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Housewarming
191 Barton Street East, Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2W7 | P: 905-529-0770 | F: 905-529-9955 | [email protected] | www.markpreecehouse.ca
Patricia and Detlev Hummel, from Niagara on the Lake, were happy enjoying their family of five grown children, three of whom were already married with children of their own. Theirs had always been a close-knit family - they felt blessed.
Their life took a turn for the worse on the evening of June 7 when they experienced a parent’s worst nightmare – a call in the middle of the night from the police informing them that their 28 year-old-son Wesley had been involved in a serious accident.
The car Wesley was a passenger in with two of his friends had hit a tree head-on.
Unfortunately, Wesley was partially ejected and then tossed back into the vehicle. Neither he nor the driver was wearing his seat belt. Their night of celebrating the L.A. Kings’ victory led to a bad decision that left Wesley in critical condition with severe brain injuries.
After being stabilized at Welland hospital, Wesley was airlifted to Hamilton General. The neurosurgeon felt Wesley had a fighting chance if they operated to remove part of his skull to relieve the swelling of his brain.
As the Hummel family members gathered around Wesley’s bedside at the General, they knew it would be a long time before they would rest again in the comfort of their own home.
A counselor at the hospital suggested the Mark Preece Family House. The Hummel family members found themselves welcomed with open arms into their home-away-from-home.
They found themselves welcomed with open arms . . .
Our MissionThe Mark Preece Family House is a not for profit organization that provides temporary, affordable, accessible accommodation in a supportive environment for families of acute care in-patients being treated in a Hamilton area hospital.
You Can Make A Difference Your organization and special events: We would be delighted to hear if you have a community event and would be interested in supporting the House through your efforts.
In-Kind Donations: Do you have resources or donations that could help House operations?
Cheques may be made payable to: Mark Preece Family House. General donations as well as special tributes and memorial donations will all help sustain House operations.
To donate online go to: www.markpreecehouse.ca
Hospital Family Houses of Ontario Charitable registration # 86700 9615 RR0001
Mark Preece Family House Board of Directors
Wesley Hummel and his girlfriend Elizabeth
“It was a haven of rest for the family...”
continued on page 2...
Show your support Here is a unique way to remember and support the Mark Preece Family House as a special gift for yourself or a loved one. We have had a beautifully-crafted sterling silver charm (or pendant) made by Ashley Jewellers. It is ready to give in a black velveteen presentation envelop and small jewellery box.
The charm size is approximately 1” x ½”. The cost is $60 including taxes. We will ship for a small additional charge.
Call the House to order your special keepsake.
Makes a great gift!
WishlistWe rely on generous donations from the community in order to provide a comfortable place for families to stay. If you would like to donate items for our families to use, please refer to the list below. Although we appreciate donations of all kinds, we are only able to accept NEW items.
• Milk (2%) and cream
• Food Basics gift cards
• Canadian Tire gift cards
• Travel Sized mouthwash and toothpaste
• Dish Soap
• Office supplies, e.g. 8½x11” paper, labels (Avery 5160), #10 envelopes, stamps
• Laundry detergent & dryer sheets
• Window cleaner
• Bleach
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Cereal & granola bars
• 10-12” digital photo frame
• Air Mattress
• Vacuum cleaner
Please contact us prior to dropping off any donations. Thank you for your support!
Holiday 2012
For tickets call 905-529-0770, email [email protected] or order online at www.markpreecehouse.ca (Use the Donate Now button and Event Registration)
SAVE THE DATE
Wine Winter Warmer 2013Wednesday, January 23 • 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Hamilton Golf & Country Club 232 Golf Links Road, Ancaster L9G 2N5
Ann Clarke of Seasonal Décor & More does a beautiful job of dressing the House for the holiday season.
6
Sandy Craik Chair
Christine Bradley Past Chair
Chris Holtved Treasurer
Eileen Bidulka
David Carruth
Tom Cochren
Charlotte Daniels
Leslie Gauthier
Suzanne Mlekuz
Jim Murray
Michael Veri
NEW d
ATE!
2 The Mark Preece Family House - Housewarming - Winter Edition 2012
continued from page 1...
From Our Guestbook“I never thought I would be in the hospital praying for my son’s life. It is a god-send to be able to come here - the peace, comfort and collecting of one’s thoughts. Our appreciation is beyond words.” Shirley C., Strathroy, ON
“This place has been home away from home for me. Everyone has been so friendly and helpful. The closeness to hospital is such a blessing. Thank you so much.”
Sylvia S., Thunder Bay, ON
The Mark Preece Family House - Housewarming - Winter Edition 2012 5
Juergen Schlachler, CEO ArcelorMittal Dofasco, left, and Jim Murray, Business Unit Manager at AM Dofasco present their generous donation to Pearl Wolfe for the Top it Off campaign to finish the second floor.
As Patricia says, ‘We didn’t have to think about anything at the House. It was a haven of rest for the family, a safe reprieve from the pain and suffering that surrounded us at the hospital’.
Another surgery followed for Wesley to restore his skull and then he entered the Acquired Brain Injury Clinic where Wesley learned to walk and talk again.
