STORIES from the
HEART INSPIRING STORIES OF PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE The life-changing care Ascension Sacred Heart provides has touched the hearts of many who strive to ensure that this incredible mission of care continues for future generations. Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation is proud to be a partner in this endeavor. Please enjoy these “Stories from the Heart.”
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The Huffman family
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Haylee and David Huffman have deep roots on the Emerald Coast. They met in Destin, Haylee’s hometown, and were married in Santa Rosa Beach 11 years ago. There, deeply committed to serving God, they “planted” a church that David currently pastors. Their three children were born at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast: Asher, 6, Hattie, 3 and John Levi. This is John Levi’s “story from the heart.” When Haylee found out that she was pregnant on their ninth anniversary, they were filled with joy. An ultrasound at the 20-week mark showed all was well. With her first two pregnancies, they had declined the routine blood screening for abnormalities, but this time, “for some reason,” they opted to have it.
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The phone call from a nurse with the screening results was devastating: There was a high risk that the baby would be born with Trisomy 18, Edwards Syndrome, a devastating chromosomal abnormality. But more testing was needed to confirm this. David was at his church when Haylee contacted him with this news, saying she was on her way there. It was difficult to understand her, she was crying so hard, but he could make out the words Trisomy 18. He Googled information about the condition, but as he read, he really saw only one word: “fatal.” Together, they drove to the bay. David recalls: “It was a beautiful day, so we just watched the water, prayed, researched on our phones, cried, prayed some
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more. Scripture after scripture flooded my mind, mostly Psalms. ‘I cried out to God for help. … When I was in distress I sought the Lord.’” The next step was a consultation with Dr. Henry Roque, a high-risk perinatal specialist. But before that appointment, they had to meet with a genetic counselor, who explained that the blood screen results indicated a 1/10 likelihood that the baby suffered from Trisomy. As they watched the screen of Haylee’s in-depth ultrasound, they saw glaring discrepancies in the fetus, indicative of its condition. They looked at each other and cried. Dr. Roque confirmed that the ultrasound was consistent with the blood screening; it had not been a false positive as they had hoped. An amniocentesis revealed that she was carrying a boy. As time passed, Haylee and David struggled to understand their burden. She found it a grace to know what was to come, but had to learn to live with waves of grief. “There are no adequate words to describe the depth of sadness and pain in my heart,” she said. “I prayed the Lord would take this, that I would wake as from a dream, but somehow knew deep down that God would have us walk the hard road, and that He would walk it with us.” In the months that followed, they sought to learn as much as possible about Trisomy 18 and their options for the infant’s birth. They were deeply grateful for the medical care of their obstetrician, Dr. Jennifer Esses, and that of Dr. Roque. They became aware that while it was quite possible that Haylee would lose the baby late-term, their hope was to meet John Levi in this world and hold him in their arms. When Dr. Henry Roque informed them that the fetus had stopped growing, a Caesarian was scheduled at 37 weeks. When that day arrived, the staff at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast was well prepared and compassionate, responding to their needs in every way. A large antepartum room was designated for privacy away from other births, so they would be spared the sounds of families celebrating their newborns. Haylee shares, “We are so thankful we chose to have John Levi at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, so
thankful for the care, thoughtfulness and medical professionalism we experienced. The staff treated us more like family than patients.” Early on, David had shared the news of the baby with his congregation at Redeemer 30A, and they had responded with loving support. On the day of John Levi’s birth, over 40 people packed the chapel at the hospital to pray for the best possible outcome. Haylee and David were comforted by the “loving words and gentle presence” of Dr. Jennifer Esses before the surgery began. She told them she had prepared a special selection of worship music, which played during the procedure. When John Levi arrived, the doctor said, “He’s here!” But there was only silence. As Haylee held the frail, 3-pound, 4-ounce baby on her chest, it appeared he would be gone any second. She was crying, praying, kissing him, and speaking words of reassurance to him: “God loves you so much. We love you. I’m so sorry. It’s not supposed to be this way, but it’s okay.” Then, as David held the baby and sang a worship song, John Levi rallied. He started to cry, his heart rate rose, and he began breathing on his own. Later, in the recovery room, the whole family got to see and hold him. Haylee and David are forever grateful they were graced with an amazing seven hours with their son that day, before he quietly “slipped away to be with Jesus.”
