summer 2018 - home - great people. great...

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38 QUICK INTERVENTION First responders and Mercyhealth team save man’s life 44 ON THE SPOT Janesville performers embrace improv

50 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

7 A LIFETIME OF SERVICE Boy Scouts honor Mercyhealth executives

12 PART OF THE FAMILY Castaways Thrift Shop volunteers and shoppers share a bond

16 THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING TUMOR Young dad is winning cancer battle after receiving treatment at Mercyhealth

23 FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATION Oak Hill Chapel is ready for the public 28 A DAUGHTER'S FINAL GOODBYE Mercyhealth at Home Hospice plans wedding in patient’s last days

34 PHOTO ESSAY: FAMILY JAZZ FEST

12

D E A R R E A D E R : One of the greatest aspects about living in the

Midwest is our strong sense of community.

Whether you live in the city, the country, or

somewhere in between, you know you will find

plenty of people who care about giving their

time and money to make our communities a

better place. That’s especially true in Janesville,

a community that has weathered a crippling economic

recession only to emerge stronger and more determined. In this

issue, we feature several individuals and groups in the community

who have worked particularly hard to make Janesville a better place:

• The Friends of Oak Hill Chapel, featured on page 23, have

spent thousands of hours over the last five years raising money

and restoring this historic building. Their hard work shows

— it’s absolutely gorgeous. Five years ago, the building was so

decrepit that the city of Janesville was pondering demolition.

But this group stepped up and put in the sweat equity to make

it a place that we can all be proud of.

• Mercyhealth Board Chairman Rowland “Rollie” McClellan and

Mercyhealth President and CEO Javon R. Bea have dedicated

their lives to the Boy Scouts of America, an organization that

strives to build character and leadership skills in children

across the country. On April 25, the Glacier’s Edge Council

of the Boy Scouts of America honored them with Lifetime

Achievement Awards for their contributions to scouting, which

we feature on page 7.

• Many of the volunteers at Castaways Thrift Shop have spent

years supporting Mercyhealth programs through their work

at the shop. Their bright smiles and helping hands have meant

so much to the people who shop there. We tell some of their

stories on page 12.

I’m proud to feature these dedicated people, and I’m excited to

learn about more. Do you know someone who gives back to the

community? Tell me! You can reach me at [email protected].

Beth Earnest

EDITOR, “GREAT PEOPLE. GREAT STORIES.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

7

ON THE COVER: BRANDON BUNDY

(FATHER) HAS AN INCURABLE BRAIN

TUMOR, BUT HAS BEEN LIVING HIS

LIFE TO THE FULLEST SINCE HIS

DIAGNOSIS.

Visit us at gpgsmagazine.com

23

34

F E A T UR E S

Jill Ayres, manager of the Mercyhealth Association of Volunteers, chats with frequent shopper Joanne Hallmark at Castaways Thrift Shop.

4 Great People. Great Stories. | Summer 2018 LIFE IN ROCK COUNTY 5

A LIFETIME OF

SERVICEBOY SCOUTS HONOR

MERCYHEALTH EXECUTIVES

At the beginning of every meeting, Boy Scouts across the country recite the Scout Oath, which includes the phrase, “… I will do my best … to help other people at all times …” Mercyhealth Board Chairman Rowland “Rollie” McClellan and Mercyhealth President

and CEO Javon R. Bea have spent their entire lives helping other people.

LIFE IN ROCK COUNTY 7 6 Great People. Great Stories. | Summer 2018

On April 25, the Glacier’s Edge Council of the Boy Scouts of America honored them with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contributions to scouting during a special breakfast at the Janesville Country Club. For the last 29 years, Rollie and Javon have worked very closely together to bring exceptional health care services with a passion for making lives better to communities throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. They have truly made our communities a better place to live by ensuring that every person needing care receives it through free and low-cost health services; operating the only health system-owned homeless center in the nation; providing free health screenings, classes, presentations and

support groups; and sponsoring and collaborating with hundreds of local organizations.

“They are a team,” said Larry Squire, regional president for Johnson Bank and a member of the Mercyhealth Regional Community Board of Directors. “For nearly three decades, they have made it their mission to improve the health and well-being of residents throughout Rock County and the region.”

SCOUTING’S IMPACTJavon first joined Boy Scouts at age 8 when he was a student at St. Patrick School in Rockford, Illinois. He was one of 12 children living in a small, three-bedroom house with one bathroom, and as he watched his older brother

earn merit badges, he couldn’t wait until he had the opportunity to join, too. “My scouting experiences taught me persistence and perseverance, and how to, on a daily basis, suit up, show up and do the next right thing,” he said at the event. “We are all going to have setbacks, but it’s the long haul that counts.”

He remembered one particularly difficult experience, when he went on a winter campout with his fellow Scouts and the temperature was 20 degrees below zero. “We didn’t think we were going to survive the weekend, but we did,” he said. “And after that, we felt invincible. We learned to reach inside ourselves.”

Javon first became interested in health care through the Medical Explorers Post at Mercyhealth Hospital–Rockton Avenue (formerly Rockford Memorial Hospital). A doctor there helped him obtain his first job mopping floors in the radiology and emergency departments. That job led to a position as a physical therapy aid, and Javon went on to become a physical therapist and earn his master’s degree in health care administration.

Rollie was instrumental in Javon’s hiring as president and CEO of Mercyhealth in 1989. With Rollie’s unwavering support, Javon has been building the health system ever since. It has grown from an organization of 500 staff members to more than 8,000 employee/partners, from one hospital to seven hospitals, 85 primary and specialty care locations in 50 communities, a home health and hospice division and a wholly owned and operated insurance company. Rollie McClellan, left, and Javon R. Bea have devoted decades of their lives in service to the Boy

Scouts of America.