Patricia stayed at the Mark Preece Family House for six weeks while Wesley began his slow recovery. Other family members stayed as they could.
Many friends and family came to visit and most brought food that Patricia shared in the House kitchen. She met many other families at the House and they exchanged encouraging words and prayers.
To the Hummels, the Mark Preece Family House is Hamilton’s best-kept secret. The family; Patricia and Detlev, their children Miranda, Serena, Autumn and Bryan and their respective families feel the Mark Preece Family House was a valuable resource to their ‘sanity’ during their crisis.
They have brought meals to the House to show their appreciation and Patricia’s brother who works
at the White Oaks Inn donated small toiletries for House guests in need.
Eventually Wesley went back to the Welland Hospital and finally came home on October 20. Before the accident, Wesley was a talented finish carpenter with his own business. Doctors say his prognosis is encouraging. Wesley has stubbornly fought the odds. However, his doctors do not know exactly how he’ll return to his work. His speech is gradually improving. He is walking on his own and his physiotherapist’s goal is to see Wesley walk, run and eventually skate as he used to. Where there’s a will, there is a way.
Patricia feels that the caring and compassion of the Mark Preece Family House helped bring a positive end to this tragedy. As Patricia says, ‘sometimes we make a bad choice and we need to deal with the consequences’. She is happy that the Mark Preece Family House was there in their time of need. She feels privileged that her family was able to find solace in the House to help them along their journey.
Two informal events were held in Thunder Bay and Niagara Falls this fall to engage the support of our former families in support of the House.
Both events provided an opportunity to bring former families an update on plans for completing the second floor.
As detailed in our fall newsletter, we hope to ‘Top it Off’ and finish the second floor to allow us to serve more families in need in the new year. Attendees provided input on possible funding prospects.
Groups have formed in both Thunder Bay and Niagara Falls to work on on-going fundraising for the House. Please contact Pearl Wolfe at [email protected] if you have some fundraising ideas and/or if you would like to join one of these groups. It would be great if our former families could think about any ‘connections’ they may have and let us know.
Let’s Top it Off and get that second floor open to serve more families!
Friends of MPFH Thunder Bay and Niagara
Diane Petryna at her store Take a Hike in Thunder Bay. Diane organized the get together in Thunder Bay.
I had a brain aneurysm and cardiac arrest on the morning of New Year’s Eve last year and was flown to Hamilton General Hospital. While I don’t remember my month stay in Hamilton, my husband Ralph and parents Grant & Lois Merkley stayed at the Mark Preece Family House next to the hospital and I recovered comfortably with my family encouraging and helping me every day. From what I heard, the staff and volunteers at the Mark Preece Family House were a wonderful support for my family. Having my family comfortable and less stressed made them more relaxed when spending time with me which in turn kept me more relaxed and positive and helped in my recovery. I spent a further month in hospital in Thunder Bay. Since last March, I have been attending rehabilitation therapy at the Neuro Day Program at St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Thunder Bay doing physical therapy, occupational therapy, memory retention strategies and cardio and balance exercises.
My biggest challenges at this time are my short-term memory and balance. When I am tired, my balance is not at its best and I will stumble or step sideways unexpectedly. My bruised elbows from hitting doorframes while walking through them are my constant reminder of this. My short-term memory is not improving much and I am trying to find ways to live with this in the interim while I still hope that it will get better. As fast as I do something, I often forget that I have done it. Following a recipe is a good example of where this can be frustrating. I have to put a recipe behind a clear plastic sheet and stroke off the steps I have done with a washable marker.
This allows me to follow what I need do to next as I won’t remember what I have just added as quickly as I have put in the ingredient. I used to enjoy reading novels, but have had to change my reading to articles or short stories of a couple of pages as I don’t remember reading previous chapters in a novel once I get to the next chapter. I take the time to write lists of things I have to do and buy, but frequently forget where I put the lists. I have a good sense of humour and thankfully choose to laugh at myself rather than allow myself to feel the frustration that could so easily take over.
Kathryn Kempton
Looking forward to the holidays2012 has been a year of life changes for me – but a good year nonetheless. I’m happy to be alive and living with virtually no pain thanks to the wonderful medical staff that have looked after me in both Hamilton and Thunder Bay.
UPDATE 2 Kathryn’s story first appeared in our spring newsletter
As we are currently turning away families on an all too-regular basis, we believe it’s time to expand the House to serve
more families.
It’s time to take it over the top! Contact us at 905-529-0770 or
[email protected] if you are interested in helping
us finish the second floor.
Let’s Top it Off!
From Our Guestbook
Thank you so much for helping us in our time of need. It is greatly appreciated. This “House” is wonderful, and the staff is truly dedicated. Thank you,
June & Cindy S., Gravenhurst, ON
Thank you so much for having the Mark Preece House. It’s been so wonderful to be able to stay here and feel so comfortable as we visit back and forth to the hospital. This place is a real blessing. Keep up the amazing ministry you do here.
Kor V., St. Catharines, ON
