The safety of our patients and team members is our highest priority. Due to weather conditions, many locations may have adjusted hours. In addition, many offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 26 for the observed Christmas holiday. If you have questions about your upcoming appointment, please call your office.
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Virtual Visits: On-demand virtual visits are available 24/7/365 for many common conditions. They are available to anyone in Indiana age 2 and older. Visit iuhealth.org/virtualvisits to get started.
As magical as the story goes, this St. Nicholas has surprised many children “all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.” He’s also surprised a few co-workers too.
By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org
Shhhh. Don’t blow his cover. This Santa loves to keep the tradition alive – for the sake of the kids and also a few adults.
Donald Snow – aka “Santa Snow” treats his seasonal role as a sort of second career – or maybe even a third. He spent 25 years working for the Carmel Police Department, two years working as a resource officer for Indianapolis Public Schools, and four years as a military police officer, stationed in Turkey.
He moved from Muskegon, Mich. in the 90s and he and his wife, Deborah, raised three children in Indiana – A daughter and two sons. When he became a grandfather, Snow’s daughter planted the idea that he could be a Santa and surprise her children.
“I ordered a Santa suit, snuck into their home and I could see my grandson watching me from the banister. I said, ‘I know there’s a little boy in here and I hope he’s in bed.’ I snuck the presents in and they could hear the bells and see me through the window as I walked away,” said Snow.
Four years ago, he joined IU Health as a pathology lab courier and brought along with him the magic of “Santa Snow.” He became familiar with IU Health when he worked as a police officer and escorted most of the trauma cases to Methodist Hospital.
Faces lit up as “Santa Snow” recently walked the hallways jingling his bells and sounding a loud, “Merry Christmas.”
“You made my day,” said lab assistant Abigail Pelton. She admitted she had to do a double take because she often sees Snow with the long gray beard and soft white hair but the red suit threw her off. The hair and beard are the real deal – nothing fake about them.
Several of his team members posed for photos and medical technologists, Matt Sperling and Mahmoud Ahmed recorded messages for the little ones in their lives.
“I got to have a picture, it’s the only way I can keep my grandkids in line,” joked lab assistant Christine Flowers-Ross. Others, like Lisa Dunkel, also a lab assistant, were happy to have a holiday hug. Santa Snow’s appearance is one of several holiday events at the IU Health Pathology Lab. Team members also participate in a toy drive organized by IU Health Bloomington Courier Department; and they celebrate “Spirit Week” in December with days themed as “character day,” “ugly sweater day,” and “long winter’s nap day.”
When Santa Snow’s not entertaining co-workers or family members, he is working the holiday circuit at parties, churches and other events.
“I don’t advertise. It’s by word-of-mouth. I belong to a couple Santa groups on social media and sometimes if someone gets sick, I’ll fill in,” said Snow. He also explained a few unwritten rules of the gig: “I don’t step on other Santa toes. If someone is already working a mall or other local place, I stay clear.” Snow’s motive is to make people smile, but he said there are some Santas who rely on the work to carry them through the year. A qualified Santa can earn anywhere from $10-30,000 in the month of December, he said. And what some people may not know is that the quality of Santa is all about dressing the part. One tailor-made suit can cost upwards of $1,000. A set of six pure brass nickel-plated bells can set Santa back $100 and then there’s the boots. In Snow’s case his size requires a custom-made boot – something he began purchasing when he was a police motorcycle officer.
He says it’s all worth it when he gets to witness pure joy on the faces of others.
On one recent appearance, a gentleman recruited Santa Snow to help with a marriage proposal. The couple took a carriage ride in downtown Noblesville and afterward, Snow told the intended bride that he brought her some “blue ice from the North Pole.” He then pulled an engagement ring from his pocket. On the same night a mother took her two young sons on a carriage ride and they talked non-stop about wanting a puppy for Christmas. Santa Snow gave them a couple of stuffed animals and said he’d see how they did caring for the plush toys. At the end of the ride, the boys were surprised with a Dalmatian puppy.
