SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 | VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 38
ANGEL GOWNS BY DIANE PROVIDE
COMFORT AT A DIFFICULT TIME
Losing a baby. It’s an unimaginable loss no parent ever wants
to experience. Yet, even through such a loss, parents can gain
something very precious – an angel gown.
A special organization – Angel Gowns by Diane – creates
burial gowns and garments for babies at no cost. The
project is something close to company founder Diane’s
heart, as it started when she experienced the loss of her two
granddaughters and couldn’t find any baby clothing small
enough to fit them for their burial.
To create these garments, Angel Gowns by Diane (a nonprofit S-corporation) receives donations of wedding dresses,
bridesmaid dresses and other formal wear in suitable, clean
condition to disassemble and repurpose the material. Gowns
are then tagged and donated to several organizations, mainly
hospitals, including Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines, and
funeral homes across the country.
Chelsea Schnitzler, a nurse in the PICU, has a personal
connection to the company as her mother is a volunteer
with the organization. She has shipped burial garments to
Chelsea, which were then donated to Mercy’s NICU. Many
departments at Mercy – including Mother/Baby, Pediatrics,
PICU and NICU – have worked together to donate onceworn wedding gowns or gently-used prom dresses for the
creation of these burial gowns.
“Families who receive the gowns at Mercy are really touched
by them,” Chelsea said. “They come in many different
Angel Gowns by Diane helps provide comfort to parents who have lost a baby.
Shown here with some of the special gowns are (l-r): Jan Fick, RNC, NICU;
Chelsea Schnitzler, RN, PICU; and Dawn Schwartz, director of Mercy’s NICU.
patterns and colors, so families are able to choose a gown that
best suits their little one.”
Angel Gowns by Diane is always in need of donated dresses
or funds to help offset their costs. Dresses can be donated to
Chelsea Schnitzler in Mercy’s PICU on the third floor at Mercy
central campus. To learn more about Angel Gowns by Diane,
please visit angelgownsbydiane.org.
MERCY FAMILY FUN FEST JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY!
You won’t want to miss the Mercy Family Fun Fest on Oct. 15, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Principal
Park in downtown Des Moines. All Mercy staff, volunteers and their family members are invited
to attend this free day of festive food, family fun and exciting games!
Be sure to RSVP with your department director by Sept. 30.
A WARM WELCOME TO THE MERCY FAMILY
WHAT’S UP?
The following people recently joined the Mercy Family. Welcome!
Several Mercy clinics named
“Best” by USA Today
Andrew Bernard, D.O.
Adult hospitalist
Chloe Butler, M.D.
Pediatric hospitalist
Mitalee Dharwadkar, M.D.
Ankeny Briarwood
Scott Hanson, D.O.
Geriatrics
Jason Meyers, M.D.
Iowa Heart Center
Matthew Petty, M.D.
Pediatric hospitalist
Jenna Ridlen, D.O.
Family Medicine
East Village
Mengwen Wu, D.O.
Adult hospitalist
Sandy Hall, ARNP
Iowa Heart Center
Several Mercy clinics were recently
recognized in the USA Today Best
contest presented by “The Des Moines
Register.” Readers in eight zones voted
for their favorite businesses in each of
56 categories. First place winners in
each category automatically advance
to the final round of voting, where they
will compete against the first place
winners from the other community
zones, to be named USA Today Best:
Des Moines Metro. Voting will take
place Sept. 27-Oct. 11.
Mercy Clinics earning top placements
in the Best Family Doctor category
include:
• Family Medicine South - 1st (South
zone)
• Family Medicine West - 1st (West/
Waukee zone)
• Internal Medicine Central Campus
- 1st (East/North zone)
• Family Medicine Johnston - 2nd
(Urbandale/Johnston zone)
• Family Medicine Indianola – 2nd
(Warren County zone)
• Family Medicine North - 3rd
(Ankeny zone)
• Family Medicine Waukee - 3rd
(West/Waukee zone)
CONTACT US
WHAT DOES LIVING UP LOOK LIKE?
At Mercy, we encourage everyone to “Live Up” by going beyond our job descriptions to
achieve our Vision of providing a Remarkable Mercy Experience to every person we are
privileged to serve.
Living Up is happening all around us – every minute, every hour and every day. Going
above and beyond our job descriptions doesn’t always mean making a grand gesture,
it can simply be connecting someone directly with an expert source to address their
questions or issues.
Living Up is helping a lost guest find their way around the hospital, celebrating a
colleague’s birthday, taking the time to connect with a patient or bringing treats to share
with your department. Living Up really has no limits! Share your stories of Living Up to
[email protected].
The Bulletin is published weekly for staff
and friends of Mercy Medical Center, 1111
6th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2611
If you are interested in submitting information
to be printed in the Bulletin, send it to PR and
Marketing or call 515-247-3050.
FOLLOW US:
@MercyDesMoines