Shortly after Javon took the helm at Mercyhealth, he became a board member of the Glacier’s Edge Council (then called the Sinnissippi Council) of the Boy Scouts of America. He chaired the Scout-o-Rama fundraiser and continues his support of the Boy Scouts

through Mercyhealth’s Medical School for Teens program, which has provided hands-on learning to thousands of students over the last three decades.

“Scouting taught me how to focus on service to others, and there’s no question that it had an influence on

why I went into health care,” he said. “I jumped at the opportunity to serve on the Sinnissippi Council Board. Scouting has always been a tremendous adventure for me. It’s taught me to lead with grace and humility and to leave a legacy bigger than oneself.”

Javon and Rollie McClellan met President George W. Bush when they won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Mercyhealth was the first

vertically integrated health system in the United States to win this prestigious award.


THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERINGAfter participating in Boy Scouts when he was young, Rollie was president of the Sinnissippi Council of the Boy Scouts of America for many years. But that was just one of many community organizations in which he served. In 1971, the distinguished banker joined the Mercy Hospital Board of Directors, and he was elected chairman in 1983. During the time between then and today, the health system has grown

by leaps and bounds, and Rollie has worked closely with Javon to oversee that growth. Volunteerism, he said at the event, is a vital part of living. A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics study showed that volunteerism in the United States has experienced a 25 percent decline in recent years. Yet other studies have shown that becoming a volunteer can be very beneficial for a person’s health — but only if he or she starts volunteering

early in life, and not just at retirement. “We have a responsibility to take care of each other,” he said. Rollie noted that mission-driven organizations — such as Mercyhealth

— depend heavily on volunteers. “Being involved with Mercyhealth for so long has given me a sense of purpose,” he said. “This health system is like a home to me, and the people there are like family. Go out and volunteer, and live a longer, healthier life.”

Gary Gandy, center, a renowned wildlife and portrait artist, was commissioned to create special paintings for Javon and Rollie.

”WE’RE ALL GOING TO HAVE SETBACKS, BUT IT ’S THE LONG HAUL THAT COUNTS.” - JAVON R. BEA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MERCYHEALTH

Javon shows off his many badges from

his years as a Boy Scout.


PART OF THE

FAMILY

R unning a retail store is a big task — there’s money to track, workers’ shifts to manage, and customers to please. So it’s a wonder that Castaways Thrift Shop — run completely by Mercyhealth volunteers — has been able to

thrive for so long. But it’s the volunteers — and the people who shop there — who have made it such a special place since it opened in 1983. There are about 75 people who work together to price, display, and sell a wide variety of donated items to benefit patients at Mercyhealth. Here are a few of their stories.

CASTAWAYS THRIFT SHOP VOLUNTEERS AND SHOPPERS SHARE A BOND


THE ORGANIZERSherry Dux is the lady who knows everyone. Two years ago, she came on board to be the scheduler for all the volunteers at Castaways, which is no small job when you consider all the unique scheduling needs each individual has. But Sherry doesn’t just look at her volunteers’ schedules when she figures out when they will work — she also wants to make sure they have an enjoyable experience. She takes great pains to schedule volunteers with their friends, and when she has new volunteers to add into the mix, she schedules them with a friendly, outgoing person so they will feel completely comfortable.

“You’re always in a situation where you’re going to be happy,” Sherry says. “This is

a bonding time for our volunteers, and I feel I have a responsibility to contribute to that. I’ve been here long enough that I know our volunteers’ strong points, so I make sure the schedule reflects that.” THE ARTISTAfter working in retail stores for much of her life, Shirley Larson has developed an eye for what looks good. She first became acquainted with Castaways after her daughter received a high school scholarship from Mercyhealth and she began donating items to the store. The volunteers started urging her to join them, so she gave in and began working there about six years ago. Shirley develops all the displays in the store, grouping tops with a necklace, earrings or pair of shoes that would look nice when worn together. She also

sometimes finds a piece of pottery or a glass trinket that matches the ensemble, and places all the items near each other.

Shirley’s displays often catch customers’ eyes, and they’ll wind up buying the whole collection. “It feels great when I come into the store and see that one of my displays is gone,” she says. “That means I have to put something else together. I comb through the inventory in the back and ask the other volunteers to tag an item quickly so I can use it.” THE HANDYMANIn a store that tends to be dominated by female volunteers, Alan Siljenberg has definitely found his niche: He takes on many of the jobs that require physical exertion, such as vacuuming and hanging shelves. “He kind of serves

as everyone’s little handyman,” says his wife, Flo, who talked him into joining her at Castaways three years ago.

Flo has been volunteering at the store for the last 17 years, and after Alan retired from his job as a truck driver a few years ago, she thought it would be fun for the two of them to become co-workers. She recently took a few months off because she was experiencing health issues, but Alan worked well with the other women in her absence. “They sure like it when I vacuum,” he says. “They say, ‘You can come over to clean my house when you’re done here.’” THE SUPER SHOPPERWhenever Joanne Hallmark needs to be in Janesville for Mercyhealth doctors’

appointments or other engagements, she always makes time to stop at Castaways. The Orfordville, Wisconsin woman considers Castaways her top place to shop. “I go there before I go anywhere else,” she says. “No matter what I’m looking for, I can find it there.”

One of Joanne’s favorite finds was a multi-colored top, which she wore to her 60th high school class reunion. She was the talk of the event, with everyone complimenting her on her clothing. Much of her wardrobe has come from Castaways — as have many of the knickknacks in her house. In fact, she had to buy three curio cabinets to house all the figurines she found at the store. Even her Shih Tzu, Sparky, receives some love from Castaways; when she returns

home from a shopping trip, he sniffs her bag, wondering if she bought him some toys or a new sweater.

“I always say I come in here to see my good friends at Castaways,” says Joanne.

“When I walk in the store, everyone walks up to me and gives me a hug. I feel like I’m part of the family.”

Sherry Dux has been managing the Castaways volunteer schedule for

more than two years.