“A lot of what I do is give attention and talk to the kids. With the older kids who don’t want to pose for a picture, I give them ‘kudo points’ telling them that the photo is a sort of investment, a favor for their parents, a keepsake.”
As a former police officer, Snow said he’s very aware of sizing up the children – being sensitive to who might be afraid or anxious. “I usually have them sit on a chair next to me or where they are most comfortable,” he said.
He often invites his young admirers to touch his beard so they know it is real. “That usually sparks a conversation about their favorite color. I tell them my favorite colors are red, white and green. Even though there is magic in Santa, I’m a Christian and white to me means the purity of a child’s heart like snow on Christmas morning; red is for Jesus who died for us; and green is for the pine tree seeds and rebirth for a new year.”
So what is the biggest debate for this Santa: What are Santa’s favorite cookies?
“I like all cookies but it’s funny how many people ask what is the favorite. For me, it’s not about the cookies; it’s not about the money. It’s about the look on kids’ faces,” said Snow. “I walk into a room and I see them making eye contact and their wheels start turning. The next thing I know, I’m getting a great big hug around the legs.”
It’s estimated that fewer than 5,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with “Stiff Person Syndrome.” Doctors at IU Health are credited with diagnosing and treating this patient.
By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org
When Jane Lees heard the news that Canadian-born singer, Celine Dion was diagnosed with “Stiff Person Syndrome,” she called her a “very brave woman.”
Lees knows firsthand about the rare disease. She was diagnosed in September 2019.
“All of us with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) remember the pain that Celine Dion so courageously shared in her announcement. SPS is not for the weak and it doesn’t discriminate. Today I have hope that she is getting the best treatment from her own team and that the world will embrace the journey ahead of her,” Lees said.
Dion announced her diagnosis on Instagram. “While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what has been causing all the spasms I’ve been having. Her emotional video was seen by more than 5 million Instagram followers.
For Lees, that means there are more than 5 million more people who now know about SPS. “People who know me and saw the Celine Dion story have said, ‘that’s the same disease that Jane has.’ Three years ago, few people would recognize that. Anything I can do to create awareness means that more people can understand about SPS,” said Lees. As she talked she received an infusion treatment at IU Health Simon Cancer Center, administered by nurse Bailey Davis.
Since her diagnosis, Lees has received intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIg) every three weeks for two days in a row. She says she will most likely remain on the treatment for the rest of her life.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders describes SPS as a rare progressive neurological disorder that can cause stiff muscles in the torso, arms and legs; greater sensitivity to noise, touch and emotional distress which can set off muscle spasms. It can cause a hunched posture and some people may be unable to walk or move. It affects twice as many women as men. Because the symptoms are similar to other conditions it is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, psychosomatic illness, or anxiety and phobia.
“I had deniable symptoms for a couple of years that were never explained. I tripped and fell a lot and had a lot of weakness in my left leg,” said Lees, 60. “I lost muscle mass and weight and I was tired all the time.” In May 2019 she thought she had the flu and ended up in progressive care at IU Health Methodist Hospital – the same hospital where she was born. “They couldn’t find anything wrong but my blood sugar level was over 600 and I had a raging internal infection,” said Lee. She was treated and released.
“I’d go for my annual exams, tell about my symptoms but the bloodwork would come back normal. It was very hard to detect,” said Lees. She was in the care of several IU Health doctors including Dr. Richard Scheer, who specializes in neurology; and Dr. Jonathan Bazeley, who specializes in nephrology. She is now in the care of Dr. Robert Pascuzzi, who specializes neurology.
“Dr Bazeley figured out I had diabetes. At the time I was down to about 87 pounds and couldn’t walk. He had my daughter wheel me to his office and I was directly admitted to the hospital,” said Lees. She was lying in a hospital bed after about three weeks when six neurologists entered her room and told her they had finally found a diagnosis.
