Hope In Action
When a patient comes to Shands, we want this patient to know that
he or she is not only receiving the very best in medical treatment but
also the very best in compassion from the caring hands of the people
who work here. To provide the type of care that makes Shands one
of the premier hospitals in the Southeast, we also depend upon the
generous hands of our donors. Together we inspire one another to
provide one thing for all of our patients and their loved ones – Hope in
Action.
The NASCAR Foundation and The V Foundation for Cancer Research announced on July 1, a gift of $500,000 to Shands Hospital for Children at The University of Florida to help open the new pediatric unit (Unit 42). This will allow young patients to have easier access to their primary-care physicians during treatments.
The UF hematology/oncology division at Shands Hospital for Children sees nearly 100 new cancer patients per year, and a large portion participate in clinical trials. The new unit will provide a safe environment and specialized nursing to provide promising new medicine.
Admitted to Shands at the University of Florida in October 2009 for acute myelogenous leukemia, Richard Laucks, MD, valued the help and support he found through Shands at UF chaplain Alan Bower’s daily Catholic mass. Dr. Laucks passed away in January 2010, but he, his wife and Father Bower left a lasting legacy at Shands at UF.
During his inpatient treatments, Dr. Laucks and his wife, Cheryl Laucks, would walk to the chapel or Father Bower would visit them almost every day. However, when Dr. Laucks became too sick to leave his room, his spiritual needs were hindered.
Laucks, a former ear, nose and throat surgeon at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville, wanted to view the hospital’s mass on TV while he remained in his patient room. He was disappointed to learn that Shands did not offer this service. Dr. Laucks and his wife decided they wanted to change this. They spoke with Father Bower and together agreed to find a way to address this need.
After Dr. Laucks passed, Cheryl and Father Bower worked with the Shands Office of Development to implement the idea. In memory of Dr. Laucks, donations to this project were received in lieu of flowers. Because of Dr. Laucks, Cheryl and Father Bower a Catholic channel available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for patients in all of their rooms will become a reality in November. Cheryl said her hope is to offer other denominations in the future.
Q&A With Edward M. Copeland, III, MD
Edward M. Copeland, III, MD, is a University of Florida College of Medicine distinguished professor of surgery. From 1982–2003, he was the Edward R. Woodward professor and chairman of the UF College of Medicine department of surgery. Copeland has lived in Gainesville for 27 years.
Priority Needs
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