Monmouth Medical Center e-Newsletter
  December 2013 


   
Inaugural  'Friends Toy Run' Benefits 
The Unterberg Children's Hospital

Motorcycle riders from around the region participated in a toy drop on Saturday, December 7, as part of the Inaugural Friends Toy Run that delivered toys and other gifts to brighten the holidays for patients at The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.

 

Riders with Friends Who Love 2 Ride, as well as Liberty Harley of Rahway, accompanied by Santa and his elves, delivered the toys to the hospital and visited patients on the inpatient pediatric unit.

In addition, each rider's $10 donation benefited The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, which offers the highest level of pediatric services for newborns to adolescents, including cutting-edge treatment, specialized expertise and an unsurpassed dedication to medical excellence in 32 pediatric subspecialty areas.


PHOTO:

Members of Friends Who Love 2 Ride deliver toys to the inpatient pediatric unit at The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center as part of the Inaugural Friends Toy Run on December 7.

 

 

Monmouth Medical Center Surgeon 
Plays Santa for 14th Year

Santa Claus, a.k.a. Stephen Chagares, M.D., FACS, Monmouth Medical Center general surgeon, and Mrs. Claus, a.k.a. Dr. Chagares' wife Marianne, made their 14th annual Christmas Day pilgrimage to bring toys and spread holiday cheer to young patients at The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center. 

 

Santa and Mrs. Claus were accompanied by Santa's helpers - the Chagares' nieces, nephews and close friends.

 

Toys were collected through donations from Dr. Chagares' patients as well as toy drives organized by Colts Neck High School and New Jersey Strength and Conditioning in Shrewsbury. A few special gifts included warm and cozy blankets for all the children (pink and blue), pillows and candy canes decorated as reindeers in a festive basket.

 

"We thank Dr. Chagares and his family and friends for their generosity of spirit and for so selflessly thinking of others in the true spirit of the holiday season," says Monmouth Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Vozos, M.D., FACS. "We are so grateful to the members of the Colts Neck community, New Jersey Strength and Conditioning and patients of Dr. Chagares for helping to make this possible."

 

PHOTO:  Top row, from left: Richard Brogley, Julie Maggs, Jacob Lauffenburger, Dr. Stephen Chagares, Marianne Maggs Chagares, and Debi Ferenc. Bottom row, from left: Stephanie Ferenc and Samantha Fitzgerald.

 

Charles Lafitte Foundation Brightens the Holidays for Unterberg Children's Hospital Paitents

The Charles Lafitte Foundation, a local non-profit dedicated to building hope and raising awareness for community programs that help children, and 12-year-old Kyra Citron recently helped brighten the holiday season for patients in The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.

 

Along with her mother Suzanne, Kyra Citron visited the hospital dressed as Mrs. Claus to spread cheer and distribute gifts to children spending time in the hospital during the holiday season.

 

"There are so many amazing organizations and programs, like The Unterberg Children's Hospital, that help children live a better, healthier life every day," explained Kyra. "But sometimes, these organizations need help in order to help others."

 

The Citron family's black labrador retriever is the namesake of the Charles Lafitte Foundation (CLF). Jeffrey and Suzanne Citron established CLF in 1999 to help people help themselves and the others around them to lead healthy, satisfying and enriched lives.

 

"We're so grateful to Kyra and the Citron family for their dedication to lifting the spirits of patients and families who spend the holidays at The Unterberg Children's Hospital," said Frank J. Vozos, M.D., FACS, president and chief executive officer of Monmouth Medical Center. "CLF's commitment to encouraging altruism in children helps make the world a better a place."

 

PHOTO:
 Kyra Citron, dressed as Mrs. Claus and representing the Charles Lafitte Foundation, delivers good cheer and gifts to patients at The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.

 

Did You Know?

 

SafeKidsLogo

The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center leads Monmouth County's first and only chapter of the Safe Kids International Campaign - an initiative to prevent injuries

and save young lives.

 

The county-based chapter is among more than 500 grassroots

partnerships throughout the world associated with

Safe Kids, the first nonprofit organization dedicated solely

to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury or

accidents - the No. 1 killer of children 14 and under.

Click here to learn more.

Quick Links 


January Community Health Education Programs 

Pediatric Preoperative Tours 
Thursdays, January 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 from  

3 to 4 p.m.  

Tours are available for pediatric patients preparing to have a surgical procedure in the Cranmer Ambulatory Surgery Center at Monmouth. Tours are designed to reduce anxiety giving children a hands-on experience with medical equipment and visitation to areas they will encounter on the day of their surgery. Meet in the Pediatric Playroom of the Cranmer Ambulatory Surgery Center, located at 300 Second Avenue in Long Branch. Registration is required by Tuesday for Thursday tours by calling 732-923-6525. Free.

 

 

STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Young Children
Wednesday, January 8, 15, 22, 29 & February 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. 

Parenting young children can be challenging. The five-session STEP program focuses on understanding the behavior of young children, communication, cooperation, effective discipline and nurturing children from infancy to six years. At Monmouth Medical Center. Registration required by calling 732-923-6990.

 $125 per couple. 

 


Make Room for Baby

Saturday, January 18, from 10 to 11 a.m. 

This is a special program for families and siblings (age two and older) who are expecting a baby brother or sister. Staff will acquaint them with the hospital setting and help to prepare them for the baby. Program is held at Monmouth Medical Center, located at 300 Second Avenue in Long Branch. To register, call 732-923-6990. $50 per child.

 

 

Children/Adolescents Experiencing Loss 

Free professionally led support group for children and adolescents dealing with grief over the loss of a loved one. Held at Monmouth Medical Center. Registration is required by calling 732-923-6990.