“There was so much research that went into my case. Because I was admitted to Methodist Hospital, there was teaching going on and a resident who was researching my case figured it out. When they gave it a name, I wanted to pull out my cheerleader moves because I was so happy, but I also knew that there was a long journey ahead of me – of rebuilding, accepting, and challenging myself,” said Lees. She credits her son, two daughters and two grandchildren with helping her on the journey.
The thing about SPS is that everyone experiences it differently, said Lees.
“It takes from you but it gives something back. You find joy in places you never thought you would because you were too busy. I gave up a career I love but I’m not bedridden. It hurts every day – like you’ve just had the hardest workout of your life and then you walk through cement afterward.”
As part of her rebuilding process, Lees makes it point to help others. She’s part of several support groups and has met Dr. Tara Zier, founder of The Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation.
“I’ve learned to appreciate where I am and what I can do – like swimming in the lake with my grandchildren, kayaking, and connecting with others.”
Related stories:
Patient: “Extremely rare disease diagnosed because I was at a teaching hospital” – Some of her symptoms went unrecognized; others were more obvious. In the end, it was a team that included researchers, residents, and physicians that uncovered the mysterious cause of Jane Lees’ illness.
Small ball offers big relief for infusion patients – It’s smaller than a tennis ball, but this “therapy” packs a powerful punch for infusion patients.
It started with a phone call. Lamont Harvey’s childhood friend, a gym teacher at Avondale Meadows Middle School, reached out asking Lamont to buy a pair of basketball shoes for a promising student-athlete. “He talked to me about this young man just needing shoes, and it just took off from there,” said Lamont, who quickly filled the request. Lamont’s colleague, IU Health anesthesiologist Thomas Marks-Strauss found out about the good deed and decided to take things a step further. “I just offered to help out,” said Strauss. “Next thing you know we were at the mall buying shoes, 15 pairs for the team.”
As Debra Long, secretary for Rehabilitation Services at IU Health White Memorial in Monticello, bounces around her office assisting patients, answering phones and managing schedules, it is hard to believe a few short months ago she was in a wheelchair.
Full of energy, she also helps in the Emergency department, the hospital front desk and in the medical-surgical unit as needed.
“Debra is a bright spot in our department,” shares Sara Phelps, supervisor of the Rehabilitation department. “One of her gifts is getting to know others and helping them to feel seen and acknowledged. She is quick to share her personal experiences with others who may have similar concerns in order to encourage them to continue to push forward and improve. She demonstrates what’s possible with hard work and a positive attitude.”
“I figure there are many ways I can help, so I try my best,” shares Long.
The fall that lead to the wheelchair
In February, Long fell in a parking lot. Her ankle hurt but she figured it was a sprain that would eventually heal. The rehabilitation team continually encouraged her to go to the doctor. After a few weeks in pain, she finally relented. An MRI showed her ankle was ruptured in five spots and a tendon needed to be completely repaired.
The injury was just another setback in a long line of health issues for Long. As a child she endured the usual sprains, strains and broken bones—she reports that she was a clumsy kid. While in college she had seizures and would pass out. There were many diagnoses. She dropped out of school twice to focus on her medical issues. She ended up at the Mayo Clinic where, after 18 months, she was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)—a condition that causes one’s heart to beat faster than normal when transitioning from lying down to standing up.
“I try not to let my diagnoses get to me,” shares Long. “They do not define me.”
Normally, the body’s autonomic nervous system balances heart rate and blood pressure to keep blood flowing at a healthy pace, no matter what position the body is in. For individuals with POTS, the body can’t coordinate the balancing act of blood vessel constriction (squeezing) and heart rate response. This means that the body can’t keep blood pressure steady and stable, leading to a variety of symptoms such as a fast heart rate, dizziness, fainting, fatigue and migraines—all experienced by Long.
The physicians at Mayo told her they would have diagnosed her POTS sooner if they had known she had cerebral palsy (CP). Long did not know she had CP which is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. It was a diagnosis she had a tough time wrapping her head around, but now makes some sense to her—like her really tight Achilles and some intellectual challenges.