David and baby John Levi
A MESSAGE FROM CAROL CARLAN It’s been said that the patient experience does not begin the moment someone enters our doors for care. It begins the moment anyone needs us. And when that patient is a child, fortunately the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart is near at hand. Will Condon, who serves as its President, is featured in this edition of our Stories from the Heart. You will also want to read Tracy Shehan’s story, in which she shares why and how her successful business, Ninth Avenue Nutrition, inspires her to give back. In another account, we learn that Panda Express® donated 18,000 surgical masks and more than 200 meals to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola in support of medical professionals fi ghting the pandemic. When it comes to support, I am so grateful for the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation Board. They are a dedicated group of community and business leaders that provide tremendous insight, guidance and champion our mission across the Gulf Coast. Thank you for your service. Finally, there is a poignant story contributed by Haylee and David Huff man, who are deeply appreciative of “the care, thoughtfulness and medical professionalism” they experienced at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. Their account gives us an awareness of how our faith-based mission is a source of compassionate care and comfort for the most burdened.
Carol Carlan President, Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation
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OVERSEER OF CARE FOR THE KIDS
Will Condon serves as President of the new Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart as he continues his successful journey of working for Ascension Sacred Heart. That career began some 10 years ago when he was hired as a Marketing Outreach Coordinator. During his tenure at Ascension Sacred Heart, he earned his master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from University of West Florida. He also progressed in responsibility, becoming the Chief Marketing Officer of Ascension Florida. Now his mission is concentrated on the kids. “But I would not be here without the help of great mentors along the way,” Will says, crediting Dick Appleyard, Susan Davis and Henry Stovall. When the new Children’s Hospital opened on May 4, 2019, Will was most proud of how his team accomplished the move from their prior location. The transfer took place after prolonged planning, and Will was gratified to see every detail go seamlessly, saying, “I tell people all the time that I am a very small part of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital. But I am so fortunate and so blessed every day to be a part of that team because I know how much they care for the kids.” He is also grateful to the more than 12,000 individuals, corporations and foundations that donated to the construction of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital. “These generous partners allow us to provide the best care, facilities and programs close to home for every child regardless of their families’ ability to pay,” Will says, “for that, I am eternally grateful.” He points out what the new facility means for the community, indeed the region: Families now don’t have to travel to access quality pediatric healthcare. “Usually to find a hospital like ours, you would have to go to Atlanta, Birmingham, Jacksonville. A chronically ill kid that needs to be in a children’s hospital bed often means you have to break the family apart.” That’s no longer the case with the services offered at the Children’s Hospital. Yet, while the doors are open for care, it doesn’t mean the work is done. Two pediatric areas are slated for growth: The Bear Family Foundation Pediatric Oncology Center for Hope and the operating room (OR) suites. (That OR is the only one in the entire region dedicated solely to kids.) The number of children treated in the hospital stays high, with the children’s emergency room serving 100 kids a day. “A big thing we’re focused on moving forward is outreach.” Will shares. Families in Destin, Panama City and Fairhope can’t always manage to travel to the Children’s Hospital for care. “How can we bring our pediatric sub-specialist physicians into their communities and provide that high level of care where they live?”
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Top: Will Condon, President, Studer Family Children’s Hospital, with Sister Carol Keehan, the hospital’s first nursing director, at the ribbon cutt ing of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital on April 1, 2019. Photo courtesy of Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee. Bottom: Will Condon with his parents, Tom and Catie Condon.
Will attributes his drive to his parents, both of whom were accomplished athletes. (His mother was the world’s best breaststroke swimmer in 1968, winning an Olympic gold medal.). He and wife Jamie, a pediatric clinical dietitian at Ascension Sacred Heart, were blessed with a baby girl, Adler, a little over a year ago.
