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Local Voices

Congressman makes inaugural donation to hospice program

DULUTH — Through the inaugural donation of U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey of Georgia’s 11th District, Peachtree Christian Hospice (PCH) has been able to officially launch its new Heart2Heart program.

The donation was presented to the Hospice during a visit to PCH on March 28. Gingrey and his wife, Billie, took a personal tour of the Hospice, hosted by Martha S. Todd, PCH Board Chairman and President. Following the tour, PCH board members, PCH staff, and community leaders gathered in the dining room for the gift presentation and a small reception.

“We were further honored to have special guest Madame G., wife of U.S. Ambassador Joseph Ghougassian and daughter, Samara, join us for this important event. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Gingrey for his genuine ‘heart for hospice’ that so beautifully portrays the name of our new Heart2Heart program. His gift enables PCH to initiate the vast components of this vital program and to inspire other benefactors to follow his lead. We are also extremely thankful to P.J. Lynch and the GEM Shopping Network for orchestrating this Heart2Heart connection between Congressman Gingrey and Peachtree Christian Hospice, ” Martha S. Todd said.

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The Heart2Heart program concept was developed in late 2013 by Anne Mancini, PCH Vice President of Operations, in response to the growing personal needs of patients and their loved ones. The program is comprised of personalized services that help to impart comfort, compassion, and hope, including wish fulfillment, transporting family members who otherwise could not visit PCH, installing a memorial garden, procuring a Tree of Life wall plaque in the PCH chapel to memorialize patients, and providing on-site family amenities and care packages.

The wish fulfillment component was inspired from an event that occurred in November 2013. A 24-year old patient, Chavis Harrison, had been admitted to PCH for complications from a motorcycle accident that caused extensive bodily damage, including quadriplegia. Since it was rare that PCH cares for patients who are both young and cognitively alert, the dedicated staff were particularly moved to do something special for Harrison. Upon admission to PCH, they learned that he was a life-long Falcons fan who had played football from the time he was four until he was 17 years old.

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With great optimism, PCH Administrator, Natalie McNeal, placed a phone call to Brian Finneran, retired Falcons Wide Receiver, and a loyal PCH friend, to arrange a visit. Finneran contacted the Falcons administrative team who responded within hours and arranged for Dominique Davis and William Moore to visit Harrison. Attired in a Falcons jersey and cap, Harrison, accompanied by his mother, had a memorable and motivating visit with the players. Later that week, Finneran also came to visit Harrison.

“Both visits gave Harrison something extraordinary to look forward to and lifted his spirits noticeably. This is an important example of the significant impact our new Heart2Heart program can have on Hospice patients and their loved ones,” Todd said.

Peachtree Christian Hospice is a non-profit organization that emerged from the Outreach Ministry of Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta to benefit all of Greater Atlanta and the surrounding communities. Located on 8.7 acres in Duluth donated by D. Scott Hudgens, Jr., PCH’s 16-bed facility is operated by United Hospice, a PruittHealth company engaged in providing palliative hospice care. As a loving place of rest, comfort and hope, PCH is also served by dedicated staff and a host of trained volunteers from the community who give of their own time to support others in their time of need. For more information contact PCH at 770-232-7727 or visit www.peachtreechristianhospice.com.


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