Shirley Larson is a true artist when she creates displays for Castaways. Alan Siljenberg and his wife Flo enjoy volunteering

at Castaways together.

Joanne Hallmark says she can always find what she's

looking for at Castaways.

Castaways Thrift Shop, 922 Milton Ave. in Janesville, is open 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Saturday. To inquire about volunteering there, call (608) 756-6739.


I N C R E D I B L E

YOUNG DAD IS WINNING CANCER BAT TLE AF TER RECE I V ING TREATMENT AT MERCYHEALTH

SHRINKING TUMOR

THE

From left, Brandon Bundy, son Jordan,

daughter Ella, and wife Emily are

cherishing every day they have together.


It was supposed to be a fun family trip. Brandon Bundy, his wife and their two young children were in Wisconsin Dells early in 2015, celebrating his new job with the Rock County Council on Aging, when Brandon collapsed. They had just finished a day at Mt. Olympus water park, and Brandon and his son, Jordan, were waiting on his wife Emily and daughter Ella to finish changing. Brandon’s face started trembling and he fell to the ground, shaking. He asked Jordan to get his mother, and the boy stood at the door of the locker room, screaming for her. That was on a Sunday. By Wednesday, Brandon was on an operating

room table. It turned out he had a glioblastoma (GBM), a particularly aggressive malignant brain tumor that can spread into other parts of the brain very quickly. After his surgery, Brandon began coming to Mercyhealth Cancer Center in his hometown of Janesville to undergo an arduous treatment of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The two Cancer Center doctors who were going to lead him through the most important treatment of his life were Kevin Kozak, MD, radiation oncologist, and Shahid Shekhani, MD, medical oncologist.

“When I begin treatment with a patient, I start with educating him on his disease,” says Dr. Kozak. “This

situation was particularly challenging because Brandon was a 36-year-old man when I met him, and we wanted to reduce the risk of recurrence as much as possible. While GBM does not generally metastasize to other parts of the body, it can progress very quickly in the brain.”

For Brandon, life suddenly took a different turn. Just a few days prior, he had been looking forward to a new job, and now he was ready to fight for his life. “When you receive a diagnosis like this, it’s scary,” he says. “When we were going over the prognosis, Dr. Kozak asked me if I wanted to know the median life span. I told him, ‘Yeah, I want to know — so I can laugh with you when I beat it.”

Twelve to 15 months. That was the typical life expectancy for people who have been diagnosed with GBM. And so Brandon began his post-surgery treatment.

”THEY HELPED ME MAINTAIN THE STRENGTH TO CONTINUE WINNING THE WAR AGAINST THIS DISEASE.” - BRANDON BUNDY

FIGHTING BACKIn 2005, a researcher found that the best way to treat Brandon’s particular type of cancer was to undergo both chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the same time. So in March 2015, he began what would ultimately be 42 days of chemotherapy and 30 radiation therapy treatments. “The first night I was on chemo, I was literally throwing up the entire night,” he says. “After

that, it got a lot better. I really liked my doctors. Dr. Kozak is an unbelievable guy. He’s very compassionate and knows what he’s talking about. My wife always had a notebook full of questions for him, and he took the time to answer every one. Dr. Shekhani was an incredible doctor, too." During Brandon’s treatment, he and Emily kept family and friends updated on their Facebook page, Team Bundy. He

used it to stay positive, logging on every week or so to post an uplifting quote or thought. He also decided to participate in a cancer awareness 5K called Chasing Chad in August 2015. The race was in the middle of a chemo week, but he was determined to push through, listening to “Rocky” songs on his phone the entire time.

Shahid Shekhani, MD, medical oncologist at the Mercyhealth Cancer Center in Janesville

Kevin Kozak, MD, radiation oncologist at the Mercyhealth Cancer Center in Janesville


The following month, Dr. Kozak and his staff connected Brandon’s family with the Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation. The Jack and Jill Foundation gives children who will lose one of their parents to cancer a

“timeout” to enjoy time together. The Bundys have a goal of visiting all the Major League Baseball stadiums, so the Foundation paid for them to travel to San Diego, see a Padres game and take a VIP tour of the Padres’ Petco Park. They also visited Sea World and stayed at a five-star resort. “It was absolutely wonderful,” says Brandon.

A MYSTERYWhile the treatment kept Brandon’s cancer at bay for a time, he experienced a recurrence in July 2016 and underwent surgery again. Since then, every time he goes in for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, he learns the tumor has been shrinking.

“It’s a mystery,” he says. “We’ve done a lot of praying and practiced a lot of positivity.”

There is no cure for GBM, so any treatments that Brandon undergoes are attempts to prolong his life — not eliminate the cancer completely. Still,

he appreciates the care he received from all his doctors and nurses and the other staff at Mercyhealth. “I have a fighter’s mentality,” he says, “and they helped me maintain the strength to continue winning the war against this disease.”

STATE-OF-THE-ART NEW EQUIPMENT The Mercyhealth Cancer Center in Janesville has always stayed at the cutting edge of technology. This month, the facility is beginning to use a brand-new radiotherapy system — the Versa HD™. This new machine has the capability to deliver radiation therapy for all types of cancer — at a remarkably quick speed. “When we are doing a stereotactical radiosurgery procedure, what once would have taken 40 minutes will now take us five minutes,” says Dr. Kozak. “This is a state-of-the-art piece of equipment that will enhance the patient experience.”

Brandon and Jordan enjoy spending time playing baseball together.

To learn more about the Mercyhealth Cancer Center in Janesville and make an appointment, call (608) 756-6500 or visit mercyhealthsystem.org.


FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATION

OAK HILL CHAPEL IS READY FOR THE PUBLIC

Oak Hill Chapel has undergone a

remarkable transformation, thanks

to a dedicated group of volunteers.