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PANDA EXPRESS IS A BEAR HUG TO OUR COMMUNITY
Panda Express Team
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The American Chinese restaurant in Pensacola continues to support Children’s Miracle Network The next time you think about where to eat, consider a restaurant that makes a difference. Located less than a mile from the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, Panda Express has been a proud partner of the Children’s Miracle Network since 2007, donating more than $86 million to its hospitals, to date. “At Panda, we believe every child deserves the chance to succeed and create a life full of possibilities, and that can be achieved with healthy bodies and minds,” says Tina Hsing, Director of Panda Cares, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express. “Since the very
beginning, our commitment has been to support the health and education of youth, especially those in underserved communities.” Panda fundraises in stores and through corporate events to give back to the communities it serves. Founded upon a core value of giving, Panda Cares has a big heart for kids, “We are honored to be able to help the staff and families at local children’s hospitals and be part of the healing journey.” Hsing says. When you visit a Panda Express location, you may be asked for a donation to support your local hospital at the register, and you may hear a bell followed by a cheer of “Thank You” — an experience you’ll see every time a donation is made. Additionally, restaurant associates give
their time and resources by visiting children and families alongside the Panda mascot, bringing smiles and their delicious American Chinese food. “Giving back and having a generous heart actually work better in life,” says Andrew Cherng, co-founder of Panda Express. “Our passion for giving means that we contribute to the communities we serve, in any way we can.” Each year, Panda Express raises funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in three main ways: donations both in-store and online, an Associate Giving Program by which associates pledge a portion of their paycheck to their local hospital, and special events — including the annual Panda Cares Golf Tournament, which raised a recordbreaking $3 million in 2019. “We have shared values with the Studer Family Children’s Hospital in Pensacola and a joint mission of taking care of the community,” Hsing shares. “When our associates go to the hospitals and visit the children and families we are supporting firsthand, their stories and resilience inspire them to do more.” In addition to raising more than $125,000 for the Children’s Hospital last year, Panda Express donated more than 200 meals and 18,000 surgical masks to aid in COVID-19 relief at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola — with more than 5 million masks and 53,000 hot meals donated across our nation. According to Hsing, that’s just part of the culture of the restaurant group founded by Andrew and Peggy Cherng. “We believe that during times of crisis, it is even more important to take care of our communities and reach out to help lift up others,” she says. “We are blessed to have the means to make a difference.” So … what’s for dinner tonight?
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IN THE BUSINESS OF GIVING BACK
Tracy Sheehan (Center), with Ascension Sacred Heart Leaders
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When Tracy Sheehan’s family settled in Pensacola after her husband Heath retired from the military, she was presented with the opportunity to open a business — and she went for it. She is now the proud proprietor of Ninth Avenue Nutrition, a protein smoothie, high-energy tea and healthy juice bar located in Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. Born and raised in Pensacola, Tracy married a military professional after attending the University of West Florida. The couple returned to this area as their retirement home after he served 14 years in the Army as a physician’s assistant. Tracy had planned to continue her teaching career, but she wanted to try something different. She couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of Ninth Avenue Nutrition. Every few months, she and her coworkers seek out an area of the hospital that could benefit from a sizeable donation.
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“A big part of our heart,” she explains, “is to be able to give back some of what we make selling the shakes. That was our intent from the very beginning. We wanted to use money we made to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” Working at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola has been an enjoyable learning experience for Tracy. She’s made many friends and speaks of the overwhelming friendliness of associates who smile and speak to those they encounter. The desire to be supportive and caring is always front and center for staff . Yet she wonders if the community realizes how kind everyone is at the facility and how willing they are to assist. It’s a source of great satisfaction when she sees associates going out of their way to help others: “I think as human beings,” she says, “that’s what we are called to do, what Jesus wants us to do. It is greatly displayed in the hospital’s environment.”