“When things don’t make sense to me, I have always figured out a way to solve the problem,” shares Long. “I figure out how to accommodate physically and mentally to my surroundings and my work. I always have a plan A, B, C and D.”
The road to the 5K
Long’s ankle surgery in April 2022 required her to go non-weight baring for three months. Long begrudgingly took two and a half weeks off for the surgery and returned to work alternating between a wheelchair, a knee scooter, crutches and simply hopping around.
“I have one speed, which is ‘go,’” explains Long. “I love my job. I love making a difference in patients’ lives. I thrive on people. I don’t thrive being by myself.”
Once she was cleared to start rehabilitation, she worked with physical therapist Mindy Gutwein at White Memorial. Long’s goals were to run and chase her two-year-old daughter and complete a 5K—something she thought she would ever be able to do.
“When your co-workers become your patients, you never know how it will go,” shares Gutwein. “Debra was an excellent patient and she worked HARD. She always gave 110%, and I knew that if her goal was to walk a 5K, then I wanted to help make it happen. I jokingly told her she had better not make it a goal if she didn’t want me to hold her to it.”
Once she got rid of her crutches, Long and Gutwein started training for that 5K by walking every day at lunch. Long would also walk in the evenings with her family. In October, the pair finished the Hot Cider Hustle 5k in one hour, 55 seconds, narrowly missing their goal of one hour.
“She demonstrated unwavering grit and determination throughout her rehab, and I’m so happy she was able to complete a 5K,” says Gutwein.
“I am very proud that we did it,” shares Long. “I plan to participate every year.”
While there is no cure for POTS or CP, several treatments and lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms.
“God had other plans for me,” explains Long. “I don’t question it; I just go with it.”
Her future plans? Complete a master’s degree, add to her family and someday run a hospital.
Dr. Douglas Tannas is a palliative care physician at IU Health North Hospital. “When some people think of palliative care, they think of hospice. Hospice is a form of palliative care, but it’s not the only form of palliative care,” said Dr. Tannas. “Hospice is certainly all about focusing on comfort for people who are near the end of their lives and that’s a wonderful thing, but there are also people who need additional support before then, even as they’re continuing to aggressively treat an illness. People sometimes need help managing symptoms, they need emotional support, sometimes they need to talk through questions about what they want to do.”
<p><em><strong>The IU Health Abdominal Transplant Team recently celebrated the success of the past year and honored transplant heroes.</strong></em><br></p>
<p><em>By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org</em></p>
<p>On a recent weekday, Beckett Culp, 4, took a break from giving spontaneous hugs, and sat at a table creating a painted piece of art. He was joined at the art table by IU Health’s <a href=”https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/jonathan-a-fridell-md-6176″>Dr. Jonathan Fridell</a>, chief of abdominal transplantation and surgical director of IU Health pancreas transplant. </p>
<figure><img src=”{asset:3021798:url||https://cdn.iuhealth.org/news-hub/tpmweb2.jpg}” data-image=”3021798″ style=”opacity: 1;”></figure>
<p>For just a few minutes, Beckett was a typical child, but soon he would climb on a stool to take his place at a podium. His audience was an auditorium filled with physicians, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, and other IU Health transplant team members. </p>
<p>The group gathered for an annual program celebrating the accomplishments of the abdominal transplant program. </p>
<p>One of those shining stars was Beckett, who attended the program with his parents Klark and Lauren Culp of Noblesville. Six months ago, IU Health surgeon <a href=”https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/richard-s-mangus-md-7868″>Dr. Richard Mangus</a> performed a liver transplant on Beckett. He has also been in the care of pediatric hepatologist, <a href=”https://www.rileychildrens.org/find-a-doctor/physician/eugenia-p-molleston” target=”_blank”>Dr. Jean Molleston</a>. </p>
<p>“He doesn’t know a stranger,” his mother told the audience. He worked the room giving hugs and sharing his candy. Beckett was listed for transplant in February 2022 when he was diagnosed with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AAT). The inherited condition causes damage to the liver and lungs.</p>