W hen you walk into Oak Hill Chapel, it feels, smells and looks like a new facility — the kind of place where you’d want to schedule a wedding, baptism or other important religious occasion. You’d never guess that five

years ago, the building was so decrepit the city of Janesville was prepared to demolish it.


The left side of the picture is the chapel as it looked five years ago, and the right side is how it looks now.

Instead, a small group of volunteers spent thousands of hours painstakingly restoring the wood and stained glass to its former glory so that it could serve the community again. “The people can finally have it in pristine condition to use for their own life stories,” says Richard Snyder, co-president of the group.

SAVING A LANDMARKRichard, who grew up in Janesville, has fond memories of biking through Oak Hill Cemetery and past the

chapel. Built in 1899, the chapel was always a beautiful backdrop for the young Richard as he camped in the woods and spent time with friends. After graduating high school, he spent several decades traveling around the country, opening his own woodworking shops and making a living through carpentry and glassmaking.

He returned to Janesville in 2011 to care for his ill father, and in 2013, he read an article about how the city

had recently gotten ownership of the cemetery and chapel and planned to tear it down. Richard hastily put together the Friends of Oak Hill Chapel group and approached the Janesville City Council about saving the landmark. Council members told him if his group raised $40,000 in five months to renovate the facility, the city would kick in another $60,000.

So Richard and his fellow group members set to work raising the money. They made a DVD of Richard

Richard Snyder was one of the volunteers who spearheaded the

campaign to restore Oak Hill Chapel.

Volunteers spent thousands of hours restoring the chapel's

woodwork and stained glass windows.

restoring some of the stained glass in the chapel and offered it — along with Richard’s original glassware from his former businesses — to people who donated money to the cause. By the time five months was up, they had met the City Council’s requirement and the project was a go.

THE BEAUTY OF STAINED GLASSOne of the most time-consuming aspects of the project was restoring the 44 stained-glass windows in the chapel. Back in the 70s and 80s, when waterbeds were all the rage in the United States, Richard gained valuable experience designing, cutting, grinding and framing beautiful stained-glass features for the beds. He also continues to teach classes to local aspiring artists. So he was definitely the right man for the job —

but it took a long time. Seventeen of the windows were either missing or damaged beyond repair, so Richard recreated them according to the style of the period and to match the other windows in the chapel. As for the rest of the windows, they needed to be cleaned and restored to their former glory.

“For every window, I had to go through about 30 steps,” says Richard. “I had to take the window apart, clean every piece, put it back together with lead, solder the top and bottom, and cement the top and bottom.” Richard chronicled his efforts on the Friends of Oak Hill Chapel’s Facebook page, updating followers whenever he finished a window. He and other volunteers installed the final window in April 2018. “Those windows

are gorgeous,” says Mark Freitag, Janesville’s city manager. “Richard is a master craftsman.”

MANY HANDSFor as much effort as Richard himself has put into the project, he is quick to stress that it was very much a group effort. While some volunteers came and went during the five-year process, there is a core group of five people in addition to Richard who kept the ball rolling: Jim Crittenden, co-president; Gerald Jass, project manager; Dale Nobeinsky, treasurer; Lonnie Coplien, master stonemason/bricklayer and designer; and Roy Rasmussen, laborer. In addition to the core group, there were hundreds of other people who contributed in many ways — the people and companies who donated materials and labor, the schoolchildren who provided entertainment during the


Hundreds of people came to the

June open house to take a good

look at the newly refurbished

chapel.

chapel’s many open houses, the church groups that helped the Friends strip all the oak paneling off the inside of the chapel, and the hundreds of people who contributed financially. “We tried to involve everyone in the community,” says Richard, “especially the kids, because they’re the ones who will be taking care of this chapel when we’re gone.” Ron Sass, a general contractor who became involved in the project after talking to one of the volunteers while he

was visiting a friend’s grave in Oak Hill Cemetery, says he and his employees were happy to volunteer their time. “We wanted to bring back a little of the past so others could use it, too," he says. At the beginning of June, the Friends hosted a grand opening so the Janesville community could see the results of all their hard work over the past five years. Hundreds of people stopped by to see how a community group accomplished so much. “This

restoration speaks to the idea of a public-private partnership that is meant to improve some aspect of the community,” says Mark. “This group has stayed on task and it has created something that is truly a treasure for the community.”

The Friends of Oak Hill Chapel - Front row from left: Jim Crittenden, Jon Harrie, Richard Snyder, Marge Manogue, Donna Bakken and Lonnie Coplien.

Back row: Gerald Jass, Marni Janisch, Dale Nobiensky, Kurt Linck and Roy Rasmussen.

To inquire about renting Oak Hill Chapel, call the City of Janesville Parks Division at (608) 755-3025.


GOODBYEMERCYHEALTH AT HOME HOSPICE PLANS

WEDDING IN PATIENT ’S LAST DAYS

The prospect of losing her father to lung cancer was heartbreaking for Niki Mendoza. But she and the man who is now her husband, Brent Mendoza, were determined that they would share one final memory with her dad, Troy Lange,

51, before he passed away. After he received his diagnosis at the end of April 2017, they planned their wedding for August in hopes that Troy would be able to hold on until then. But just before he was about to start his third round of chemotherapy with the Mercyhealth Cancer Center in Janesville near the end of June 2017, his health took a turn for the worse. The specific type of cancer he had was high-grade large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and it was taking over his body. He began Mercyhealth at Home hospice care on June 28, and he passed away on July 2.

Brenda Lange was presented with a

U.S. Army flag after her husband Troy,

a veteran, passed away. Here, Brenda's

daughter Niki holds the flag on the day

she celebrated her wedding in August

2017 — a month after her father died.

A DAUGHTER'S

FINAL


What happened during the interim speaks to the compassionate, loving care of the social workers, nurses and aides who work at Mercyhealth at Home. They were able to honor Niki’s request that her father give her away at her wedding and provide Troy with the peace he needed in his last days.

