Pictured are Sleep Technologists Rod Hanna and Terri Sola with Maureen Zawisza, (center) who was the first patient at the Silver Cross Sleep Disorders Center.

For 10 years Maureen Zawisza suffered from endless sleepless nights and never was able to get a full night’s rest. After deciding to have weight loss surgery with BMI Surgery, she was referred by her doctor to have a sleep study at the new Silver Cross Sleep Disorders Center.  Here, it was determined that she indeed had sleep apnea.

“Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep,” says Dr. Phillip Leung, board certified pulmonologist and medical director of the Silver Cross Sleep Disorders Center.  “These breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes and often occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour.” Sleep apnea usually is a chronic condition that disrupts sleep making you tired during the day. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes; make arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, more likely; and increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents.

The first patient at the new Silver Cross Sleep Disorders Center, Maureen spent the night in a private home-like room where she had her own bathroom, calming décor, and comfortable bed to help put her at ease.  She spent the next 8 hours undergoing a polysomnographic test and a sleep study that provided a detailed picture of her entire sleep cycle.   The study allowed technicians to analyze Maureen’s exact sleep pattern, from the onset of sleep through the 4 normal levels of sleep, to breathing, oxygen levels, heartbeat, movement and snoring activity. The next morning it was determined that she had sleep apnea and required a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help control her breathing while she sleeps.  

“My experience at the Silver Cross Sleep Disorders Center was beyond superb,” said the Tinley Park resident.  “The technicians, Rod and Terri, were wonderful at making me feel welcomed. Rod’s calm and reassuring voice allowed me to relax and my anxiety was reduced tremendously. And the facility is beautiful.  It looks like a 5- star hotel. I felt like I was coming home in the Sleep Center’s delightful surroundings.”

In addition to diagnosing and treating sleep apnea the Center specializes in sleep related breathing disorders, insomnia, sleep related movement disorders, and narcolepsy. “We are committed to helping our patients receive the correct treatment that will enable them to rest properly, so they can have a better quality of life,” says Dr. Leung.If you or someone you love is experiencing a sleep problem, we invite you to contact the Silver Cross Sleep Disorders Center for an initial consultation. For more information, call 1-815-300-REST (7378) or visit here.

Donna Batchelor stands with Dr. Christopher Joyce inside the brand new BMI Surgery office.

Donna Batchelor, of Blue Island, is no stranger to the power of change. For 66 years, she lived to take care of others, often forgoing her own health and appearance. “Most of my adult life was spent taking care of others. I never had time to take care of ‘me’, but when I noticed that I had difficulty breathing and  I weighed over 336 pounds, I knew I had to do something,” shares Batchelor.

 With a referral from her physician, Batchelor faced her fears and underwent Lap-Band surgery on April 5, 2011 with Drs. Joyce & Lahmann of BMI Surgery. A year later, she has already shed over 130 pounds. “I was always afraid of the idea of weight loss surgery, but this is the best decision I ever made. I feel the best I have ever felt in my life and I am 67. I’m mad I waited this long to do this!”

BMI Surgery has changed the lives of over 2,500 patients with life changing surgeries including laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and Lap-Band and REALIZE gastric band systems at Silver Cross Hospital.   Board certified laparoscopic and bariatric surgeons Christopher Joyce, M.D. and Brian Lahmann, M.D are dedicated to helping patients win their personal battles with obesity and enjoy healthier lives which is why they dedicated themselves to opening a new on the new Silver Cross Hospital campus at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox.

“The new location provides patients with enhanced access to state-of-the-art technology and ex

“The new location is beautiful, serene, and spacious. The entire hospital campus is gorgeous!” says Batchelor. She stands in the new BMI office with staff Toni Colwell & Peggy Draksler.

panded space including more exam rooms, band adjustment rooms, and seating in the waiting area,” shares Dr. Christopher Joyce. “We want to help transform lives inside & out, so we used that same philosophy in the design of our new office.”

