Foundation brings yoga therapy to cancer patients
Liz Riley was diagnosed with cancer two weeks before giving birth to her son, Jackson, in 2005. One month after Jackson was born, Riley began chemotherapy. As a certified yoga instructor with years of experience, she found deep solace in yoga during this incredibly stressful time.
“Yoga was always the one thing I could do,” Riley said. “That’s when I decided that I wanted to teach yoga to other cancer patients.”
After she completed chemotherapy and began teaching yoga again, Riley partnered with Samaritan Albany Cancer Resource Center to begin offering a special yoga therapy class for cancer patients. With a class size of no more than 10, Riley is able to offer individual attention to each patient, adapting yoga exercises and routines to the patient’s needs.
The Albany General Hospital Foundation recently paid for Riley to attend a nationally recognized training for yoga instructors that teaches specialized skills for working with cancer patients. The training is conducted by a master yoga instructor who is also a registered nurse.
“The training taught me to slow down and see each patient through the lens of their strengths,” Riley said. “Most cancer patients are in ‘fight or flight’ mode from the moment of their diagnosis. When they take this class, they learn how to take a deep breath. It helps every aspect of their treatment.”
Riley will teach several of the eight-week courses at Samaritan Albany Cancer Resource Center during the coming year.
Donors fund more than $270,000 in medical equipment and programs
From new babies to patients in hospice care, hospital donors have made a huge impact on the health of our community by purchasing new equipment and funding medical programs.
The foundation allocated more than $270,000 to a variety of different projects this year. Examples include:
- Electronic fetal monitors for the hospital’s Women’s Center
- Vital sign monitors and stands for the medical/surgical nursing floor
- Bariatric recliners for the Critical Care Unit
- Health books for the hospital library
- A treadmill for the Cardiac Rehab department
- Training opportunities for hospital and clinic nurses
- Nutrition counseling scholarships for low-income patients
- Funding for the Senior Companion Program
- Funding for the Samaritan Evergreen Hospice program
InReach completes another record year
In 2008, the volunteer physicians and staff at the Inreach Clinic cared for more than 1,000 patients, and they thought that was a busy year! 2009 has proven to be even busier, as the clinic anticipates treating more than 1,500 patients by the end of December.
The clinic, funded primarily by the Albany General Hospital Foundation, continues to be the central resource for low-income residents in our area to receive medical care. It is staffed by physicians and other providers who donate their time.
Judith Hamilton, FNP, who coordinates InReach Services, tells the story of an Albany man who was in a coma for several days after falling out of a tree. After being released from the hospital, his lack of health insurance was keeping him from getting the follow-up medical care and physical therapy that he needed. Once he was referred to the InReach Clinic, he was able to connect with a primary care physician and a receive physical therapy.
“I was able to speak with this gentleman recently and learned he’s healing faster than anticipated, and doing well,” Hamilton said. “Without the InReach resource, local folks may never get a chance to receive the care they deserve.”
This year, donors helped the foundation provide $70,000 in funding for InReach Services.