*** PRESIDENT – BILL STARK
After a very successful year for Mended Hearts of Coachella Valley, we are excited to welcome all of you to 2025. Our visiting programs are doing very well thanks to the group of dedicated accredited visitors at Eisenhower and hopefully a reinvigorated program at Desert Regional. Our lectures in partnership with Eisenhower Health have been wonderful, educational and well attended in-person as well as the option for virtual ZOOM participation. Membership is at an all-time high, much due to the efforts of Dick Freiman. Secretary Faye Chow does an amazing job as noted by her program write ups and minutes taking. Treasurer Liz Young keeps us financially sound and solvent. Fund raising to support our nurses scholarship program at the two hospitals was and continues to be successful, primarily due to the efforts of Dan and Ingrid Twohey. David Dibley, no matter where he is in the world, willingly keeps you informed by his e-mails. Finally, my faithful wife, Carole, willingly agonizes over and produces our fine quarterly newsletter.
Lastly, it has been many years since we have had a formal election of officers in Chapter 281. It’s time to make this happen! Carolyn Warner, Dick Freiman, Carl Rushing and Ken Russo have volunteered to be our nominating committee for this election in late February. Only the President, Vice-President/Programs, Secretary and Treasurer are elected positions. Other positions like Membership, Newsletter Editor, E-mail Coordinator and Fund Raisers are appointed. Please consider stepping up, get your name on the ballot and help our Chapter grow! If you are currently one of our officers or appointees and are willing to continue in your position, please let one of the nominating committee members know.
On a personal note, I have held the title of your President for over two thirds of the time our chapter has been in existence (since 2001). Additionally, I’ve served in the roles of Vice President/Programs Chair plus Visiting Chair in parallel. These three positions should be independently filled. Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed doing this, you deserve to have new faces, energy, ideas and focus as we
march onward and upward in our quest to provide HOPE, ENCOURAGEMENT and EDUCATION to heart patients and their families.
***VISITING CHAIRMAN – BILL STARK
Accredited Visitors are always needed at both Eisenhower and particularly Desert Regional. As noted in our last newsletter, in January Jeremy Sloane will start his orientation at Desert Regional along with Larry Resick. Margaret Manson will also start her orientation at Eisenhower in January. Kristie Maletis is expected to begin regular rounds at Eisenhower in January. We are excited to have these dedicated men and women join this wonderful program of helping others, offering HOPE, ENCOURAGEMENT and EDUCATION to heart patients and their families.
If you would like to explore this wonderful way of using your experiences and talent, please give Bill Stark a call at (760) 777-3062 or e-mail: bstarkdest@verizon.net.
***TREASURER – LIZ YOUNG
FINANCIAL POSITION: $ 5,472.10
OPERATING FUND: $ 484.00
SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $ 4,988.10
***SECRETARY – FAYE CHOW
MENDED HEARTS OF COACHELLA VALLEY, CHAPTER 281
MEETING MINUTES: OCTOBER 3, 2024
The seventeenth in a series of meetings starting October 2022, held in partnership with the Community Education Department at Eisenhower Health (EH), was conducted simultaneously via ZOOM and in-person at the Annenberg Health Sciences Building. Chapter President Bill Stark opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m., the first meeting of the new season of monthly meetings. Since there were two presentations planned for this evening, Bill immediately introduced the first speakers: Mr. Brett Arkley, RDMS, CVT, RT and Ms. Lisa Fontes, MSN, RN, CV-BC. Ms. Lisa Fontes, Director of Clinical Operations at Eisenhower Desert Cardiology, has been with Eisenhower for 8 years, and Mr. Brett Arkley, Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, currently practicing in the vascular department of Cardiology, began the program with the topic of “ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURISM SCREENINGS”. Mr. Arkley explained that the aortic wall consists of three layers, the middle layer being muscle. Aging, smoking, high blood pressure and trauma are some factors that cause the muscle to weaken and expand, producing a bulge (aneurism) in the blood vessel. With time, this bulge grows and can burst, causing extreme blood loss and death. Aneurisms start out small, but grow over time, with 5 cm considered to be the maximum size before it’s too late to repair.
