“I felt a little lump so let’s be cautious and get this tested, just in case,” Stefanie Taylor’s doctor told her after a routine OB-GYN breast exam.

Stefanie agreed, assuming the lump may have something to do with breastfeeding her daughter. A few days after the tests, Stefanie received a call she would never forget: she had HER2-positive breast cancer.

“My whole world turned upside down,” Stefanie says. “I was 30-years old. I didn’t drink. I didn’t smoke. I didn’t need to lose weight. I didn’t have a genetic history of breast cancer in my family.”

What Stefanie did have was a devoted husband, a bubbly one-year-old daughter, and a life that was pretty close to perfect. And one phone call changed everything.

Stefanie’s cancer was caught early, but it was aggressive. She knew right away she wanted treatment at a place she trusted most. A place where her mother-in-law worked as a nurse for over 30 years. The very place where she received exceptional care when her daughter was born: Holy Redeemer Hospital.

Two weeks later, Stefanie began her breast cancer journey. To prepare for six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, she asked her husband to help shave her head and went wig shopping for the first time. The chemotherapy landed her in bed for a week at a time and interfered with the holiday season—underscoring the sad truth that cancer knows no boundaries.“

"After my chemo treatments, I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction and 12 rounds of additional immunotherapy,” Stefanie says. “One of the great things I noticed about Holy Redeemer throughout my cancer journey was how my care was coordinated among my doctors. My oncologist, breast surgeon, and plastic surgeon all worked as a team to create and follow a comprehensive treatment plan. It made my journey so much easier!”

Ultimately, the sum of Stefanie’s care and treatment led to a celebratory outcome. The chemotherapy worked. The surgery was a success. And Stefanie recently wrapped up her last infusion. Surrounded by the cancer team and her pink pompom-clad daughter, she joyfully participated in a cherished rite of cancer survivors all over the world: ringing a ceremonial bell that signifies the end of treatment.

Stefanie credits her recovery to the extraordinary support she received from Redeemer’s cancer team—a group of caring and compassionate practitioners—who stood by her through every peak and valley. The Bucks County Breast Friends support group and its offshoot, Young Breast Friends, also made a big difference in her life.

“My mother-in-law went to the Breast Friends meeting with me,” Stefanie says. “It was a little overwhelming. I had just cut my hair and shaved my head, but everyone was so supportive. I met another young cancer patient, and we’d text back and forth to check on each other.”

Today, Stefanie feels ready and energized to focus on her life as a devoted mother and wife and to provide inspiration and encouragement to other breast cancer patients any way she can.

The Inside Story on Holiday Safety
As we continue to manage through these challenging times, especially with COVID-19 once again on the rise, you may be wondering how to best navigate holiday gatherings with friends and loved ones. Should I go? Is it safe? We have answers, along with some suggestions on how to delight in the glow of family and friends while staying safe.

Is a Small Gathering Safe?
It depends. Of course, virtual gatherings are your best option (see our fun suggestions below). For those who plan to gather for the holidays, the risk of exposure to or spread of the virus can increase when:

• Guests have not practiced social distancing (six feet apart), masking that covers both the mouth and nose, and frequent hand washing before the gathering. And, of course, the same is true when during the gathering.
• Out-of-town guests have spent time in transportation terminals and/or rest stops during travel.
• The gathering is held indoors in a poorly ventilated space.
• The host and guests live in areas that have high or increasing levels of COVID-19.

Consider downloading the PA Department of Health’s official mobile app, COVID Alert PA, which can alert you if you have been potentially exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, as well as provide steps for controlling the spread of the virus and easy access to the latest COVID-19 facts and figures in Pennsylvania.

Still Gathering? Here's How to Do It Safely

• Celebrate with members of your own household who consistently practice social distancing, proper masking, and frequent hand washing. A household is defined as persons who currently live and share common spaces in your home.
• If hosting people from different households, ask them to avoid contact with people outside of their household for 14 days before attending your gathering. Keep in mind that health experts consider returning college students as being from a different household.
• Set up the gathering so that each household group can remain at least six feet apart.
• All guests should avoid direct contact including handshakes and hugs.
• Do not let your pets interact with guests from other household groups.
• Host the gathering outdoors as much as possible. Even when outdoors, remain vigilant about proper masking when not eating or drinking.
• Try not to hold your gathering in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
• When indoors, increase ventilation as much as you can by opening windows and doors or placing central air and heating on continuous circulation.
• Avoid singing or shouting, especially when indoors.
• Encourage frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.
• Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and shared items.
• A single, masked person should serve all the food so multiple people aren’t handling serving utensils.

