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“Once I emerged from the depths of futility, I viewed my diagnosis as an opportunity to spread awareness.”
Three years ago Eric Von Schaumburg was at that sweet spot in life. He was 29 years-old with an amazing job, a wonderful girlfriend, and a future as bright as one could hope for. Then in early summer of 2013 he received the shocking news that he has ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Faced with a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease that has little treatment option and no cure, the Chicago man says he spent a short amount of time coming to terms with the battle ahead of him, and then quickly turned his focus to doing whatever he could to inspire others.
Fighting Like a Champion Against ALS
It’s the end of May and a time for graduation and life change for many high school and college students. It’s also a time for inspirational speeches. At Independence Plus, Inc., we were recently honored to hear a speech given by our patient Eric Von Schaumburg, who was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) nearly three years ago at the age of 29. Since then, Eric and his family have become amazing advocates to raise awareness of this devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease.
A Nurse’s Perspective: 8 Things I Learned While Caring for Patients with ALS
When hearing or reading information about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), I am often reminded of how individuals are “rarely” affected by this disease. This is quite the contrary in my field of nursing. Being diagnosed with ALS is challenging, not just for the patient but also for surrounding loved ones. At times, patients with ALS are referred to as “difficult.” After having patients of my own with ALS, I found them to be misunderstood, just like their disease.
Celebrating National Nurses Week 2016
At Independence Plus, Inc., we appreciate our nurses every day! There is one week of the year, however, when the spotlight is completely on them. National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6 through May 12. The end date is significant because it marks the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
This week is a great time to thank all nurses for their integral role in health care, and the important work they do every day. To celebrate IPI’s team of nurses who work diligently to care for our medically complex, technology-dependent patients, we have compiled a list of recent blog posts featuring them.
“There is nothing like being at home.”
José Solorzano was just a teenager when he made a decision that changed his life forever. He says he was “young and dumb,” and found himself involved in gangs.
Are you up for the challenge of high acuity specialty home care?
For nearly 30 years, Independence Plus, Inc. has been providing people with complex medical and respiratory needs the opportunity to live fulfilling lives at home.
One thing that makes IPI unique in the home health care field is that caring for our patients is extremely challenging. Our nurses become trained specialists in directly caring for adult and pediatric ventilator-dependent patients at home, many with rare diagnoses.
Being Mindful About Grief-Related Stress
Not until witnessing many of the people surrounding me experience deaths in their family and recently experiencing a patient death of my own, did I understand how powerful grief can be. It also brings to my attention various stressors that are affiliated with the passing of a patient or loved one.
Someone You Should Know: Sandy Scannell, RN MS, IPI’s Director of Quality Improvement
Those of us in home healthcare in Illinois already know Sandy Scannell. She first worked as a med-surg nurse and then a pediatric nurse. Later she joined the University of Illinois’ Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) as a case manager. For a dozen years, we at Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) knew her as the nurse who meticulously audited our patient records—and she was particularly exacting! Eventually in 2012, she retired from the State, took the summer off, and then “jumped the fence” and joined IPI’s staff as Director of Quality Improvement. It was great to finally have her sit on “our” side of the table! We sat down with Sandy earlier this week to find out a little more about her career before IPI, as well as what she plans to do next.
Someone You Should Know: Tori, RN
Caring for medically complex patients at home is extremely challenging—but we at Independence Plus love the opportunities to deliver complex clinical care while our patient is in their own home. We train RN’s and LPN’s to become specialists in directly caring for ventilator-dependent patients, many with rare diagnoses.
In Support of ALS
Raising Awareness of Rare Diseases
Rare Disease Day is an annual observance day focused on raising awareness about rare diseases and their impact on the lives of patients, caregivers, healthcare, and public policy. Those diseases affecting less than 200,000 Americans at any given time are considered rare. Approximately 80% of rare diseases have genetic origins and 50% affect children.
Grow With Us
We’re expanding our services and offerings. We want you to be a part of the team that is delivering personalized, individual, people-focused skilled home healthcare to those in need. Come join us.