Donors Support Silver Cross Heart Surgery Program — New Cardiac ORs Opening Soon
Construction is currently underway on a 6-story addition on the east side of Silver Cross Hospital to provide additional heart care services for patients. Specifically surgery to correct the abnormalities of the heart structure such as repairing and replacing aortic and mitral valves.
The Silver Cross Foundation Board of Directors is in the midst of a three-year capital campaign to raise $2 million to help fund this exciting project.
“Thanks to the generous support of our employees, volunteers, medical staff, patients, local businesses and the community, we are close to reaching our goal,” said Mark Stevens, Foundation Chair and Co-Chair of the Campaign for Heart Care . “But we need everyone’s help to get there.”
Heart disease remains a top health problem in Will County and the number three reason for hospitalizations.
“We all know someone - maybe a family member or co-worker, who has had a heart attack or undergone surgery,” adds Susan Prock, Co-Chair of the Campaign for Heart Care. “Wouldn’t you want them to be treated at a 100 Top Hospital that has received an A-rating for patient safety time and time again? I know I do.”
Donors Contributions Already Making an Impact
Pete Grossi of Lockport, Silver Cross Hospital’s very first open heart surgery patient, poses with his wife Jennifer after his historic surgery.
When Pete Grossi learned he would be the first open heart surgery patient at Silver Cross in May 2019, he was so nervous at first, he almost didn’t want to go through with it.
Cindy Westergaard had a difficult time working due to fatigue in her legs. Mitchell Hubbard also remembers getting tired every 10 to 15 minutes while he walked around his house.
All three have one thing in common, they’ve all had successful open heart surgery at Silver Cross Hospital in the last year. They join more than 250 patients who've had the surgery since the program began on May 22, 2019.
The need for an open heart surgery program was evident very quickly as the hospital surpassed 100 cases last February - Mitchell was actually the 100th patient - and then cases quickly passed 200 last fall.
“We knew there was a need for open heart surgery in our community when we brought our plan before the state of Illinois back in 2018,” said Ruth Colby, Silver Cross Hospital President/CEO. “Over the last year Dr. Pat Pappas and his team have been incredible to work with, and we’re excited to expand our services in the future to help even more patients.”
Historically, open heart surgery has been the common method for treating structural heart disease; however, minimally invasive valve replacement now provides a viable alternative to patients for whom conventional surgery is considered too risky—and offers the potential benefits of lower risk of infection, less trauma to the chest and heart muscle tissue, reduced length of stay in the hospital, and a quicker recovery.
Still Time to Donate
It’s not too late to support this lifesaving program. Donate online or send your check payable to Silver Cross Foundation, 1900 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox, IL 60451. If you are considering a gift of stock, IRA charitable rollover, bequest or other planned gift, please contact Tracy Simons, Executive Director of the Foundation at 815-300-7113. Select commemorative naming opportunities are still available.
No matter the size of the donation, all campaign benefactors will be recognized at a virtual celebration and tour this spring.