Holiday Love and Laughter—Virtually
You can still make wonderful memories with family and friends through any number of connection platforms, including Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, or Google Hangouts. Consider sharing love and laughter with your favorite peers by arranging for virtual holiday dinners, recipe swaps, or game nights. In fact, we’d love to hear your creative ideas about virtual celebrations. Please share them with us!

St. Joseph Manor, a Holy Redeemer Life Care community, has been named a best nursing home in Newsweek’s America’s Best Nursing Homes 2021.

“This is an extraordinary honor! The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic strengthened the resolve of our team to carry out Redeemer’s mission to care, comfort, and heal. With great determination, immense resourcefulness, and heartfelt concern the team never missed a beat in supporting residents and each other with exceptional thoughtfulness and grace. Every day, team members from all parts of the community joined together to ensure optimal wellness and safety for residents,” says Ellie Nocito, Vice President at St. Joseph Manor.

Both Little Flower Manor, a comprehensive skilled nursing facility affiliated with Holy Redeemer, and the Holy Redeemer Transitional Care Unit at St. Joseph Manor, received a five-star rating—the highest possible to achieve—in U.S. News and World Reports 2020-21 Best Nursing Home ratings. The ratings evaluate a facility’s quality of post-acute care for patients recovering from a hospital stay, as well as its ability to care for residents who need daily assistance with medical needs such as administering medications and non-medical needs such as dressing, eating, and using the bathroom.

Visit Life Care to learn more about Holy Redeemer’s Life Care facilities.

This story—one of shared values, a penchant to serve, and a calling to heal—begins four decades ago when Dr. John Kuryan, now an allergy and asthma specialist, and his wife, Dr. Jocelyn Kuryan, now an ophthalmologist, were children growing up in Northeast Philadelphia. Both youngsters were flanked by relatives who made their career at Holy Redeemer. “Both of our mothers were nurses, and many people in our family worked in health care. We also had several family members working in the Holy Redeemer Health System,” says Dr. John.

As early as childhood, Dr. John knew he wanted to practice medicine. He identifies Holy Redeemer as a catalyst that inspired his penchant to serve and heal. Afflicted by allergies and asthma as a young boy, he vividly remembers the attentive care he received in Holy Redeemer’s Emergency Department for a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to cashew nuts.

On the whole, Holy Redeemer was an indelible presence in the lives of Dr. John, his parents, and siblings. “My family routinely sought care with Redeemer doctors. Also, both of my brothers volunteered at the Hospital. When I started high school, I began to volunteer here as well. I worked at the reception desk and in the gift shop. I also delivered newspapers to patients in their hospital rooms.”

A Joint Destiny

As children, Dr. John and Dr. Jocelyn lived within miles of each other. Both shared similar backgrounds and values. Yet, their joint destiny didn’t converge until young adulthood. “We met in college through a mutual friend and have been together ever since,” says Dr. Jocelyn.

In the early years of their marriage, the couple lived and practiced medicine in New York. While they cherished their time there, both were overjoyed at the chance to return home and establish roots in Huntingdon Valley with their three children “At heart, we’re Philadelphia lifers. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to come full circle and be able to work with the hospital where I received care as a child,” says Dr. John.

Actually, coming full circle for both doctors has continued to reveal an uncanny and ever-deepening bond with their Redeemer family. “Our whole street is filled with Redeemer doctors,” laughs Dr. John. And, adds Dr. Jocelyn, “My cousin, Dr. Melissa John, is currently an internal medicine physician on staff at Holy Redeemer. Redeemer really is a part of our family.”

