2021 Year in Review
Here we are! 2021 is coming to a close and as we reflect on the past year, we are grateful, and in awe, of all that has happened. It’s been a wild ride and we are thankful that you’ve been by our side. Take a look back at some highlights from 2021. February Webinar Series The Miller-Dwan Foundation started a
NOcetera = YES Mental Health
ARTcetera is no joke! Proceeds from the Miller-Dwan Foundation’s annual gala has created lifechanging health impacts for thousands of people from throughout our region. Through gala support we’ve created the Caring Ways Cancer Center, the Abilities First Fund, Solvay Hospice House and Amberwing – Center for Youth & Family Well-Being. We’ve supported the Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Unit renovation, the Polinsky
Advance Care Planning Webinar
If you couldn’t speak for yourself, who would speak for you? What have you discussed with your loved ones about the kind of care you would want, or maybe wouldn’t want in some situations? Watch this thought-provoking conversation about Advance Care Planning to learn vocabulary, reflect on what matters most to you, consider what some possible healthcare decisions may be, choose a healthcare agent, and
More than Science
A patient nears death, and deer appear. A favorite bird alights atop the patio rail. At Solvay Hospice House, nature’s extraordinariness seems somehow ordinary. Nevertheless, when I talked with Kevin Rodlund, Solvay Hospice House Nurse Manager, about these stories, I was a little skeptical. Solvay Hospice House is beautifully situated on nine wooded acres in Duluth Heights. Overfed Eastern grey
Just Breathe and Trust
Just breathe and trust. This great piece of advice comes from Nena Johnson, Speech Language Pathologist at Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center, and can be helpful in just about every aspect of life. Nena has recently experienced the unimaginable loss of her son Reese, and her team at Polinsky wanted to do something to honor Reese and Nena. They reached out
Coping Skills That Will Change Your Brain Webinar
Coping Skills That Can Change Your Brain
With Chelsey Harju, Psychotherapist at Amberwing – Center for Youth & Family Well-Being
Wayne: A COVID-19 Survivors Story
Watch a video about Wayne’s recovery. When COVID-19 hit Wayne Plekkenpol, the fever knocked him down. Then a ventilator and sedation knocked him out. Three weeks later, he woke up needing oxygen and assistance to sit up, stand and walk ahead ten paces. “I don’t remember it,” the 68-year-old says about his initial hospital stay in an intensive care unit.
Kevin: Processing The Last Transition of Life
Watch a video about the Chederquist family. Kevin Chederquist remembers when he and his wife, Kristin, embraced life’s uncertainty and took a bold step: selling everything they owned and moving to China. The couple felt called in their faith to make a brave change by returning to the country where they had adopted their son, Jack. But while Kristin had
Celebrate Doctors
They save our lives, birth our children, and sit with us when we die. They ease our pain, hear our concerns, and celebrate our healing. Doctors. They build their lives around helping us, and now, especially now, they deserve all we have to offer. I grew up with a small-town doc, and I can still see his face. He helped
Making Your Mark
The Silver Brook Township Cemetery is a sight to behold. To the East, a white pine grove greets the morning sun. To the north, horses roam the same field that in year’s past, a llama or two called home. Over the many years I’ve lived here, I’ve eyeballed this tiny final resting space. Is it where I want to be?
