A Blessing in the Midst of a Pandemic

SHELLY STANLEY, A NURSING ASSISTANT at Masonic Village at Sewickley, awoke one morning in December 2019 feeling sick to her stomach. She knew a stomach bug was making its rounds, but as the day progressed, so did her illness, until she could no longer stand.

In the emergency room, Shelly was given fluids to re-hydrate and was taken for a full-body scan as a precaution. Doctors confirmed Shelly had a seemingly aggressive stomach virus, but they also found something else. The scan showed a mass on her kidney, which was cancerous.

“The doctor came in and sat down beside me,” Shelly said, “and as soon as I heard the ‘C’ word, I got anxiety. I kept hoping they made a mistake.” She thought of her two daughters and three granddaughters. She feared she’d be leaving them far sooner than she ever imagined.

The next few months were full of tests and doctors’ appointments. Shelly lost half of her left kidney to cancer, but still considers herself fortunate.

“If I hadn’t had that stomach flu, they would never have found it in time to save my life,” Shelly said. “They told me because of the type [of cancer] I had, and where it was located, it could have gone undetected for years. Someone was watching over me, that’s what I know.”

In March, Shelly was preparing to return to work. She missed the residents she cared for on a daily basis for the last eight years. “I love hearing their stories,” Shelly said, “and I love getting them dressed, doing their hair and making them feel good.”

What Shelly wanted most was to return to normal life. Little did she know, she and the rest of the country had another hurdle to face: the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shelly’s recent cancer treatment, in combination with the medications she takes for her chronic rheumatoid arthritis, makes her immunosuppressed, which put her at greater risk for complications from COVID-19.

“When I asked about returning to work and daily life, my doctors told me if I got the virus, I might not survive,” she said.

Shelly was put on personal leave and self-quarantined in her home for almost two months.

Shelly says what happened next was what she likes to call a “blessing.”

“I found out about the Helping Hands Fund, and I just couldn’t believe it,” Shelly said.

After hearing about her situation, Human Resources referred Shelly to the Helping Hands Fund, which provides support to Masonic Villages’ employees across the state who are experiencing personal emergencies, hardships and/or natural disasters. These can include the loss of a Masonic Villages’ Mission of Love also touches the

loved one, financial pressures, health issues, a hindered ability to afford food, new caregiving responsibilities and other unforeseen emergencies, such as a pandemic. The fund, which provides support to employees on the basis of a counsel that reviews each employee’s situation, was created in 2019, in honor of retiring CEO Joseph Murphy.

Since the creation of this fund, generous donors have contributed $347,000 to assist employees in need.

“I will give a person my last, but now I was the person in need,” Shelly said. “I just can’t believe there’s such nice, wonderful people out there. When I found out I was going in my family. They couldn’t believe what a blessing it was.” While Shelly was off work, her Masonic Village family reached out with well-wishes. Co-workers informed her that the residents and their families were looking for her and asking about her.

“I know my residents,” Shelly said. “I do things just the way they like. I think the families like that I have everything just right for them.”

The work done, care given and services provided at Masonic Villages requires the tireless efforts of many dedicated and selfless employees, like Shelly (who is back to caring for her residents and doing well). Thanks to generous Helping Hands Fund donors, to get some support, I was in tears, and I called everyone

lives of the employees who bring it to life each day.

From nurses and doctors to housekeepers, security officers and food service workers, our staff are putting their health and safety on the line to stand between our residents and COVID-19. It’s an “all hands on deck” operation at Masonic Villages, with many non-direct care employees volunteering to work outside of their normal roles to serve on the “front line.”

While our front-line heroes are taking care of others, you have helped take care of them with countless gifts to the Helping Hands Fund. Because of donors like you, this fund helps employees make ends meet during difficult times.

Over the last few months, many employees have been dedicating additional hours that could otherwise be spent with their families to properly disinfect and clean areas of the campus, screen fellow employees and deliver meals, activity books, prescriptions and other items to residents as they shelter in place.

Generous donors have also given gifts to Masonic Villages during this time. You have helped us to purchase items - like masks, face shields, disinfectant products, testing equipment and reduced meals for employees - to combat this virus. You are keeping residents and staff safe and healthy. Thank you.

THE AMERICAN FLAG IS A SYMBOL of freedom and unity. For resident Anne Gratz, the flags that line the Veterans Grove at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown for patriotic holidays have always meant this and so much more.

“They bring everyone here so much joy,” Anne said. “Seeing them displayed makes people so grateful to live here and for the freedoms we have.”

Since 2010, the Elizabethtown Chapter No. 407, Order of the Eastern Star (OES), has maintained the flag display. Each of the original flags was purchased by an individual in memory or in dedication of a loved one. Proceeds from the “sale” of the 206 flags helped to support one of OES’s charitable missions: to provide children and veterans with service dogs.

The success of the project, led by resident and Past Grand Matron of Pennsylvania OES Jo-Anne Karnes, inspired other OES chapters to take part in “selling” and displaying flags. All five Masonic Village locations supported the project.

From 2009 – 2012, $1.2 million was raised by OES members in the United States and Canada. With no administration costs, all donations supported the service dog program, benefiting children, veterans and those in need. Jo-Anne was honored and humbled to see her idea make an impact on an international level.

“The project has made a difference for so many people,” Jo-Anne said. “The members of the Order are leaving paw prints on the hearts of others.”

As years passed, sun and wind damaged the original flags and poles located at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown. When Anne heard of the need for replacements, she offered to replace all 206 flags and poles without hesitation.

“I was inspired by one of my good friends who is a resident and part of OES,” Anne said. “She has told me for years the flags on campus need to be replaced, and I know I have always enjoyed them.”

“Anne’s gift brought this project to life again,” Jo-Anne said. “It’s like seeing the display for the first time.”

In 2014, the last of the original flags were purchased in memory or in dedication of someone. Jo-Anne has hopes of expanding the flag display and offering flags for “purchase” once again in support of service dogs.

Jo-Anne and Sue Ostermueller, chairman of the Elizabethtown Chapter No. 407’s flag team, along with more than 15 other volunteers, place and remove the flags for each holiday.

“Anne has made our mission here much easier,” Sue says. “It’s definitely a labor of love.”

The new flags Anne donated line the Eternal Flame Monument, the newest addition to Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s Veterans Grove. At the foot of the Eternal Flame Monument are inscribed pavers. In recognition of Veterans Day, these pavers are available for purchase in honor or in memory of a loved one who has served or is currently serving in the U.S. military and can be inscribed with a personal message. Pavers that surround the Veterans Garden at Masonic Village at Sewickley are also available for purchase (see right).

As a way of honoring or memorializing an individual, a paver can be inscribed to permanently recognize an individual’s service to our country. Contact the Office of Gift Planning at 1-800-599-6454 or visit https://masonicvillages.org/donate-now/.