To find out more about the bariatric surgery program at Silver Cross Hospital, attend a free informational session on both traditional and laparoscopic surgery on any Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. at BMI Surgery. Located at 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., Suite 260, Pavilion A, New Lenox.  To attend, visit www.bmisurgery.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

Celebrity chef Paula Deen brought a taste of Southern charm to the halls of Silver Cross Hospital on Wednesday, April 4. Watch her visit with Jordan Cameron, 5. She is so enamored with this young man, she even feeds him his apple sauce! Our patients truly enjoyed her visit. To see more photos from her visit, “like” us on Facebook.

Celebrity chef Paula Deen greets nursing staff as she enters the Pediatric Unit. View more photos from her visit on the Silver Cross Hospital Facebook page.

Food Network star and celebrity chef Paula Dean stopped by Silver Cross on Wednesday, April 4 to spread some cheer to patients at the new Hospital.  She was accompanied by her husband Michael, brother Bubba, and dignitaries from Harrah’s Joliet Casino and Hotel where she is opening a new restaurant.

 Silver Cross Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Mary Bakken welcomed Deen and escorted her up to the new Pediatric unit where she talked with patients and their families, autographed cookbooks and even fed applesauce to 5-year old Jordan Cameron of Country Club Hills.  Deen also looked at X-rays of 13-year-old Shannon Macaulay’s newly straightened spine following surgery just the day before to correct scoliosis.  And she shared nail polish secrets with 12-year-old Julia Bisbikis of Lockport who had just been admitted.  Deen even took time to chat and take photos with nurses and other caregivers praising them for their compassion and dedication.

“Every time I leave (a hospital), I feel like they give me more than I give them,” Deen said.  “It’s just wonderful that I’m in a position that people will allow me to do that. And I have a real soft spot for children.”

“Paula was just delightful,” said Bakken.  “Her smile just lights up the room.  We are so honored that she chose Silver Cross to share her southern hospitality with some of our youngest patients and their family members.  She is definitely welcome anytime!”

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital Occupational Therapist Debbie Jacob-Maas works with Mitch Top of Channahon to help restore function in his arm. Top hurt his arm after falling.

April is National Occupational Therapy Awareness month, and we want to thank the hard work of our dedicated occupational therapists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital. Occupational therapy enables people of all ages live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. It is a practice deeply rooted in science and is evidence-based, meaning that the plan designed for each individual is supported by data, experience, and “best practices” that have been developed and proven over time. “Our occupational therapists assist people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities” says Matt Boebel, Administrative Director of The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on “doing” whatever occupations or activities are meaningful to the individual. It is occupational therapy’s purpose to get beyond problems to the solutions that assure living life to its fullest. These solutions may be adaptations for how to do a task, changes to the surroundings, or helping individuals to alter their own behaviors.When working with an occupational therapy practitioner, strategies and modifications are customized for each individual to resolve problems, improve function, and support everyday living activities. The goal is to maximize potential. Through these therapeutic approaches, occupational therapy helps individuals design their lives, develop needed skills, adjust their environments (e,g., home, school, or work) and build health-promoting habits and routines that will allow them to thrive.

For more information about RIC at Silver Cross, call (815) 300-7110 or visit here.

In honor of our celebrity guest this past Wednesday, here’s a Silver Cross  twist on a Paula Deen recipe (courtesy of Bobby Deen, Paula’s Deen’s son). Enjoy!

Guiltless Cheesy Mac

Ingredients:

• Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing dish
• 1 cup finely chopped cauliflower
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 3 ounces shredded Cheddar
• 3 ounces shredded Parmesan
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 egg whites
• One 16-ounce bag frozen petite peas
• 4 cups cooked multigrain elbow macaroni
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs

Silver Cross Hospital moved from the Joliet campus to the replacement campus in New Lenox EXACTLY one month from today! Here’s a glimpse of what happened on our move day on 2/26.

Gwen Ulmer, National Hook-Up of Black Women (NHBW) member and Community Relations Coordinator for Silver Cross Hospital, accepts children’s books from Valerie Baudo, Silver Cross Stores & Distribution employee, for the National Hook-Up of Black Women & Silver Cross Hospital Reading Rooms. In an act of giving back to the community to help children, Baudo purchased over 50 books from all the proceeds she made from selling Mary Kay Products, hosting garage sales and bake sales.

