Holiday Gala Goes Beyond the Limits

December 16, 2019 Providence News Team

Shelby Janssen and Wade Sundell

Grateful patient and gala keynote speaker, Wade Sundell and his girlfriend, Shelby Janssen

The 2019 “Beyond the Limits” Holiday Gala was an enormous success - grossing nearly $3 million - thanks to the engagement of hundreds of inspired community members, dozens of physician partners and our dynamic gala chairs: George O’Connell and Dr. Mathew Kaplan, Medical Director of Emergency Services at Mission Hospital and CHOC at Mission.

George O'Connell, Seth Tiegen and Dr. Matthew Kaplan

The funds raised at the event will support the critical expansion of Mission Hospital’s Emergency Department – a project fully funded by the philanthropic generosity of our community.

Gala chair George O’Connell, Mission Hospital Chief Executive Seth Tiegen and gala chair Dr. Matthew Kaplan

One of many thrilling moments of the evening included the inspirational patient stories of Wade Sundell and Lisa Foto.  Wade was the reigning Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion at last summer’s Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo. While mounting his first bronc, Wade’s chest and abdomen were crushed into the chute when the horse suddenly reared up.

“At first I thought I was OK,” Wade remembers, “I had no idea that my liver was lacerated and I needed immediate trauma care.” An onsite Mission Hospital emergency medicine physician saw the incident and convinced Wade that he needed to go to the Trauma Center at Mission Hospital right away.

James Quandt and his wife Marleen Mission Hospital Foundation Board of Directors Chair, James Quandt and his wife Marleen

“Mission Hospital truly saved my life,” Wade shared.  “When I arrived at Mission I was taken into the operating room immediately. My blood volume was replaced 1.5 times as they repaired by severely damaged liver. I spent two weeks in a medically-induced coma and visited the operating room several more times, but ultimately, I woke up to see my beautiful girlfriend, Shelby. And thanks to Mission Hospital, Shelby and I can watch our two-year son grow up together. I can’t thank you enough.” 

Grateful patient and gala keynote speaker Lisa FotoGrateful patient and gala keynote speaker Lisa Foto

That inspiring story was followed later by Lisa’s amazing story of hope and healing. Twelve years ago Lisa survived a ruptured brain aneurysm. “On a severity scale of 1 to 10, my hemorrhage was a 10,” shared Lisa. “I was a patient at Mission Hospital for 52 days, and I spent five weeks of that in a medically-induced coma in the surgical intensive care unit.” 

“My recovery was the most challenging thing that I have ever faced, but thanks to Mission Hospital, I’ve made a complete recovery. Since then I watched two of my three children get married and celebrated the birth of all five of my grandchildren. I never would have known the joy of being a grandmother if Mission Hospital had not saved my life.”

The theme for the extraordinary evening was "Beyond the Limits"If you ask our physicians and caregivers about these two amazing stories they will likely tell you that they were just doing their jobs. But we know that you can’t take the availability of emergency services and trauma care for granted. 
The theme for the  extraordinary evening was "Beyond the Limits"

The funds raised at the Holiday Gala will enable Mission Hospital to expand the Emergency Department and ensure that we have the capacity of expertise to care for our community when they need us most.

 

 

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The Providence News Team brings you the updates to keep you informed about what's happening across the organizational ecosystem. From partnerships to new doctor announcements, we are committed to keeping you informed.

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