Aneurisms can be monitored by screening so that they can be treated to prevent their growth. Statistics show that 85% of patients with ruptured aortic aneurisms die. Currently, only 1% of eligible Medicare patients are being screened in the general U.S. population; at Eisenhower, 4% are being screened. Lack of awareness by both patients and physicians, and fear of results contribute to
the low rate of screening. There are two main treatments. “In Situ”, using surgery to insert a stent, and Endovascular Stenting, by inserting a stent through a catheter previously inserted in a vessel. Questions from the audience resulted in much additional information.
The second topic presented by Ms. Fontes and Mr. Arkley was ‘CHRONIC VENOUS DISEASES (CVD), a common medical problem that is under recognized and under treated and has significant morbidity and mortality. It can be asymptomatic or expressed in cosmetic appearance: spider veins, reticular veins, varicose veins, edema, pigmentation of the skin, venous eczema and venous ulcers. Other
symptoms are muscle cramping, numbness, itching, swelling and neuropathy. An estimated 175 million Americans are affected in the U.S. at an annual medical cost of $30-$90 billion. Risk factors include Age, Family History, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Phlebitis, Obesity, Occupations involving prolonged periods of standing. Multiple Pregnancies, Female Gender and Smoking. Venous blood is
vulnerable because it must flow against gravity without the heart to push it, it depends on the one-way valves in the veins that continually open and close, forcing the blood upward. The calf muscle in particular squeezes and helps the veins move the blood back to the heart with every step we take; it is often called the “second heart”. When valves in the veins become weak, blood pools in them and causes them to swell and become distorted, resulting in the various symptoms noted above. Current treatment is Radio Frequency Ablation, performed in office, without sedation or anesthesia, and with immediate recovery. Compression therapy is applied to maintain the closure of the vein. Prevention of venous diseases is accomplished through exercise, especially walking and using compression socks when work requires long periods of standing. A surprising result of venous blood pooling is extreme foot pain due to toxins building up in the blood vessels in the feet. This can be avoided by wearing compression hosiery. Once again, the questions and comments from the audience added to the
wealth of information provided by the speakers.
Unfortunately there was not enough time for our third speaker, Ms. Jaclyn Smith, BSN, RN to speak on her topic of “HOW TO NAVIGATE HEART FAILURE”. We hope to reschedule her at a future date.
The ZOOM portion of the meeting ended at 7:00 p.m.
MENDED HEARTS OF COACHELLA VALLEY, CHAPTER 281
MEETING MINUTES: NOVEMBER 14, 2024
The eighteenth in a series of meetings starting October 2022, held in partnership with the Community Education Department at Eisenhower Health (EH), was conducted simultaneously via ZOOM and in-person at the Annenberg Health Sciences Building. There were 28 attendees in person and 6 via ZOOM. Chapter President, Bill Stark opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. and thanked Brett Klein, Clinic and Marketing Specialist with EH for conducting the ZOOM presentation. Bill introduced the first of today’s speakers, DR. DAVID CHOE, Cardiologist at Desert Cardiology at EH for 10 years, this being his third presentation for our chapter.
“DEMYSTIFYING CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE”
DR. DAVID CHOE, MD, BOARD CERTIFIED IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
The ACC/AHA definition of congestive heart failure (CHF) is “a complex clinical syndrome with symptoms and signs that result from any structural or functional impairments of ventricular filling or ejection of blood”. More succinctly, it is “a long-term condition that occurs when the heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply”. This leads to blood and fluid collecting in the lungs and legs, resulting in difficulty breathing and limitation of physical activity. There are 1.3 million hospitalizations for HF annually in the U.S. By 2030 the prevalence of HF is predicted to reach 8.5 million. Data show that 24% of women and 28% of men in the U.S. have HF. Common risk
factors for HF include age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, overweight and atrial fibrillation. HF is classified according to whether the ejection fraction is reduced (< 40%), improved (>40%), mildly reduced (41-49% or “preserved” (= or >50%). There are four stages of CHF: no symptoms, but at risk (A), pre-heart failure (B), symptomatic (C) and advanced HF (D). Typical symptoms are shortness of
breath, fatigue, swollen legs, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, palpitations and water retention. Medication treatment begins with ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, along with diuretics, doses vary according to response and side-effects. It has been found that using multiple drugs has the greatest effect. Dr. Choe provided much information about new drugs and their functioning. Patients are able to enjoy a
better quality of life with the options presented by the new drugs. Following his talk, Dr. Choe answered a variety of questions from members of the audience. President Bill Stark then introduced our second speaker:
“NAVIGATING HEART FAILURE TREATMENT BEYOND HOSPITAL WALLS”
JACLYN SCHMITZ, BSN, RN, HEART FAILURE PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Ms. Schmitz described the program that EH provides for CHF patients for self-care after they leave the hospital. It is designed to empower patients to be able to improve their quality-of-life post-surgery by following guidelines on a daily basis and keeping track of any changes. Patients need to weigh themselves every day, take their medications, exercise, follow a healthy diet and keep records. They are taught at the clinic and followed for 7-14 days after discharge. Patients can call anytime if questions arise. The program is completely run by nurses, with 5 on staff. Patients are referred by their cardiologist and can have repeat visits if necessary. A study of the number of re-admissions of
patients following a heart procedure was conducted in which it was found that patients who had followed no program had a 17.7% re-admission rate of only 1.0% (one patient). This is positive evidence of the beneficial results of the program. Ms. Schmitz also answered numerous questions from the audience. The facility is located at the Glickman Cardiac Care Clinic in the Wright Bldg., Suite 410, on the Eisenhower Health campus, and is the first facility of its kind in the Coachella Valley.