The expansive journey of each doctor mirrors the expanded reach of Redeemer across our region. In 2012, Dr. John joined Allergy & Asthma Care, a practice with offices located at Holy Redeemer’s Medical Office Building, as well as in Richboro, Northeast Philadelphia, and soon in Willow Grove. That same year, Dr. Jocelyn joined the Southampton-based Tri-County Eye, now called Tri-Century Eye Care since its alliance with another Bucks County practice, Century Eye Care. “We both feel privileged to be on staff at Redeemer and to be part of this community of physicians,” says Dr. John.

The Next Generation

Now, a new generation of Kuryans is beginning their Holy Redeemer legacy. In 2015, the doctors’ third child, Joshua, was born at Holy Redeemer Hospital. Their second child, Sonya, loves spending time in both of her parents’ offices and learning about medicine. Their oldest daughter, Maya, wants to be an allergist just like her dad. “She’s telling everyone that’s what she wants to do. And, being a homebody, she doesn’t want to stray far from here. Like us, she’s a Philly lifer too!” says Dr. Jocelyn. 

The Kuryans are fostering their children’s penchant to serve and care for people by instilling in them Redeemer’s mission to care, comfort and heal. It’s a set of values that inspires the Kuryans to serve vulnerable populations even beyond the precincts of the Philadelphia area. Together with their children they have traveled to India to provide care for impoverished women and children. “Redeemer’s mission of serving people in need really resonates with us, and it is a central part of our family life. We plan to have our family participate in more of these mission trips in the future,” says Dr. John.

From Northeast Philadelphia, to New York, to India, to Huntingdon Valley, the Kuryans cherish their personal and professional life journey and today are extraordinarily grateful for their children, the proximity of their family and friends, the alliance they have with their Redeemer family, and the hundreds of Redeemer patients they are able to impact. “Dreams do come true. We have been—and always will be—very connected to this area. We cherish being part of this community,” says Dr. Jocelyn.

What Is Your Story?

As a long-established community health system, Holy Redeemer plays a rich part in many family histories. Our caring and compassionate Redeemer family often has the privilege to celebrate special milestones with generations of parents and children. We want to hear your story! In what ways has Holy Redeemer walked alongside your family to provide care and comfort through the years? Have we inspired within your family a call to heal, to serve, or to give? Use the comment box below to share your story with us.

Quitting smoking is hard. It’s an addictive habit with intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult for many people, but with the right tools and attitude you can do it and live a healthier life.

The benefits of quitting smoking to your overall health are well known, but there are strong motivators to make the decision to quit.

• Lengthen your life expectancy and feel healthier
• Decrease your risk of disease
• Reduce your risk of during surgery and of infection or readmission after an operation
• Reduce the health risk to others in your home
• Improve your sense of taste and smell
• Save money –the average pack of cigarettes costs $8-8.50, which is approx. $3000/year

If you are ready to quit smoking for good, here are some tips to help:

Stay clear of triggers.

Your urge for a smoke may be most intense when you are in a place where you often smoke, like after dinner or at a party. It could also come upon you when you are feeling stressed. Avoid this easy relapse by being aware of these triggers. Have a plan in place to avoid them--perhaps a new response, like holding a pen, chewing gum or popping a mint.

Procrastinate.

Work on this strategy: the moment you have a tobacco craving, train yourself to wait at least 10 minutes before you give in. During those 10 minutes, distract yourself--play with a rubber band or stress ball, or hang out in a designated no-smoking zone. Work to distract your craving. You can triumph with the help of time. Relax. It’s most likely that you smoke to deal with stress, so denying yourself that smoke during stressful times will be especially difficult. Transfer that need to something more enriching: try yoga, massage, or listening to music. Investigate relaxation techniques and deep-breathing exercises.

Confront yourself.

You may tell yourself that one cigarette won’t hurt. Stand strong and firm. You know deep down that one cigarette will only lead to another...and another. The craving is going to go away whether you smoke or not. It may take up to 10 minutes, but it WILL go away.

Help yourself to a healthy chew.

Smoking is an oral fixation, so just shift the need to chew on something healthy: raw carrots, celery, sunflower seeds, nuts, granola--or even things like sugarless hard candy, gum, or mints.

Exercise the craving away.

