How Community Members Are Joining Forces to Help at Mercy Grayling
By Diana Fairbanks
Friday, July 03, 2009 at 4:15 p.m.
Read more: Local, Health, Buddy Check, Mercy Grayling, Diana Fairbanks
It's time for the July Fourth holiday, it's also time to call your buddy as a reminder to do a self breast exam.
As we come together as a community to celebrate our nation's birthday, in this month's buddy check report we're taking time to show how community support is helping with community health care.
Many people come up north relax, but for Marie Brasza-Pinch and her husband, the move to her family's resort on Houghton Lake began with a dramatic turn.
Marie Brasza-Pinch says, "Upon moving up here my husband had a heart attack at 45 years old and we took him to Grayling Mercy. If it wasn't for the individuals at Grayling Mercy working in an area that was like a M.A.S.H. complex he would not be alive today."
Brasza-Pinch knew one day she wanted the hospital itself to reflect the spirit of those working there, and she knew she and her family would help make it happen.
Stepahnie Riemer-Matuzak, Grayling Mercy CEO says, "she really wanted to get involved in a significant way and encourage other people in the community to give back."
In 2005 Grayling Mercy began a three phase renovation project and organizers knew they would need help.
Riemer-Matuzak says, "We went out to talk to our community and really discovered their support for it and we were able to not only garner their emotional support but they came forward and raised $2.4 million of the $6.2 million total price tag for the project. The Brasza-Pinch family contributed a significant portion of that community portion."
In the last few years the hospital has gotten a new maternal center, MRI, surgical suites, emergency room and more.
Brasza-Pinch says, "It's absolutely overwhelming. The response from the people, the doctors, and nurses have so much more space to work with they are communicating so readily with electronics and everything. It's amazing but it's not surprising."
Now crews are close finishing the final phase of the renovation project with cardiology and radiology departments. That includes now offering digital mammography.
Brasza-Pinch says, "I think it's fantastic because they are going to see such detail in advance of waiting for something to develop that it's going to save lives and that's what we want to do."
Community healthcare thanks to a community effort.
Riemer-Matuzak says "all healthcare is local and we want to continue to provide great care to all of our community members."
We need to work together for the betterment of all and every little gift counts.
The finishing touches on the renovations at Mercy Grayling should be complete by the end of the summer or early fall.
Do you know of other great community efforts and success stories? Tell us about them, leave your comments below.
