February 2010

For most of us, the New Year brings with it a sense of new beginnings, new hope and unlimited possibilities. For some of us, the New Year brings a sense of foreboding and despair.

Many families are struggling due to difficult life circumstances. They are homeless and the shelters are full; working but underinsured and barely making ends meet; elderly, alone, on fixed incomes, and facing an urgent medical crisis. They need immediate help.

O’Connor Hospital social workers receive numerous requests for help:

• “I have a patient on 4 East that needs to go home with a wheelchair but can’t afford one. Do you have one?”
• “We have a family who needs a grocery card to tide them over until his paycheck arrives. Can we help?”
• “My patient is very ill and her husband has been without a job for almost a year. They have no income. Can we give him a couple of lunch meal tickets for the hospital Cafeteria?” 
• “Grandpa made it to his appointment but he has no one to take him home and is on a fixed income. He needs a taxi voucher.”
• “There is a man in the ER whose clothes are tattered and soiled. Can someone find us a set of clean, warm clothes?”
• “My patient can’t afford the medicine he needs to go home with; can we try to get him an initial supply?”

O’Connor Hospital has established The Patient Advocacy Fund to be a financial resource to meet the urgent needs of patients and families. Providing for the immediate need of transportation, food, clothing and other health-related items allows our social workers time to connect the patient/family with community resources wherever possible so they can continue to receive the assistance they need.

I am writing to ask for your support in our effort to help sustain someone through their crisis. My prayer is that you will consider a donation towards one of the items on the reply card. To make an online donation please click here or print the reply card (PDF) and return it with your donation by mail to O'Connor Hospital Foundation, 2105 Forest Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128-1425.

Your contribution can provide a moment of hope and relief during a difficult time and make a life-saving difference to someone in need of urgent assistance.

May the Lord bless you for your kindness,

Sr. Michele Randall, DC
O'Connor Hospital, Vice President, Mission Integration