Couple Donates Rocking Chair to Franciscan St. Anthony Health in Daughter’s Memory

Franciscan-Rocking-Chair-DonationThe Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point Neonatal Intensive Care Unit received a new rocking chair on Feb. 23 that was donated on behalf of Patti and T.J. Slager of Cedar Lake, who raised nearly $6,000 for the March of Dimes 2011 March for Babies walk campaign. Teams that raised more than $5,000 received the chairs, which could be donated to the hospital of their choice.

The Slagers and their loves ones formed Team Camryn, named for a daughter, who died of heart complications three years ago. They have another son, Brayden, 2. “We chose St. Anthony because we love it here,” T.J. Slager said. “Both our kids were born here and we plan to have the next one here, too.”

His wife added they “love the nurses and the people” at the hospital. When the couple learned St. Anthony had opened the NICU nearly a year ago, they decided to donate the chair, to help bring comfort to new parents and babies.

Kathy Podorsek, clinical director of the hospital’s The Birth Place (obstetrics unit), said, “We are thankful to Camryn’s Team for thinking of our patients’ comfort. Our moms and dads will find the chair a relaxing place to hold and feed their babies.” Victor Garcia, March of Dimes Indiana Chapter-Northwest Division director, said six Northwest Indiana teams were represented in the May walk, three of which have decided to donate their chairs to St. Anthony.

Photo: Shown with the rocking chair donated to the Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are, from left: Kathy Podorsek, clinical director of The Birth Place; Toni Gershman, patient care manager, The Birth Place; Carla Huang, of Dyer; Patti Slager and T.J. Slager, of Cedar Lake; Marilyn Derks, of Dyer; and Lori Kemp, a NICU nurse.