LAST REQUESTMercyhealth at Home Hospice is a service offered for patients who are no longer seeking curative care. Caregivers provide in-home physical, emotional and spiritual care for their patients,

and they teach family members how to comfort and care for their loved one and each other. With a dedicated staff of nurses, social workers, home health aides, volunteers and chaplains, Mercyhealth at Home Hospice helps make end-of-life care easier.

Social worker Lisa Petersen knew Niki wanted her father to be at her wedding, so when she visited Troy’s home in Janesville on June 30, she talked to Niki, Brent, and Troy’s wife Brenda privately about the possibility of arranging a wedding right away. They

Niki gives her father Troy a hug just before she prepares to wed Brent in a ceremony that

Mercyhealth at Home Hospice staff planned.

”NIKI WAS MARRYING THE LOVE OF HER LIFE. AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS LOSING MINE. IT WAS VERY BITTERSWEET FOR ME.” - BRENDA LANGE

Troy and Brenda were high school

sweethearts and were married for 33

years before Troy passed away in 2017.


had already booked their venue and paid for the wedding in August, but they wanted to be legally married while Troy was still around. “This family had been through a lot,” says Lisa. “I knew how important it was for me to have my dad be there when I got married, so I knew how important it was for Niki.”

Within a span of about 20 hours, Lisa put together the wedding. A co-worker’s husband is a minister, and he agreed to be available the morning of July 1. Lisa asked Niki and Brent what their colors were and what kind of cake they liked, and she picked up flowers and cake the evening of June 30. Meanwhile,

Brenda, Niki and Brent got to work calling close family members, including Brent’s parents and brothers, Niki’s grandparents, one of her cousins, and Troy’s siblings — some of whom were already in town to spend time with Troy in his last days. Of course, Niki and Brent planned to have their three young children at the wedding, too. “I kept it low-key,” says Niki. “I didn’t want to overdo it and cause my dad anxiety.”

Troy didn’t know what his wife and daughter were planning until just a few minutes before the ceremony began. The whole family and the minister congregated near Troy’s bed in the

sitting room, and when the minister asked Troy, “Who gives this man to this woman?” he replied, “Her mother and I do.”

The day was emotional for all who were there, but especially so for Brenda.

“Niki was marrying the love of her life,” she says. “At the same time, I was losing mine. It was very bittersweet for me. I knew it would be like that for the rest of my life.”

After the ceremony, Lisa provided food from Panera for the bride and groom and all their guests, and they celebrated. That night, Niki and Brent stayed at her

parents’ house, and the next afternoon, Troy passed away. “I think that was what he was waiting for — to be at peace and pass on,” says Lisa. “One of the goals of hospice is to help people find that peace.”

A TREASURED MEMORYIn August, Niki and Brent had a second ceremony and large reception for all their family and friends — the event they had initially hoped Troy would be able to attend. At the ceremony, Troy’s brothers walked Niki down the aisle, holding the corners of an American flag

to honor Troy’s service in the U.S. Army. It was a special day, but both of the newlyweds were happy they had made their union “official” while Troy was still around. “I would have done anything I could have done to include him,” says Brent. “The wedding at Troy’s house was special and intimate — a memory that will always be there.”

Brenda now cherishes every moment of that ceremony — how her daughter hugged and kissed her dad before saying her vows, and how Troy beamed with pride. She especially appreciated

how caring the Mercyhealth at Home Hospice staff were. “When they came to my house, it was like a friend was visiting,” she says. “They loved my husband, even though they knew him for only five days. When we were at our lowest, hospice was there for us.”

Niki had initially planned her wedding for August 2017. After the ceremony at her parents' house in July, she and Brent decided to still host the

ceremony and reception in August for their family and friends. Here, Troy's brothers John Lange, left, and Randy Lange walk her down the aisle.

Niki's friend Stephanie Grafton made this keychain for Niki with the names of Niki's father and sister (who died in childhood).

To learn more about Mercyhealth at Home Hospice, call (608) 754-2201 or visit mercyhealthsystem.org.

Brent and Niki exchange their vows in front of a minister while Brent's brother, Jacob Mendoza; his son Brayden Mendoza, right; and Niki's son Trey Stoddard look on.


PHOTO ESSAY:

In an effort to bring its ministry into the community, First Lutheran Church in Janesville hosted its first-ever Family Jazz Fest in June. The event included plenty of live music

from groups such as the Badger Chordhawks Chorus and the Craig High School Jazz Ensemble. The event benefited the

Academy Singers, an after-school arts program in Janesville's Fourth Ward. “We’re giving these kids a good platform to believe in themselves,” says Ben Johnston-Urey, music director at First Lutheran Church.

FAMILY JAZZ FEST

Children had the opportunity to try out musical instruments at one booth.

Andrea Peterson and her son Charles, 5, dance to the music.

Liam MacPherson, 11, rests on his mother Meg as they listen to music.

Cherie Norquay is the musical director for the Academy Singers, an after-school arts program.

Father Earl Sias from All Saints Anglican Church speaks to the crowd.

Inflatables were a big part of the fun for kids at the Family Jazz Fest.


Anikaa Hallett, 6, of Milton, plays in a bounce house.

Maria and Ronald McLin of Janesville brought their 6-week-old daughter Maya to enjoy the festival.

Stephanie Lindgren of Janesville and her daughter Roo, 3, take in the sights.

Ava Johnston-Urey, 3, enjoys some ice cream at the festival her dad organized.

Booker Spurlock, 2, dances to the beat as his parents, Shawn and Kari of Janesville, cheer him on.

U.S. Air Force veteran Terry Ryan of Janesville stands to be recognized during the playing of the military branch’s official song.

Christian Pease, 6, of Fort Atkinson, plays a game

of bags.

Jack Kislia, center, and his wife Midge catch up with Hans Von Allmen.First Lutheran Church music director Ben Urey-Johnston organized the Family Jazz Fest.

