5 yrs to 50k and $50k in 5 yrs
5th birthday of my second chance at life!!
(on behalf of Sean, grateful patient)
Today, November 10th, is a special tribute day for me. Not only do I get to celebrate my beloved United States Marine Corps' 237th Birthday on that day – honoring all those that have served the USMC and USA well. But, it's also the 5th birthday of my second chance at life - attributable to the amazing nurses, doctors, and staff of Parker Adventist Hospital and the Parker Hospital Foundation. I'm forever indebted to the great, life-saving care I received from the Parker Adventist Hospital staff.
November 2007 I had life-saving surgery at Parker Adventist Hospital - an emergency colectomy done by Dr. Barnes. He said I had one leg in the pinebox when he stopped counting all the holes in my colon at 16. At that time, I was just a few months in to running my own business and unfortunately my health insurance was inadequate. During my 10 days of recovery at the Parker Adventist Hospital and then the 6-8 weeks slowly recovering at home, I was panicked and depressed about my insurance and impending financial situation. How was I going to pay my bills and still keep a roof over my family's head? I was scrambling to figure it all out, when I received a surprising call from the Parker Hospital Foundation. It was a call to offer hope and help in our time of need. At the time, I didn't know that Parker Adventist Hospital was a non-profit hospital. I knew it was a Christian faith-based healthcare organization, but I had no idea there was a foundation in place to help those in need like myself. Well, thankfully, our prayers were answered a few months after my surgery when the Foundation stepped in to help by utilizing funds from the Patient Assistance Program. Take a moment to read "The Adventures of oSTOMAn", my blog about this journey I've been on.
Now, 5 years later, I'm kicking-off my effort to give back and pay forward the generosity of the Parker Hospital Foundation by raising funds for the "Patient Assistance Program". This program helped my family in our time of need back in 2007. My personal fundraising fun run dubbed, "5 years to 50K and 50K in 5 years," is a 50km (31 mile) run, connecting three Adventist Hospitals (Castle Rock, Littleton, and Parker) in honor of and support for the Adventist non-profit healthcare system. It has taken me 5 years to build up to a 50km run and with this kick-off event I plan to raise $50K within the next 5 years for non-profit healthcare charities - primarily the Parker Hospital Foundation. I hope this tribute run to Parker Adventist's great staff: 1. brings attention, appreciation, and publicity to the wonderful Parker Adventist Hospital staff, the helpful Parker Hospital Foundation, and the entire system of non-profit Adventist Hospitals; 2. inspires others who have lost an organ, in my case the colon, to get out and lead a regular, fit life again; 3. starts to raise notable donations to the Parker Hospital Foundation for the next 5 years, and; 4. reinforces my appreciation for my wonderful wife, helpful kids, and incredibly generous neighbors, friends, fellow school parents, and Pax Christi parishioners who also stepped up and help my family and I in our time of need.
CLICK HERE to view a map of the 50km route I ran. It began at the Castle Rock Adventist Hospital and finished at Parker Adventist Hospital. My family, friends, fellow runners, bikers, and/or drivers kept me motivated and fueled. :)
I looked forward to joining a rally of current and past FIT EXPLORERS / HERITAGE RUN CLUB members at Heritage Elementary (13 mile mark of my run) around noon. FIT EXPLORERS / HERITAGE RUN CLUB is a 3rd-6th grade fitness club I have voluntarily led for more than 6 years now. At our rally, I lead kids through a motivating set of calisthenics, a fun set of run laps to ensure I got a full 50km run in, they signed a giant THANK YOU CARD FOR THE PARKER ADVENTIST STAFF, and enjoyed some well deserved refreshments. Parker Hospital Foundation envelopes were handed out to FIT EXPLORER parents as part of my fundraising efforts.
I thank you for your prayers and thoughts for the successful completion of my tribute run and during my annual visit to the Parker Adventist Hospital Med/Surg floor. I also encourage you to donate to their Patient Financial Assistance program. It is because of this community of generous donors and the financial resources of the foundation that I was given a second chance in life, and successfully at that!
Thank you for your consideration and support,
Semper Fi- Sean
Equestrian Safety Program
In the Parker area, due to the popularity of horse riding, equestrian-related injuries are among the top five injuries most commonly treated Parker Adventist Hospital's emergency department. That is why the Equestrian Safety Program is committed to promoting public awareness of equestrian-related injuries, injury prevention, public safety and the importance of wearing an equestrian helmet. To date the Equestrian Safety Program has distributed more than 800 helmets.
Your donation allows the Equestrian Safety Program to provide safe riding helmets, services and educational programs to the community. Please visit the Parker Hospital Foundation donation page and indicate "Equestrian Program" as the intended fund.
Family to Family Adoption
Family to Family Adoption Support at Parker Adventist Hospital offers a specially trained, on-site adoption liaison and caring staff, who provide resources and extensive support to everyone involved in the adoption process. Family to Family Adoption Support believes in the love and caring of families who adopt children, and believes in the generous hearts and enormous love of parents who decide it is best to place their baby for adoption. It is their goal to make sure that the experience for both families is sensitive and caring, combining expert medical care with the utmost compassion and sensitivity. Parker Adventist Hospital is the only hospital in Colorado offering classes to adoptive parents and The BirthPlace delivery unit support during adoption placement. For articles, radio podcasts, lists of classes and special events, please visit the Family to Family Adoption website.
To be part of this amazing program, please visit the Parker Hospital Foundation donation page and indicate "Family to Family" as the intended fund.
Trio Breast Center
The Trio Breast Center at Parker Adventist Hospital offers superior imaging of digital mammograms, a respect for a person's busy schedule and a warm inviting atmosphere conveniently located in Parker. Mammograms are read twice, first by certified breast radiologists and then with a computer-aided second read program. The Trio Breast Center is fully accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, FDA and the American College of Radiology and meets all requirements set forth by MQSA--Mammography Quality Standards Act.
To make a donation benefiting the breast cancer support group and purchase of equipment, please visit the Parker Hospital Foundation donation page and indicate "Trio Breast Center" as the intended fund.