Physical activity is a good and healthy distraction. You don’t have to go on a marathon run; even a short burst of activity can beat away your tobacco craving. Walking, jogging, biking, and jumping rope can often do the trick. If this is not possible, jog lightly in place or do trunk twists. Cleaning is also a good calorie burner. This strategy can help you get into shape as well as minimize your tobacco craving.

Remind yourself of the benefits of quitting.

Never forget why you are working so hard to quit. Turn it into your mantra:

• Better health
• Better psychological state
• Saving money
• Sparing my loved ones from second-hand smoke

Remind yourself of who you are quitting for!

Face the mirror and say it out loud: “I’m quitting for my...” (family, children, parents, friends, loved ones, pets...)

Don’t go it alone.

Find a partner who also needs to quit and support each other. You may also find an understanding friend or relative who you can contact when your temptation is high. Call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669), a free support line. They offer one-on-one support and will also provide 8 weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, gum, or lozenges. Join a support group or a class. Holy Redeemer offers a free Smoking Cessation Class.

Bottom line:

It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Remember that every day you work on resisting your tobacco cravings is a step closer to completely quitting and improving your health and state of mind.

Meadowbrook, PA – November 10, 2020 – An 18-wheeler traveled from Indianapolis, Ind., to Philadelphia, transporting over 40,000 pounds of nonperishable food and commodities last week to Holy Redeemer Food Pantries, as a generous donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“This donation truly demonstrates the power of faithful individuals joining together to positively impact the community,” said Bill Gross, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Holy Redeemer Health System. “Our food pantries are a tangible expression of our call to serve vulnerable populations, and with the extraordinarily gracious food supply we’ve received from our friends at The Church of Jesus Christ we’ll be able to provision and enrich even more families who are coping with economic and healthcare challenges due to the pandemic.”

In addition to its extensive range of health care, home care, and life care services, Holy Redeemer carries out its mission to care, comfort and heal through community resources including the Holy Redeemer Food Pantry of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, and the Holy Redeemer Jersey Shore Food Pantry, located in Cape May County, New Jersey. Each month, both facilities support more than 600 families who face food insecurity.

The generous donation delivered by The Church of Jesus Christ includes hundreds of cases ranging from cooking and baking staples to various toiletry items. A vast majority of the food items were grown on Church farms and ranches, and the logistics in production of these goods were predominately coordinated by Church members.

Elder Vai Sikahema, the Church’s highest ecclesiastical leader in the Philadelphia area, stated, “The Holy Redeemer Food Pantries are a blessing to the community. We recognize the amazing work they do to help combat hunger in the Greater Philadelphia region. We hope that this contribution will help to reduce the burden of hunger and financial strain on resources during this challenging economic time.”

If you are interested in supporting Holy Redeemer Food Pantries, please visit our giving page.

About Holy Redeemer Health System

With an emphasis on providing a continuum of care, Holy Redeemer Health System remains true to the mission to care, comfort and heal that its sponsors, the Sisters of the Redeemer, began in our region in 1924 – to provide high quality, compassionate care. Today, Holy Redeemer offers a wide range of healthcare and health-related services, including an acute care hospital, home health and hospice services, two skilled nursing facilities, personal care, a retirement community, low-income housing, an active living community, and a transitional housing program for homeless women and children. With corporate offices in Huntingdon Valley, PA, Holy Redeemer Health System is a Catholic healthcare provider, serving southeastern Pennsylvania and 12 counties in New Jersey, from Union County south to Cape May County.

Friday the 13th ordinarily gets a bad rap. But for Maria Terinoni-Mulvey, a breast cancer survivor, it’s a day that signifies hope and renewal. It’s on this same date she began her patient journey at Holy Redeemer, and two years later, completed her last surgery and started on the path toward a cancer-free life.

Maria’s odyssey began In April 2018. The discovery of her breast cancer seemed to happen at warp speed. While at a local hospital for an unrelated procedure, Maria asked her clinicians if they could tack on a mammogram since she was overdue for a breast screening. Suddenly she was being walked across the hall to the cancer center to schedule a biopsy. When the results came in, she was told she had Stage 1 breast cancer.