From left, Andrew, Dalia and Barb McClannahan relax while listening to the music.


QUICK INTERVENTION

F I R S T R E S P O N D E R S A N D M E R C Y H E A L T H T E A M S A V E M A N ’ S L I F E

Brian Carhart considers himself lucky

to be alive after receiving treatment for

cardiac arrest at Mercyhealth Hospital

and Trauma Center in Janesville.


On November 8, 2017, Brian Carhart was closer to death than he had ever been. The 53-year-old Janesville man suffered cardiac arrest in the middle of the night — one of the major arteries to his heart was completely blocked, cutting off blood circulation and causing his heart to stop beating. Fortunately,

he had four factors working in his favor — his wife, Jenny, was next to him and called 911 right away; the 911 operator, Amanda Johnson, was able to guide Jenny through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); the first responders with Janesville Fire Station No. 3 and the paramedics were able to keep

him alive with a defibrillator; and the cardiopulmonary team at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville worked quickly enough to restore the circulation to his heart.

“From the guys on the fire truck to the paramedics in the ambulance to the

emergency room and intensive care staff, there were so many people who helped me,” says Brian. “I’m grateful to be alive.”

THE RIGHT TREATMENTThe first memory Jenny has from that morning is of pain: Brian had inadvertently punched her in the face in the throes of his cardiac event. She looked over, and his eyes and mouth were wide open as he was gasping for air. She knew it was cardiac arrest and immediately called 911. The operator, Amanda, helped her administer CPR, which she had never done before. Amanda used tapping noises on the phone to help Jenny time her compressions until the first responders came with a defibrillator. They shocked

Brian twice in his bed, once in the driveway and once in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Meanwhile, Jenny called to alert their son Kyle, who was stationed at the Fort Wainwright U.S. Army post near Fairbanks, Alaska. Within 12 hours, the American Red Cross scheduled a plane to bring Kyle to his dad’s side.

When emergency medical services personnel have a situation such as Brian’s, they call ahead to the hospital so Mercyhealth staff know they should assemble the cardiac catheterization team. The American Heart Association stipulates that each hospital should have a “door-to-balloon time” (the amount of time it takes from the moment a

patient enters the emergency room until doctors open up his blocked artery in the catheterization lab) of 90 minutes or less. Usually, Mercyhealth is able to treat cardiac arrest patients in less than an hour — sometimes in as little as 20 minutes after they arrive at the emergency room. “We have a very experienced team here — not only the physicians, but also the nurses and technicians,” says Gene Gulliver, MD, cardiologist at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center. “We’ve all been working together a long time.”

Dr. Gulliver performed a cardiac catheterization, which means he inserted a thin, hollow tube called a catheter into Brian’s right femoral artery, threading

Brian and his wife Jenny have been able to get back out on their boat this summer.

Mercyhealth exercise physiologist Melanie Pavolonis works with Brian during his cardiac rehabilitation.


it into his heart. During the procedure, he discovered that Brian’s circumflex artery — the artery that feeds into the side of the heart — was completely blocked. He inserted a stent — a tiny wire mesh tube — into the artery to keep it open and fix the blockage.

“When a person experiences that type of blockage, it can often lead to death,” says Dr. Gulliver. “Fortunately, Jenny performed CPR right away, which was critical, because it is the only way the body is going to receive the oxygen it needs until the paramedics arrive. More people would survive cardiac arrest if they received CPR immediately.”

LIFESTYLE CHANGESThe incident in November was not the first time Brian had experienced

cardiac arrest. In 2001, he woke Jenny up after experiencing chest pains, and when they arrived at the hospital, they learned he had a complete blockage and needed a stent. His heart had stopped, but doctors were able to revive him. He was placed on medications at the time to manage his heart disease, but he couldn’t tolerate the side effects and stopped taking them. Additionally, he was a smoker, which also contributed to his risk for another cardiac arrest and was one of the reasons he experienced a life-threatening incident again.

After returning home from the hospital, Brian began suffering from hip and leg pain. In March 2018, he talked to Dr. Gulliver’s nurse, Kathy Rux, who sent him to Dr. Gulliver right away. As it turned out, he was suffering from

blockages in the arteries supplying his legs, and needed to undergo another catheterization to open up the arteries with stents. Then, a few weeks later, he saw Heidi Rye, NP, a nurse practitioner in Dr. Gulliver’s office, who recognized he was experiencing angina — heart pain due to a blocked artery. Dr. Gulliver again opened an artery in his heart. In recent months, Brian has been attending cardiac rehabilitation and has tried hard to quit smoking — although he still smokes the occasional cigarette. “It is so important to stop smoking,” says Dr. Gulliver. “Tobacco addiction is such a difficult problem to solve, but it could mean the difference between life and death.”

For his part, Brian is working hard to change his lifestyle and is grateful he has been given a second … and third … and fourth chance at life. In particular, he has been able to return to boating and working on boats, which is his biggest passion. “I’ve been given chances that people don’t usually get,” he says. “I can’t say enough about Dr. Gulliver and his staff. They don’t just do their job — they care about each and every person they treat.” “I’m here today because of Mercyhealth Hospital.”

Jenny and Brian work on repairing a boat motor.

Gene Gulliver, MD, cardiologist at Mercyhealth Heart and Vascular Center.

To learn more about Mercyhealth cardiac services, call (608) 756-6868 or visit mercyhealthsystem.org.


ON THE

SPOT JANESVILLE PERFORMERS

EMBRACE IMPROV

Nathan Burkart, executive director of

the Janesville Performing Arts Center,

put together Janesville’s Improv

Comedy Troupe last year as a new

artistic opportunity for the Janesville

community.

I n large cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles, improvisation — a form of live theater in which the plot, characters and dialogue are made up on the

spot — is a staple of local entertainment.


In fact, many famous comedians — including Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Chris Farley and Martin Short — got their start in improv. It’s an incredibly challenging art form, however, and there haven’t been any regularly appearing troupes in Janesville. Until now.