When Valerie Baudo started earning extra money selling Mary Kay products and hosting garage sales and bake sales, she wanted to do something special with her profits and it wasn’t to buy something for herself. “I have been blessed throughout my life, especially when I was a child, with people who have helped me. For this reason, I wanted to give support to other children so they can positively change their own lives,” said Valerie Baudo, Silver Cross Hospital Stores & Distribution employee. So through her job at the hospital, Baudo learned of the National Hook-Up of Black Women (NHBW) & Silver Cross Hospital Reading Rooms, and felt this cause was a perfect one to support.

“Once I learned of the Reading Rooms’ purpose to fight literacy and help children avoid poverty by increasing their education level, I knew this was the right organization to donate 100 percent of my profits,” said Crestwood resident Baudo. “Even though I’m one person, it is so motivating knowing all my efforts and money are putting books in the hands of children, who may not have the opportunity to have books in their home.” In an act of giving back to the community, Baudo purchased over 50 books for the Reading Rooms from all the proceeds she made from selling Mary Kay Products, hosting garage sales, and bake sales.

 The Reading Rooms are a part of the NHBW organization’s Reading For Life Literacy Program. At the NHBW & Silver Cross Reading Rooms, children and parents are able to swap, borrow or take a book to keep in their own personal libraries. Silver Cross Hospital donated funds to purchase book shelves and other supplies for the Reading Rooms, and hold regular drives to make books easily accessible to children. In addition, the Housing Authority donated six computers available for children to access for school projects while they visit the Reading Rooms.  The NHBW & Silver Cross Reading Rooms have two locations. The first location is open from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Unity CDC – Center for Working Families at the Dave L. Evans Campus at 201 South Briggs Street, Joliet- just one block north of Interstate 80. (Formerly St. Mary Magdalene School). The second NHBW & Silver Cross Reading Room is open from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Fairview Homes Community Center at 1426 Englewood Street, Joliet. In the past year, the Reading for Life Literacy Program provided more than 6,700 books to over 2,100 children and adults in the community. Questions? Call (815) 727-0642.

“Silver Cross Hospital is very pleased to have partnered with the National Hook-Up of Black Women to help improve the health of the community,” said Ruth Colby, Senior Vice President/Chief Strategy Officer for Silver Cross Hospital. “Children who can read are prepared to make better life choices related to nutrition and career goals.  Silver Cross is deeply committed to the success of the Reading For Life Literacy Program, as we have a vested interest in helping area children to read – many of these children may be future Silver Cross employees.”

For more information about donating children’s books to the Reading for Life Literacy Program, call Gwen Ulmer, Community Relations Coordinator at Silver Cross Hospital, at (815) 740-1096.

After sorting through thousands of names, the Procedural Care Unit Staff have chosen the name for the brand new, $2 million, state-of-the-art surgical system at Silver Cross Hospital. The da Vinci® SiTM Surgical System is the most advanced robotic-assisted surgical technology available.  The da Vinci system combines a surgeon’s skill with precision technology to provide patients with the newest minimally invasive option for hysterectomies, prostatectomies and other procedures.  Compared to traditional open surgeries, patients benefit from smaller incisions, minimal bleeding, shorter hospital stays and faster, less painful recoveries. 

And the name is… 

drumroll please… 

Tinley Park resident Suzanne Mitchell tests out the da Vinci surgical system’s control panel with Silver Cross Hospital’s Marybeth Antone. Mitchell was the winner of the “Name the Robot” contest held at Grand Opening for the new Silver Cross Hospital in February.

…Mia!  Tinley Park resident Suzanne Mitchell submitted the name during the community Housewarming Celebration for the new Hospital in February.  Mitchell submitted “Mia”, which she says is an acronym for minimally invasive approach.  “I had heard that Silver Cross was going to be offering more minimally invasive surgery at the new hospital so I immediately thought of the name after seeing the robot,” says Mitchell.  “The hospital is so beautiful and this new equipment will be such a benefit for patients.” 

Dr. Thai Nguyen, urologist, who will be performing the first procedure at Silver Cross in April using Mia, says the da Vinci robot helps surgeons see and work better.  “The robot allows me a magnified, 3-dimensional view of the operative field which is unmatched by traditional open surgery or conventional laparoscopy. The robotically-assisted instruments give me unparalleled dexterity and precision, which are essential to achieving excellent outcomes during complicated minimally-invasive procedures.”