<p>“He remained in the hospital 11 days and by day five he was running the halls of Riley Hospital,” said his mom. “We’re so grateful to Dr. Mangus and Dr. Molleston, and his transplant coordinator Angi Dickens” As Lauren Culp spoke, photos appeared of Beckett wearing a homemade turkey hat at Thanksgiving, and unloading the goods from his birthday toy drive at Riley Hospital. </p>
<p>When he spoke to his audience of caregivers he said just three words: “Thank you, everybody.”</p>
<p>IU Health is one of the leading transplant hospitals in the nation. More than about 500 transplants are performed annually. Despite the challenges of a pandemic, in 2021, IU Health’s transplant program made up 83 percent of all transplants performed throughout the state. As of November 2022, IU Health had performed 222 kidney transplants, 149 liver transplants, 19 pancreas transplants, and nine intestinal transplants. Additionally, IU Health’s thoracic transplant team had performed 12 heart transplants and 25 lung transplants. </p>
<p>“My transplant team is like my family,” said Samantha Croymans, who attended the celebration with her son, Max Croymans, 7, and her boyfriend, Brian Moreman. She was in the care of Dr. Fridell when she underwent a kidney and pancreas transplant in 2018. She had battled issues with diabetes for more than 20 years and was pregnant with her son when she faced kidney failure. She was on dialysis for nearly three years before receiving her transplant. </p>
<p>“I am happy and also sad for the passing of my donor,” said Croymans. “I think about all I would have missed out on without a transplant – trips to the zoo, watching my son grow up. He is my rock and I am thankful every day to a team who helped me live to be the mother of my son.” </p>
“I don’t deserve this,” exclaims Marti Bol, document specialist with IU Health Arnett.
According to patient Vicki Oland, she does. Oland has had quite the healthcare journey over the past 17 months and Bol has been there to help every step of the way with FMLA paperwork and extensions.
“I have my BFF (referring to Oland) that calls me all the time,” shares Bol. “She is so sweet, and I love to help her.”
It all started on May 4, 2021, with a head cold that would not go away. Oland called off work—a rarity—and took herself to the Emergency department. She was admitted to Arnett Hospital with pneumonia. Providers were not thrilled with her numbers. A trip to the Cath lab showed that two of her three heart valves were blocked—open heart surgery was needed.
Hospitalist Gary Dupre, MD, (retired) shared with Oland that had it not been for that head cold, she might not be with us today.
Since that first surgery, Oland has had additional surgeries on her knees and back, plus a colonoscopy. Her most recent surgery was on October 19. One thing seems to cause the next issue, and they all add up to time off work.
“I have had a good experience with IU Health,” shares Oland. “I am a jokester, so I try to make the doctors and team members laugh. A positive experience makes the days go quicker.”
Oland felt compelled to honor Bol with a plaque. Oland herself once saved a man’s life—he was tumbling down some stairs, she pulled over to help him. She worked to stop the bleeding, called 911 and directed traffic. Her supervisor, who witnessed her heroics, showed his appreciation by presenting her with a plaque—the only woman at Eli Lily to receive a plaque in her 27 years, as far as Oland can recall. That recognition meant a lot to her, and she wanted to pay it forward.
“Marti has been so good to me,” shares Oland. “She is awesome with the paperwork, turning it over in a matter of days instead of weeks. My human resource director worships the ground she walks on.”
“I had to take a minute,” reports Amanda Deckard, practice manager and Bol’s supervisor, when Oland contacted her about the award.
“More people have complaints about FMLA than praise, so this was truly special,” explains Deckard. Deckard set up a holiday lunch with the document specialist team so that Oland could surprise Bol with the award.
17 months and eight surgeries later, Oland is ready to get back to driving her 10,000-pound forklift at Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (TAI). But, of course, everyone is waiting on the paperwork.
Scott Garrard had degrees in management and health administration before deciding a good dose of clinical care would help him grow as a leader.
By Maureen Gilmer, IU Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Some nurses will tell you they knew from the time they were in middle school that nursing would be their chosen career.