The ZOOM portion of the meeting ended at 7:30 p.m.
MENDED HEARTS OF COACHELLA VALLEY, CHAPTER 281
HOLIDAY POTLUCK DINNER: DECEMBER 12, 2024
The annual Holiday Potluck Dinner was held at the Annenberg Center on the Eisenhower Health campus from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 32 members and guests attended and brought an amazing variety of dishes to share. President Bill Stark welcomed everyone and introduced DRMC Chaplin David Stephen who delivered the invocation for the assembly.
Bill introduced and thanked Ms. Suzanne Carlson from the staff of EH who made the arrangements for the room, including spotlighting effects on the walls and ceiling. He then introduced the chapter’s Board Members, with special recognition to Ms.Lydia Vincent, chapter Medical Consultant, who was responsible for obtaining a $500.00 donation for our Nurses’ Scholarship Fund from the Roller-Derby group that she skates with and Board Members Dan & Ingrid Twohey, who organized a fund-raising event that added an impressive $5,000.00 to the fund. Bill also introduced the Accredited Visitors who volunteer their time to visit cardiac patients to alleviate their concerns about the procedures they are facing.
A visit to the buffet followed, with a tantalizing array of dishes, including salads of every sort, a variety of luscious casseroles and side dishes, seafood from shrimp to salmon, and a tempting selection of desserts (including an apple pie). The program for the evening differed from the usual custom of having a speaker or entertainer. Instead, members were requested to share a short story about something that occurred in their lives that would be either humorous or memorable in some way. The stories included one about the long-lasting concerns of a mother-in-law, then a poignant tale of a young local boy who became a casualty of war, plus a story of growing up in Chicago, the
tale of an accidental ending up on top of a table in a restaurant in Budapest, and the admirable story of the construction of the World Trade Center Memorial in LaQuinta Park.
Bill thanked everyone for the wonderful variety of food they brought that made the evening special. He closed the meeting with wishes to all for a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah and New Year. Respectfully submitted, FAYE CHOW, SECRETARY
***FUND RAISING – DAN & INGRID TWOHEY
The Chapter’s fundraising efforts continue. We had a very successful fundraiser on October 20, 2024, at the Red Robin in LaQuinta and raised nearly $5,000.00 for our cardiac nurses’ Scholarship Fund. Thanks to all who worked hard to make it a success!
Please save this 2025 date: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2025 5:00 P.M.
Our next fundraiser is a wine and food pairing dinner at the KESTREL RESTAURANT at 44500 Indian Wells Lane in Indian Wells. Winewomen PSP will host our event with 25% of the night’s revenue going to our local Mended Hearts Chapter’s Scholarship Fund. The cost per person for the dinner is $135.00 all-inclusive and includes a reception where typically 4 appetizers are offered and a 4 course
dinner with wines paired with each course.
Tickets for the event must be purchased in advance. To RSVP and purchase tickets please call Kathleen at (760) 880-5010 and tell her you’re with Mended Hearts of the Coachella Valley. As we get closer to the event, Kathleen will publish the menu and the wines to be served on the Winewomen PSP website: www.winewomenpsp.com. The Winewomen PSP dinners are typically well attended. Hope you can join in on the fun on February 16, 2025 at the Kestrel Restaurant!!!
