abuse, she is
committed to erasing the stigma of that issue so families can find the hope and resources they need to recover.
Patti first heard about UPMC’s Center for Hope and Healing through the WMHS Auxiliary, when President Sherry Schmitt
urged the group to undertake a $1 million pledge to combat local opioid addiction. The group accepted the challenge, and
succeeding Presidents Julie Davis, Kim Kremer, and Julie Westendorff have been equally devoted. More than 600 patients have found help at the center, as they make crucial decisions about long-term recovery.
Knowing that someone else’s child would get an opportunity her son never had – to step into an intentional, supportive
environment – meant everything to her. Patti knew immediately that she needed to join the fight. She became active in the Auxiliary, working alongside dozens of
others who sacrifice time and effort to support our local health system. And she and her husband, Joe, gave personally to support the new facility. Their son Roman’s recovery has been a galvanizing force in their family. “Praise God he’s in recovery now, but while he struggled with addiction, Joe and I couldn’t have loved him more,” says Patti. “It wasn’t easy, but that love just doesn’t go away.” They have an opportunity to help another family through this process right now, and everybody is working hard, not just those in physical recovery. Addiction isn’t about one person, she says; it’s about the whole family. “We need to lock arms and circle around in this community. It is not a burden to give, and the reward is immeasurable, not only for the person in recovery, but for the family and our community to heal as well.” From her son’s experience, she knows that those who need this resource were stepping out into the abyss. Now they have a stepping stone, a solid foundation available through the center. “In just a few short days during their stay at the center, individuals are given the opportunity to commit to healing and recovery,” she says. “It’s just an amazing first step, with time to think about the right next steps. It truly gives these individuals their lives back.”