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Another reason Tracy thinks the hospital is such a blessing for the community is the level of trust it engenders, providing freedom from worry. Those with medical needs can always rely upon Ascension Sacred Heart to deliver outstanding treatment and comfort. Tracy’s husband traveled extensively while in the Army, inspecting trauma centers and seeing their preparedness to treat “elite people in our government, all the way up to the President.” He regards Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola as a “phenomenal” facility for this area, with its state-of-the-art equipment that can handle any situation. Tracy agrees: “It really is a wonderful place to be for the people I see every day that need care on many different levels.” This is just one more reason she has built into her business plan a commitment to give back to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola.
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SACRED HEART FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020-2021
JUSTIN A. BECK, CHAIR CEO, Beck Partners
MICHAEL JOHNSON, PAST CHAIR
Owner, State Farm Insurance
PAMELA S. HEINOLD
Broker Associate Better Homes & Garden Real Estate
JANE LAUTER
President The Kugelman Family Foundation
JAMES HOSMAN, TREASURER
STEVE CLARK, VICE CHAIR
Market President Centennial Bank
CEO, New School Selling
H. WESLEY “WES” REEDER, PAST CHAIR Managing Partner Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon
NINA HESS CAMPBELL
WES PAYNE
President Ballpoint Communications Group
JUSTIN T. HOLMAN, ESQ.
Design Associate Aqua Décor & Design
Mall Manager Cordova Mall
AARON BALL
The Holman Law Firm
RIC NICKELSEN
KERRY ANNE SCHULTZ, ESQ.
Vice President, Commercial Lending Partner Smartbank Fountain, Schultz & Bridgferd, P.L.L.C.
MICHAEL P. BAGGETT, SECRETARY
Senior Financial Advisor Senior V. P. Wealth Management Mazenko/Baggett Group
AUTUMN BLACKLEDGE Autumn Beck Blackledge PLLC
SISTER ELLEN KRON, DC
Daughters of Charity
MALLORY STUDER
Marketing & Branding Manager Bodacious Shops
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GULF BREEZE DANCE MARATHON The students at Gulf Breeze High School have done it again! For their second annual Dance Marathon, the students set a stretch goal of $20,000 in fundraising. When the final numbers were announced, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. After six hours of standing and dancing #forthekids, they raised a total of $29,128.70 for children and families treated at Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart! We are so grateful for the time and dedication these students put into this event. Thank you to the students, staff, participants, donors, sponsors and patient families who made this event a success!
ST. JOE FOUNDATION The St. Joe Foundation awarded Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation a grant to purchase personal protective equipment for the frontline medical staff at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, Ascension Sacred Heart Bay in Panama City and Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf in Port St. Joe. “This grant for personal protective equipment for our hospital associates demonstrates the strong partnership our hospitals have with The St. Joe Foundation in this time of a global pandemic,” said Roger Hall, Past President of the Emerald Coast and Gulf Hospitals. “We have distributed the proper personal protective equipment so we can continue to safely serve our communities while protecting the health and safety of our associates.” Left to right is April Wilkes, Executive Director of the St. Joe Foundation; Janet Piepul, Major Gift s/Planned Giving Director, Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation; Rhea Goff, Senior Vice President, Chief Administration Officer and a Foundation Board Member.
ABOUT THE ASCENSION SACRED HEART FOUNDATION Since 1915, Ascension Sacred Heart has been at the heart of healing for Northwest Florida and South Alabama. Like our founders, the Daughters of Charity, Ascension Sacred Heart is dedicated to providing quality, compassionate healthcare to the citizens of our regions, regardless of their ability to pay. This steadfast commitment to our community could not have been achieved without the support and generosity of the thousands of individuals, businesses and organizations that have donated to Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation. Through this charitable giving, Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation has been able to provide millions of dollars of free and low-cost healthcare to the poor, uninsured, under-insured and low-income families. With the help of generous donors, we are proud to partner in Ascension Sacred Heart’s mission of care along the Gulf Coast.
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