Honor Your Guardian Angel
About the Program
The Guardian Angel program allows grateful patients and families to honor health care workers, staff and volunteers through honor, recognition and financial support. This program provides our patients and their families with the opportunity to show their appreciation in a way that assures future patients will continue to receive outstanding care.
How to Honor Your Guardian Angel
Gifts made to honor a Guardian Angel may be directed to a specific program or facility that was paramount in your experience with us or have special significance to you and your family. If you would like to honor your Guardian Angel, donate online now.
Angel Stories
Each donation to the Avera McKennan Foundation comes with its own story of caring and appreciation. If you are considering giving to Avera, take a moment to read donor stories that highlight the importance of giving and the very special rewards that come back to the donor in feelings of pride and fulfillment. Click through the tabs to read Guardian Angel stories of gratitude.
Words of Truth Offer Hope
"Last July, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. At the time, I was totally devastated since many of my family members have had cancer and I was so young. Thankfully, I was in good hands at the Avera Cancer Institute.
Today, I am a living miracle. I am healthy and have the caregivers at the Avera Cancer Institute to credit for my recovery and well-being. I can't say enough about my treatments and the facility -- every time I have an appointment, it's always the most pleasant experience. I really feel catered to.
Thank you to all my angels!"
Sincerely,
Lori Layhee
Critical Care and the Power of Prayer
Seventy-eight-year-old Elizabeth Wheat thought she'd seen it all. With her husband Dale by her side, she enjoyed a peaceful life until one day when she started to become ill and visited her local doctor. She was immediately admitted to the hospital and underwent a battery of tests before she was diagnosed with E. coli. Things quickly went from bad to worse, prompting Elizabeth's daughter Lori to request her mother be airlifted to Avera McKennan Hospital. It was here where the Wheat family was introduced to the type of care that changed their lives.
"This has been a life-changing event, but in some ways, it has caused me to appreciate life more. I was very pleased with the care I received and still feel blessed to have been part of it. I still sing the praises of Avera McKennan and credit them for saving my life."
Today, Elizabeth is back at home and gaining strength every day. Thank you to the Wheat family for making a gift to support the mission of Avera McKennan.
Smile and Laughter
Mariah is a young girl full of smiles and laughter. Mariah came to Avera Children's Pediatric ICU after falling, causing a spleen injury. Mariah was hospitalized for a couple weeks on bed rest. During her recovery she was full of energy and kept the child life specialists busy with all her craft projects and games, she was eager to play. Her favorite activity was syringe painting. Mariah would stay up late into the evening watching movies and having sleepovers with her friend in her hospital room.
Soon after Mariah was discharged, she was right back visiting Avera Children's for a few days before discharging for the second time. A few months had gone by and one day Mariah was admitted again as she wasn't feeling well. After several tests, pokes, and x-rays they found out her appendix was causing her discomfort. So off to surgery she went and was very brave. Three hospitalizations in a short amount of time, Mariah has overcome challenges and never lost her smile and laughter. Mariah was a lot of fun and Avera Children's staff was honored in taking care of her during her hospitalizations.
Pay it Forward: The Gift of a Good Experience
"I am so grateful for the integrative medicine program at the Avera Cancer Institute. As an artist, I was open to these forms of therapies. I even decided to try tai chi and found the experience helped with my healing. I also began to use the cancer fitness program at the Avera McKennan Fitness Center. I've found that it's given me a new strength and the people here are great. I had my first massage -- it was incredible. I've even used aromatherapy to help with my stomach issues, which has really made a difference. I believe these integrative medicine programs are really important ways to supplement traditional therapies." - Bob York
Healing the Soul
"I cannot say enough about the quality of care that I get at the Avera Medical Group Health Care Clinic. The front desk people are very helpful when I call and tell them what my needs are and what issues I have going on. They do their best to get me in as soon as possible.
The staff and doctors at the clinic are very compassionate. Their desire to treat comes from a deeper sense of wanting to help on a deeper level. It’s more than just healing the body; they want to heal the soul.
In these economic times, you may be in need of the quality service that they provide. I never imagined in 2007, when I moved here, that I would ever need this clinic. And here I am. And I’ve been coming here for four years. I would be down and out and suffering and have more medical problems than I do if it wasn’t for this clinic. This service is just so important to the community." - Deb Hopkins