MENDED HEARTS PROGRAMS
(PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC & MEMBERS ARE INVITED)
All Lectures are at the Annenberg Health Sciences Building at Eisenhower Health. Lectures are from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. immediately followed by the monthly support group meeting of Mended Hearts of Coachella Valley. Lectures are simultaneously available on ZOOM. Please register on eisenhowerhealth.org/calendar. Select in-person or virtual and your ZOOM information will be there as well. Community members, heart patients and family plus professional staff are invited. A link to the virtual presentation will be emailed to you after registration.
***THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025 / 6:00-8:00 P.M.
REPLACING THE AORTIC VALUE WITHOUT OPEN HEART SURGERY
PUNEET K. KHANNA, BOARD CERTIFIED IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a revolutionary procedure that allows for the replacement of the aortic valve without the need for traditional open-heart surgery, is transforming the landscape of aortic valve replacement and improving quality of life for pa tients worldwide.
Learn about the patient profiles best suited for TAVR, including those who are at high risk or too frail for conventional surgery, and a step-by-step look at how TAVR is performed, including the use of catheter-based techniques to implant a new valve through a small incision. Dr. Khanna will review the latest studies and outcomes that demonstrate the significant benefits of TAVR, such as faster recovery, reduced complication rates, and improved survival rates compared to traditional surgery.
***THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025 / 6:00-8:00 P.M.
TOOLS IN THE CATHETERIZATION LAB
WADE LITTLE, RN & MONICA COLGAN, RN
Join Wade Little and Monica Colgan for a fun and most interesting lecture showing you the various tools and instruments used in the Catheterization Lab, overview of pre-procedure, intra-procedure and post-procedures. Included will be a brief discussion of the most common procedures like coronary angiogram, left and right heart catheterization, TAVRs and Mitraclips. Insight into several newer technologies being used such as the Impella and Shockwave Lithotripsy plus a look at the future will be discussed as well.
***SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2025 / 8:00 A.M.-4:30 P.M.
FOURTH ANNUAL EISENHOWER HEALTH
CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE SYMPOSIUM
AT EISENHOWER’S ANNENBERG HEALTH SCIENCE BUILDING
39000 BOB HOPE DRIVE / RANCHO MIRAGE, CA
AUDIENCE: This educational activity has been developed for physicians and may be of interest to nurses, residents, fellow pharmacists, respiratory therapists, EMS, and other allied health professionals. Eisenhower has kindly extended this to Mended Hearts, Inc. members and the public. This is an AWESOME OPPORTUNITY for heart patients and families to expand their knowledge.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This educational activity will cover advances in Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic medicine, focusing on issues related to the care of patients and offer an opportunity to interact with leaders in this ever-evolving specialty.
If you have questions about the symposium, please call (760) 341-7682, ext. 9345 or email cmejia2@eisenhowerhealth.org. Early registration is requested, and you do that as shown above.
Look for the February calendar.
***THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025 / 6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
PLEASE SAVE THIS DATE. SUBJECT & LECTURER TO BE DETERMINED.
JEREMY SLOAN’S HEART STORY
It was one of the biggest days in my professional career when my life changed forever. I was rushing around the office, preparing for my first in-person meeting with the creator of Nintendo. I didn’t think twice about how much I was sweating until I started to feel nauseous. Then my chest and breathing got tight. I took some turns and laid down on my office floor to settle down. Then a sharp pain hit my left shoulder in a single spot. A pain I had never felt before, along with an instant headache. I immediately knew something was wrong and asked a friend to rush me to the hospital. I stayed relatively calm, joking with my friend not to go into early labor as we worked on breathing
even though a sharp pain shot through my chest like lightning bolts.
Within a few minutes of my arrival, I was on the OR table in full cardiac arrest. The OR was frantically preparing for an emergency surgery. It was all happening so fast that I didn’t have time to process how serious my situation was. I clearly remember not being scared or afraid and at peace. The last thing I recall was asking the amazing nurse who held my hand and never left my side to check on my pregnant friend. Her daughter was born two months later and named after me.
