The following is a letter sent to Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center from Dr. Carol Ecker, Director Humane Society of St. Joseph County, in thanks of supplies donated from the former SJRMC/South Bend.
When I received a phone call from Sister Laureen Painter, I was in seventh heaven, if there is such a place. She graciously told me that the Humane Society could have articles from the former Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center/South Bend that would be of possible use to us. Since we were building our new shelter for the animals, this was great news. Little did I know that it would be thousands of dollars worth of savings for us. My Aunt Mary always told me “Good things that go around come around.”
Sister Laureen took precious time out of her schedule to show some others and me around the hospital so that we could see exactly what items we could use. It was like Christmas at Wal-Mart. I found so many things that we could put in our new shelter that would diminish the cost tremendously. The stainless steel sinks, lights, cabinets, furniture, IV stands, stainless steel instrument stands, tool cabinets, paper towel holders, vanities and many more things.
So one Wednesday morning, we again toured the facility, after an okay from Sister Laureen. I brought men from Casteel Construction Company, the folks building our new building, and we marked all of the prizes that we were allowed to take. They brought a plumber and we were in business. I have 24 sinks, enough for my surgery, treatment and triage areas. I have vanities for the bathrooms, furniture for the grieving room. The grieving room is where people will be allowed to say good-bye to the animals before they are put to sleep by owner request. The other rooms that need furniture are the play areas where we have people come and visit with their potential pet to get to know them better and to make sure that it gets along with their family members.
In the cattery, which will have outside porches, we need all kinds of plastic items so that they can be cleaned readily. So chairs, tables, benches and milk carton boxes will be used in these rooms for the cats to climb up on and play. We are on a constant hunt for these items.
The Staff has never had any place to really relax and eat their lunch and now will have a staff room. It has tables and chairs from the cafeteria. A refrigerator and a microwave will be used to make their lives better. We do not have a high pay scale here but we will try to make the work conditions improve. The staff is so dedicated to the animals and their well being, that little amenities are really all that we can offer aside from the joy when animals are adopted into the community.
My surgery is being put together little by little. I now have to load the animals in a van, take them to Michigan to a friend’s hospital, spay or neuter them, wake them up and load them in the van and bring them back to our shelter. It is a laborious task and can only be done a few times per month. The surgical supplies that I received from you are most precious to us. Suture material, gowns, drapes, gauze and the many other items that you all bring on a regular basis are most valued. Thank you!
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, we owe you so much for all you have done for us! We will keep you posted as to what we are doing with the materials that you so graciously donated to our facility. The gift from the hospital will keep on giving to a really good cause - the animals that have so little.
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