Others have taken a more circuitous route to the profession, giving up one dream to follow another, even when that means going back to school.
Scott Garrard falls into the latter category. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management, then enrolled in a master’s program in health administration. Part of that program involved an internship that just happened to be at IU Health Methodist Hospital, where he worked in operations.
From there he accepted a full-time job in IT project management at Methodist, then moved into project management with the operations team from his internship days.
In 2013, after seven years on the business side of things, the aspiring leader decided to make a pretty dramatic switch. He went back to school to get his nursing degree.
“I decided I needed to broaden my skill set,” he said. “I wanted to be in a leadership position but thought I was limited in what I could do because I didn’t have the clinical training.”
In his project management role, he worked with doctors and nurses and said he always was interested in clinical work, in medicine and patient care.
After graduating from an accelerated nursing program in 2014, he moved into a bedside nursing role and never looked back.
“If you would have told me when I got out of the nursing program that I would do bedside nursing for eight years, I would have said you were crazy, but I really fell in love with the work, the people I work with and the patient care aspect.”
Over the past eight years working on the cardiovascular critical care unit at Methodist, he began taking on more leadership responsibilities as shift coordinator and charge nurse while still filling in at the bedside.
The week before Thanksgiving, however, he left the CVCC and has since moved into yet another new role – clinical operations manager on 2 North, a cardiovascular surgical unit that cares for a lot of stepdown patients from the CVCC. He is now in charge of the day-to-day management of the unit from a nursing standpoint, he said.
“I still get a good dose of clinical care. I get to interact with patients, maybe not as a nurse directly, but by supporting nurses who are doing that work.”
Support and teamwork are critical in healthcare, never more so than in the past 2½ years through the pandemic, especially in the state’s largest hospital.
“It was incredibly difficult,” Garrard said. “We had to lean on one another, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally when things were really bad. Just getting through day to day was super hard.”
Still, he said, he never regretted his decision to enter the nursing profession.
“I looked at it as, ‘this is what I signed up to do.’ I felt like it was my calling.”
And working at Methodist, which routinely cares for the sickest of the sick, is both a challenge and a point of pride, he said. As construction on the new Downtown hospital continues across the street, he looks forward to the day when everything is under one roof, believing patients and team members at both Methodist and IU Health University Hospital will benefit from improved care, services and accessibility.
In his time away from the hospital, the married father of two young children admits to being a golf nut, going so far as to name his son Ryder. When he’s not on the golf course, you can find him hunting, fishing and spending time with family.
Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
Due to a rise in the number of reported cases of flu and other respiratory viruses, IU Health is limiting visitors at some of its hospitals to prevent spreading and protect patients and team members. The current list of facilities with restrictions is below.
Additional IU Health facilities will decide whether to implement visitor restrictions based on local conditions and respiratory virus data. Please check back for the most current information.
Facility and Start Date
IU Health Arnett Hospital – Dec. 6
IU Health Frankfort Hospital – Dec. 6
IU Health Methodist Hospital – Dec. 5
IU Health North Hospital – Dec. 5
IU Health Saxony Hospital – Dec. 5
IU Health Tipton – Dec. 5
IU Health University Hospital – Dec. 5
IU Health West Hospital – Dec. 5
IU Health White Memorial Hospital – Dec. 6
Riley Hospital for Children – already observing restrictions
The following restrictions will remain in effect until viral illness rates decline:
Only immediate family (18 or older) will be allowed to visit and be on the patient unit, with a limit of two visitors at any one time.
Visitors younger than 18 years* will not be permitted on patient units (exceptions made for parents/guardians younger than 18).
Masking is required for visitors and team members in all patient encounters (i.e., when in a room with a patient).
Visitors who have flu-like or COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough, chills or muscle aches, will not be allowed to visit patients.
Visitors, vendors, volunteers and team members must be vigilant about hand washing and covering coughs.
*Age restriction due to high flu activity in younger children; this population is also at high risk for serious flu complications.
Exceptions to visitor restrictions may be made by regional leadership in special circumstances (such as end of life).