When I woke up in recovery, I felt terrific. Well rested, like a completely new person. My whole body felt alive, as if breathing for the first time. That feeling was soon crushed when I learned how lucky I was to be alive. I had flat lined twice, and catheterization was very touch and go. My widow maker was 99% blocked and 85% in a second artery, leaving me with two stents right after my 43 rd
birthday. This was March 3, 2018, at Orlando Health.
When I moved back to Palm Springs, I was fortunately referred to a fantastic Eisenhower Cardiologist, Dr. Sandy Parks. Dr. Parks has diligently kept on top of my care and sent me for regular testing. During a treadmill stress test in February, the curtain was pulled back on my illusion that I had a healthy heart. Weeks later, while in the recovery room from an angiogram, the bombshell was dropped on me that I would need open heart surgery.
Within minutes of getting this news, the nurse handed me the phone. I was still very groggy and having difficulty processing what I just heard. Then, out of nowhere, I hear this stranger’s friendly, upbeat voice telling me not to worry. Everything was going to be alright. He then started bragging about how many miles he could bike ride after his open-heart surgery. He called himself a cabbage and talked about salsa dancing. I thought I had dreamt it all until that same voice gave me a call to check on me before my bypass surgery. Dick Freiman was so kind to answer all my questions, meanwhile sharing his own experience throughout our call. Thinking back to what that Mended Hearts touch meant, I still feel tears. Dick provided his friendship, strength, and bright light during a very uncertain time in my life. I am forever dedicated to the mission of the Mended Hearts organization.
On June 13, 2024, I had my double bypass surgery, and fortunately for me, I recovered faster than most. I was walking 10,000 steps within two weeks….and back to work at five weeks after my surgery. I try to forget about the unbearable pain in the hospital, walking down the longest hallway known to humankind. I have made significant changes to the unhealthier choices I had been making over my adult life. I just turned 50 and will make this next half century look good! Cabbage Patch Pro Tip: Lean Cuisines are not healthy!!! Who knew?
***MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN – DICK FREIMAN
WELCOME MEMBERS! HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY & ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!!
Congratulations and thanks to all of you, our Coachella Valley Chapter 281 now has over 100 members!!!
Upon examining our current membership, some of the members’ dues have lapsed. Please review your membership status and bring yours up to date. National also sends out reminders to every member. If you’re not receiving these reminders, please let me know. To submit your national dues, go to www.mendedhearts.org. Click on the join button and follow the instructions. If you choose one of the paid levels, which are indicated on the membership form attached on the last page of our newsletter, our Chapter 281 receives a 25% share from National.
Needless to say, we always welcome and appreciate any additional donations to our Chapter! We have operational expenses such as office supplies, etc. and depend on your donations to provide scholarships for our deserving nurses at Eisenhower Health and Desert Regional. Thanks to our members and friends, we have been able to award many scholarships to them throughout these past years. THANK YOU!!!
Please make all checks payable to MENDED HEARTS OF COACHELLA VALLEY CHAPTER 281
and mail to our Treasurer, Liz Young (78310 Willowrich Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92211.
Prior to our Mended Hearts meetings, we have a phone committee who contacts our members as a reminder of the date and time. If you could spare some time to help us out by making these calls, please contact me.
Any questions regarding membership dues, please call or e-mail me.
Dick Freiman, Membership Chairman
Phone: (760) 501-5096 / E-mail: dickfreiman@gmail.com
BOARD MEMBERS
PRESIDENT
BILL STARK
760-777-3062
bstarkdest@verizon.net
VICE PRESIDENT/PROGRAMS
Carl Rushihg
404-610-8922
Carl.W.Rushing@gmail.com
SECRETARY
FAYE CHOW
760-341-5706
jaimeandfaye@verizon.net
TREASURER
LIZ YOUNG
760-409-8181
iblizy3@aol.com
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN
DICK FREIMAN
760-501-5096
dickfreiman@gmail.com
VISITING CHAIRMAN
BILL STARK
760-777-3062
bstarkdest@verizon.net
DRMC HOSPITAL LIAISON
DAVID DIBLEY
650-452-8844
dibleyda@hotmail.com
EMAIL COORDINATOR
DAVID DIBLEY
650-452-8844
dibleyda@hotmail.com
FUND RAISING
DAN & INGRID TWOHEY
760-289-7230
twohey1@hotmail.com
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
CAROLE STARK
760-772-1461
bstarkdest@verizon.net
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
CAROLE STARK
760-772-1461
bstarkdest@verizon.net