Janesville’s Improv Comedy Troupe began performing in 2017 and is now part of the Janesville Performing Arts Center’s regular lineup for the 2018-19 season. The group has already performed twice this year in the JPAC Gallery — a smaller venue near JPAC's larger theater that seats about 100 people — to a sold-out crowd. “The JPAC Gallery is a really great space for developing and incubating ideas before they go to

the main stage,” says Nathan Burkart, executive director of JPAC. “We’ve gotten a great response from our shows in there.” A STRONG TEAMThe very nature of improv requires that performers be fearless, and the six members of this troupe certainly are. Each of them is a veteran of the stage who wanted to try something new:

• Edie Baron grew up in Chicago and was a professional mime for several years. Now, she’s the executive director of the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra.

• Penny Ardelt is a banker who has been performing on the Janesville community theater scene for years.

• Ron Brown is a retired bread delivery man who produces interactive murder mysteries through his company, Chicken Boy Productions. Ron also is active in Janesville’s community theater scene.

• Melanie Morgan is a paraprofessional who works with special needs children at a school. She is a regular volunteer for JPAC and its resident groups and has a strong passion for the arts.

• Nathan Burkart was a musical theater major in college and spent eight years performing in Los Angeles before coming to Janesville.

• Yuri Rashkin, who plays the piano for all the productions, is a teacher

and Rock County supervisor. He serves on the board of the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra and has been playing music in the community for many years.

Nathan created the troupe because he wanted to introduce a different art form to the Janesville theater scene. “It was originally supposed to be a one-time thing,” he says. “But it became so popular that we decided to schedule regular performances.”

Not only do people like watching improv, but they want to learn how to do it themselves. Aspiring performers call Nathan to ask how they can participate, so he invites them to come to one of the group’s regular rehearsals to play

improv games with them. Anyone can participate, but performances are by invite only. While aspiring improv performers in bigger cities often pay hundreds of dollars to take classes, these informal sessions are free in Janesville. “I want to make it as inclusive and accessible as possible,” says Nathan. NON-STOP ENTERTAINMENT The troupe’s shows typically are divided into two parts: In the first part, the players participate in improv games, and in the second, they perform a completely improvised musical. But before the fun starts, they need suggestions. So as audience members trickle in the doors, they invite them to write down made-up song titles, characters and sentences to be used throughout the show.

And then … the show begins. The players do a particularly popular game during which they invite an audience member to choose random props for each of them from a table at the side of the room. They must then “sell” these items to the audience for a purpose completely different than that for which the item was intended. The audience howled when one of the players took a rope-like contraption and proclaimed that she was selling “Insta-Braids” for just $4.99 each. Audience members also particularly liked a skit during which a couple was on a first date at an Italian restaurant, but their “hands” were actually those of a player hiding behind them. They attempted to drink wine and eat bread and pasta, and hilarity ensued.“You can’t beat making other people

Edie Baron introduces her new invention, "Insta-Braids,"

to the audience.

Ron Brown plays a character on a blind date. The catch: His arms are

actually those of a performer behind him, which leads to fun when he

tries to feed himself.

Nathan Burkart takes on the role of a martial arts expert in the troupe's

improvised musical.

Melanie Morgan gets into character during one of the improv games.


laugh,” says Melanie. “After being here, I get totally reenergized.”

For the musical, the troupe had already created the premise: A director named CiCi was casting an actor for her summer playhouse, and she was trying to decide between four contenders. Everything else — including the character types and the titles of the songs they sang for their auditions — came from the audience. It’s difficult to describe exactly what transpired on

stage … but let’s just say that at one point a monkey, a martial arts expert and a Native American nonagenarian were dancing around Benicio del Toro, singing about killing him. ‘Nuff said. For Nathan, the group is a win-win for JPAC: It gives local performers an opportunity to stretch themselves, and it delights audiences. “We’ll keep doing this as long as there’s an audience for it,” he says.

Janesville’s Improv Comedy Troupe will perform on September 21, 2018; and January 11, March 29 and June 8, 2019. All performances start at 7:30 pm at Janesville Performing Arts Center, 408 S. Main St. Tickets are $12 and are general admission. For more information or to inquire about participating in rehearsals, visit JanesvillePAC.orgor call (608) 758-0297.

From left, Nathan Burkart, Edie Baron, Ron Brown, Penny Ardelt, Yuri Rashkin and Melanie Morgan comprise Janesville’s Improv Comedy Troupe.

Penny Ardelt as CiCi, Nathan Burkart as

a martial arts expert, and Ron Brown as

a Native American make up a scene on

the spot during the troupe’s improvised

musical.


PREPARING FOR CHILDBIRTH This free class meets one day for three

consecutive weeks. Topics include:

anatomy and physiology, signs and stages

of labor, pain management choices, labor

interventions, relaxation techniques, and

the important roles of the labor coach. We

will also be taking a tour of the Birthing

Center. Classes are held on Thursdays, 6-9

pm, starting on September 13, October 11,

November 1, and November 29. One-day

classes are held on Saturdays, 9 am-4 pm,

on September 22, October 13, November

3, and December 15. Classes are held

at the Mercyhealth Community Center,

Room CC106, 580 N. Washington St.,

Janesville.

INFANT CAREThis free class teaches you what to expect

during your infant’s newborn period.

Topics include breastfeeding basics,

formula preparation, infant bathing,

safety and CPR, and car seat info. Classes

are one session only and are held every

Tuesday, 6-8:30 pm, at the Mercyhealth

Community Center, Room CC106, 580 N.

Washington St., Janesville.

SIBLING CLASS Help your child adjust to becoming a big

brother or sister. Class is held Thursdays,

3-3:30 pm for 2- and 3-year-olds, and

4-4:30 pm for 4- to 8-year-olds, on August

30, September 13, October 18, November

8, and December 6. Fall classes are in the

Education Room 3231 on the 3rd floor of

Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center

in Janesville in the Birthing Center.

