Local family donates to burn unit

Bri Brasher
NLJ Reporter
 
In honor of their daughter Connie Wenzel, of Torrington, Wyo., Wilbur and Norma Lease of Newcastle recently made a donation to the Western States Burn Center, located in the North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Colo. 
A Banner Health (parent company of NCMC) news release said that “Connie Wenzel was described as a kind and compassionate individual. She was active in community affairs where she lived in Torrington, and was especially proud of starting the paper pantry at the First United Methodist Church, where she attended. Her most joyous accomplishment was the birth of her daughter, Jessica Mae, in 1999.”
According to the release, the Leases traveled to the burn center not long ago “to express their gratitude, share special memories, and deliver a meaningful contribution through an undisclosed amount of donations received in their daughter’s memory.”
“Receiving donations from families or patients, that’s the biggest compliment we can get,” said Allison Bruce Miller, development program director for the NCMC. 
Miller said that donations go back into patient care. For example, the news release says that “this gift will help support the vital work of the WSBC to help fund the purchase of specialty healing garments, face masks and accessories for under-insured burn patients, provide continuing education for the highly specialized team of nurses, doctors and other health care providers at the center, and support the purchase of medical equipment.”
Bonnie Feilmeier, burn service coordinator for the WSBC, said the burn center takes care of the patients during their stay. The center also does what it can for the family, she said, because families tend to not think about themselves in a traumatic situation. 
Feilmeier said her position is nonclinical, so that while she did not know Wenzel personally, she did interact with the patient’s family. Feilmeier said the family spoke about what a loving and compassionate person and mother Wenzel was. 
According to Banner Health and NCMC, “in May 2018, Connie was admitted to the Western States Burn Center at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley with severe burns. Throughout her hospital stay, her family came to know the team of caregivers and formed a special bond with them. They were grateful for the care Connie received and the support their family was provided during a difficult time. Connie was a patient in the burn center for 10 days. She passed peacefully May 21, 2018, at age 52.”
Feilmeier spoke of the care that patients such as Connie receive at the burn center, as well as the support provided to families of the patients. 
“It’s the whole team here,” Feilmeier said. “It’s a multidisciplinary team that takes care of our patients, so their care has many different aspects participating in the day-to-day — not just the medical team.”
Doctors, nurses, therapists, the pharmacy, chaplain and the case management team all work together to provide a whole care package for the patients and families, Feilmeier said. She added that burn survivors also created a support group that meets regularly, often stopping by to visit current patients too. The Western States Burn Center is the regional burn unit for eight states, including Wyoming, according to Feilmeier. 
“Anyone that has a burn that needs any kind of ongoing medical attention whether it’s an emergency or something that hasn’t healed in the care of a different provider, gets referred to us,” Feilmeier said. 
Feilmeier said familial support is inherent to the patients’ comfort and recovery. 
“The family of Connie were exemplary in showing their support to their daughter, as well as to the team. Because if family is not involved, that impacts a patient’s well-being; and they were an exemplary family in that regard,” Feilmeier said. 
“The staff are very grateful to Wilbur and Norma, along with Connie’s family and friends for their support and kindness to help care for others through this fitting and meaningful tribute in her memory,” according to the news release.