{"id":2430,"date":"2022-12-22T15:35:19","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T20:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/?p=2430"},"modified":"2022-12-22T15:35:19","modified_gmt":"2022-12-22T20:35:19","slug":"heart-to-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/heart-to-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart to Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bikur Cholim: At the Heart of the Community<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid you call Bikur Cholim? I\u2019m sure they can help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many times have Lakewood residents uttered or heard those words? How many hearts have found respite in knowing that they have a heart to share their burden with in their most trying moments? How much confusion has been cleared, red tape cut, and desperation assuaged in the wake of that fateful phone call?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome to LRBC, where every service is delivered from heart to heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 1991, Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim\u2019s heart sprung to life, addressing one of the most critical and obvious of needs: guiding and supporting patients in their most heart-stopping moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their credo is simple yet life-changing: if a patient needs it, they are on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been 32 years, the equivalent of lev<\/em>, heart. And indeed, it\u2019s been over three decades of pure heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, it\u2019s the big things: A wound care nurse. A fully stocked pantry. A high-profile meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But often, it\u2019s the little touches from heart to heart: A mocha latte. the Circle<\/em> magazine. A surprise visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one need is filled, another arises\u2014that\u2019s the nature of the beast of medical needs. And, keeping their watchful finger on the pulse of our community, the indefatigable staff at LRBC create movements, flatten obstacles, and accomplish the impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the giant heart of LRBC never stops pumping life-giving oxygen to its thousands of beneficiaries. It can\u2019t; it cares too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From black to white<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just ask Batya Feigenbaum, an indomitable woman who considers LRBC to be the bastion she can rely on when all else seems lost. A paraplegic from birth, Batya is an inspiration to all who witness her independence, her spirit, and her joie de vivre. Originally from Toronto, she currently spreads her sunshine at The Special Children\u2019s Center of Lakewood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast year, I contracted a stomach bug which left me unable to keep food down. I was so weak, I couldn\u2019t put on my brace to stand up\u2014which meant I could barely get around,\u201d Batya shares. \u201cAfter a visit to the ER, I went to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where they took a CT scan to ascertain whether there was any obstruction in my stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results were clear and devastating: Batya had developed an infection which would require surgery and a long, drawn-out recovery process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was Shabbos, and the surgeon\u2014whose bedside manner was less than pleasant\u2014bluntly informed me that I needed surgery immediately, after which I would not be able to wear my brace for six months. For me, this was the bleakest news. Without my brace, I can\u2019t function. And as someone who tries to not let my handicap limit my lifestyle, I couldn\u2019t bear the thought.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the surgeon wasn\u2019t giving her much choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being new to Lakewood, she didn\u2019t know anything about the New Jersey health-care system. What next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLuckily, on Motza\u2019ei Shabbos, my nephew put me in touch with a Bikur Cholim hospital liaison. From that moment, the entire picture changed from black to white. If it sounds dramatic, it was. It was like an entire load was lifted off my shoulders, and I knew that someone who truly cared and truly knew was in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The liaison got the initial steps in motion for a new surgeon. A volunteer showed up with the right food and all the right touches. LRBC mobilized to treat Batya like the VIP she is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course, the competence was key here. But it went so much further than that. This was true, deep caring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Batya\u2019s niece and roommate got engaged in the midst of the crisis, she resigned herself to missing the l\u2019chaim<\/em>. But Bikur Cholim wouldn\u2019t allow that to happen. Their handicap-accessible van picked her up, and volunteers wheeled her up the stairs and into the simchah<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Batya\u2019s nutrition was low and she had to drink Ensure but couldn\u2019t tolerate the dairy kind and couldn\u2019t find the right vegan version, a bag with just the right product magically appeared at her door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When her insurance only covered a wound care nurse once a day, LRBC provided one a second time each <\/em>day\u2014at a time that was convenient for Batya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it goes deeper than that. As anyone who has experienced or been privy to a stressful medical situation knows, patients and their families are left feeling incredibly vulnerable. And too often, when well-meaning individuals step in to help, they take the proverbial bull by the horns, leaving the protagonist feeling alone and confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But not LRBC. They care too much to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI never, not once in this entire saga, was made to feel like a helpless spectator. I was a friend, a partner, an intelligent adult whose opinion mattered. And that, for me, was more valuable than anything else,\u201d Batya concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A circle of giving<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In truth, that\u2019s signature LRBC: a caring heart, reviving worn spirits and injecting a modicum of stability in a very volatile circumstance while intuiting both the physical and emotional needs of the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what fuels this mammoth heart?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LRBC supports the community, and the community supports them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lakewood is a community that has kindness deeply woven into its fabric; thankfully, LRBC knows it can count on the circle of giving to keep turning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six hundred calls a day. Thousands of queries\u2014and behind each one, a racing heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will the Friendship House be kosher for Pesach? Yes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will there be a van to Monmouth Medical Center this morning? Yes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can we get an appointment with Dr. Smith before the holiday? Yes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there someone who can research this clinical trial? Yes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How big is a human heart?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The size of a fist. And the size of a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join the force. Be there. Take heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because behind every medical journey is LRBC, and behind LRBC is you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidebar:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food services<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the LRBC kitchen cooked 300,682<\/strong> meals, provided Shabbos meals for 2,463 <\/strong>families,and gave out Yom Tov meals to over 500 <\/strong>families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patient advocacy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LRBC\u2019s advocacy department helped thousands<\/strong> of patients this year, interacting with hundreds <\/strong>of doctors in over 30 <\/strong>hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the SOAR program, LRBC provided support for more than 200<\/strong> women who experienced losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical equipment gemach<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the Lev Sarah Tzartal Gemach loaned 5,654<\/strong> pieces of equipment to 2,152 <\/strong>individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health at home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The LRBC team of 60<\/strong> medically trained professionals performed 1,293<\/strong> blood draws and over 350<\/strong> specialty visits to patients at home this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical transportation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, LRBC volunteers drove 2,560<\/strong> people to over 500<\/strong> different destinations. While transporting people to their medical appointments, 230,209<\/strong> miles have been driven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hospitality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, 3,742 <\/strong>people have stayed in a Friendship House. LRBC currently maintains 137 <\/strong>beds in 62 <\/strong>rooms in 7 <\/strong>locations: Cleveland Friendship House, Columbia Friendship House, Jersey Shore Friendship House, Lakewood Friendship House, Manhattan Friendship House, Mayo Clinic Friendship House, and Toms River LRBC House.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bikur Cholim: At the Heart of the Community \u201cDid you call Bikur Cholim? I\u2019m sure they can help.\u201d How many times have Lakewood residents uttered or heard those words? How many hearts have found respite in knowing that they have a heart to share their burden with in their most trying moments? How much confusion […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2431,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[19],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2430"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2430"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2430\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2432,"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2430\/revisions\/2432"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevoiceoflakewood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}