Adults must accompany children to class.

Please visit the 3rd floor postpartum

nursing station for directions.

SAFE SITTER The Safe Sitter course is a medically

accurate child care course developed for

11- to 13-year-olds. Safe Sitter teaches the

skills needed to safely care for children,

infant through school age. Safety issues,

child development, rescue breathing and

first aid will be discussed. Classes are

held monthly at the Mercy Care Building,

580 N. Washington St., Janesville, in the

Marketing Conference Room on the 4th

floor. Cost is $45.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUPFor women diagnosed with any type

of breast cancer. Meets the second

Thursday of the month, 6:30-8 pm, in

the Mercyhealth North conference room,

Janesville.

GRIEFCARE SUPPORT GROUPMercyhealth at Home Hospice invites

you to share and receive the support of

others facing the challenges of grieving

the loss of a loved one. Family, friends and

children are welcome; the group meets

the second Tuesday of the month, 6 pm, in

the Mercyhealth North conference room,

Janesville.

STROKE SURVIVORS’ SUPPORT GROUPRecovering from or living with the effects

of a stroke is a challenge worth sharing.

At our Stroke Survivors’ Support Group,

individuals and loved ones affected

by stroke have a safe place to share

emotions and personal experiences, seek

and give advice and exchange practical

information with others. Meets the first

Wednesday of every month, 4:30-5:30

pm, at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma

Center, Room 1128A, Janesville.

WIDOWS’ COFFEE SUPPORT GROUP Are you recently widowed and looking for

a group at which you can socialize and

make new friends? This group meets on

the last Monday of every month, 10 am.

Call (888) 396-3729 for each month’s

location.

CANCER SUPPORT GROUPThis group brings together anyone

touched by cancer, at any stage in their

journey. Whether we are playing bingo,

listening to a guest speaker or sharing

our day-to-day lives, our goal is to create

an environment where everyone feels

welcome, comfortable, encouraged and

supported. Meets every Wednesday, 10-11

am, Mercyhealth Conference Center, 1000

Mineral Point Ave., Janesville.

CANCER AT ANY AGE SUPPORT GROUPThis group brings together anyone

touched by cancer, at any stage in

their journey.Our goal is to create an

environment where everyone feels

welcome, comfortable, encouraged and

supported. Meets the first Tuesday of

each month, 6-7 pm, at the Mercyhealth

Conference Center, 1000 Mineral Point

Ave., Janesville.

SEPTEMBER AUG. 31-SEP. 3 ROCK RIVER THRESHEREE 8 am-5 pmThresherman’s Park51 E. Cox Rd., EdgertonThresheree.com

1-3 LABOR FEST Features family activities, mud volleyball tournament, live music and more.UAW Hall1795 Lafayette St., Janesvillesites.google.com/view/laborfest/home

3 LABOR DAY PARADE 1 pmStarts at Milwaukee St. and Main St. in Janesvillesites.google.com/view/laborfest/home

4 ALTERNATIVE FACTS AND AMERICAN HISTORY 6:30 pmRock County Historical Society426 N. Jackson St., JanesvilleRchs.us

8-9 ART INFUSION Saturday, 9 am-4 pm, and Sunday, 10 am-2 pmFirehouse Park100 N. Main St., JanesvilleJanesvillecvb.com

7-8 CHILIMANIA Friday, 4 pm-midnight, and Saturday, 7 am-midnightN. Henry St. in downtown EdgertonChilimania.com

CALENDAR OF E VENTS

MERCYHEALTH CL A SSES – FALL 2018

15 TWILIGHT TOURS AND TASTINGS 7 pmMilton House Museum18 S. Janesville St., MiltonMiltonhouse.org

22 THE FLYING CIRCUS RC FUN FLY 9 am-4 pmRock River Aero Modelers Society6806 S. County Road J, Beloitsites.google.com/view/rrams/

events?authuser=0

OCTOBER 5 SPIRITS IN THE NIGHT LAUNCH PARTY 6:30 pmRock Country Historical Society Carriage House450 N. Jackson St., JanesvilleRchs.us

20 A NIGHT AT THE LIBRARY: VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR 7 pmHedberg Public Library316 S. Main St., JanesvilleHedbergpubliclibrary.org

27-28 ROCK VALLEY QUILTERS GUILD SHOW: HOT NEEDLES, COOL QUILTS Saturday, 9 am-4 pm, and Sunday, 11 am-4 pmSt. John Vianney’s Church1250 E. Racine St., JanesvilleRockvalleyquiltersguild.com

10 MERCYHEALTH GALA 5:30 pmMercyhealth Riverside CampusI-90 and Riverside Blvd., Rockfordmercyhealthsystem.org

16 TWILIGHT TOURS AND TASTINGS Sherlock Holmes Interactive Experience7 pmRock Country Historical Society426 N. Jackson St., JanesvilleRchs.us

22 FESTIVAL FOODS TURKEY TROT 8 amCraig High School401 S. Randall Ave., JanesvilleFestivalfoodsturkeytrot.com

NOV. 30 - DEC. 2 JANESVILLE’S JOLLY JINGLE 51 S. Main St. in downtown JanesvilleJanesvillejollyjingle.com

7-9 “A CHRISTMAS CAROL"Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, Sunday at 5 pmMilton House Museum18 S. Janesville St., MiltonMiltonhouse.org

8 MERCYHEALTH PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE 10 am-4 pmNew Mercyhealth Riverside Campus I-90 and Riverside Blvd., Rockfordmercyhealthsystem.org For other support group and community education offerings, visit

mercyhealthsystem.org/classes or call (888) 396-3729.

DECEMBER

JANUARY5 MERCYHEALTH RIVERSIDE CAMPUS OPEN FOR PATIENTS

NOVEMBER


summer 2018 - home - great people. great...

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