Wanting a second opinion, she followed the advice of a good friend who recommended Dr. Stacey Krisher at Holy Redeemer’s Comprehensive Breast Care Surgeons. From the get-go, it seemed Maria was predestined to find Holy Redeemer: when she called from her car to schedule an appointment and asked for the address, it turned out that completely by chance, she’d pulled over directly across the street from the building. The amazing affinity and serendipity just kept growing from there.

In fact, Maria felt an instant connection with each doctor she encountered. “I knew as soon as I met Dr. Krisher that I’d found my breast surgeon. I loved her. She was the whole package, very professional but so caring and compassionate.” Of oncologist Dr. Pallav Mehta,“ At the end of our first appointment, I said you’re my guy. I’m done.” When she met her radiation oncologist, Dr. Sheena Jain she fell in love with her too.

After having had a negative treatment experience at her first facility, including a misdiagnosis (her breast cancer turned out to be Stage 3, not Stage 1), Maria felt like she’d found a medical home at Holy Redeemer. A double mastectomy meant she’d need reconstructive surgery. When she was put in touch with Dr. Bill Scarlett there was déjà vu -they’d already met years before when Maria had had a breast reduction procedure.

Maria will always remember the kind and caring post-op nurse who cared for her immediately after surgery when the pain was at its worst. Later that same day, a male nurse, Chris, also exemplified Redeemer’s commitment to care, comfort, and heal just as the fellow nurse before him. “When he saw how much pain I was in he asked me if I was into oils and then put a napkin with lavender essential oil under my chin. He was the nicest person, just genuinely caring and very concerned.”

Maria still remains grateful to have gotten that second opinion. “Holy Redeemer staff are really special. While I was getting radiation, even the gentleman in the parking lot who welcomed me every day kept me spiritually charged and positive. He was very protective and would ask a doctor to move his car if I couldn’t find a parking spot. It felt like family was taking care of me.”

Maria had her final surgery last December. “It has been almost two years of this going on. I’m at the end of the battle. Cancer-free.” She has only good things to say about the care she received. “People would ask me why Holy Redeemer? And I’d tell them the best doctors aren’t only in Philadelphia. I felt confident in everybody I encountered from the moment I walked in. It was the best decision I ever made.”

Whether you are recovering from a major medical event such as a surgery or stroke, there is no place like home. That is why Home Care is an important part of the care continuum provided by Holy Redeemer Health System. With a sincere dedication to Care, Comfort and Heal, our warm and compassionate Home Care team includes nurses, therapists, social workers, and home health aides.

Because it comforts many people to understand what to expect from a Holy Redeemer Home Care visit, we’re happy to share how our attentive team gets to know their patients. Here is the typical path in which a patient and professional caregiver begin their journey together.

Before the Visit
A new patient can expect to receive an introductory call from his or her Holy Redeemer Home Care team. This includes a scheduler calling with a welcome and safety call, followed by subsequent calls from the nurse or therapists visiting the patient on the first day. Helpful Tip: Many Home Care nurses recommend that patients prepare a list of questions to ask the nurse when they arrive for the home visit. Anyone entering the home will wear a mask and request the patient and caregiver to wear one as well.

Beginning the Visit
An average initial Home Care visit may last over an hour, depending on the treatment and care needed. When a Home Care clinician arrives for the initial visit, he or she will first introduce the patient to the role of home care and the ultimate goal of managing their illness and supporting self-management. Additionally, the completion of any necessary forms or paperwork is handled at this time. If the patient has an advance directive or living will, the nurse will request a copy to keep on file for the duration of care.

Physical Assessment
The Home Care clinician will complete a physical assessment to determine the patient’s state of health and well-being. He or she will also administer any treatment ordered by the patient’s physician. Additionally, the clinician will educate the patient on ways to manage their illness from taking their medications appropriately to instructing safe dressing changes. Helpful Tip: Family caregivers are welcome and encouraged to be a part of this process.

Conclusion of Visit
The nurse will inform the patient when their next visit will be scheduled and provide information regarding any additional care from therapists, social workers, or home health aides that has been ordered by the patient’s doctor. It is also important to note that 24/7 triage services are available for current patients when needed. Holy Redeemer Home Care is here to help you recover every step of the way. If you would like further information regarding our services, call 1-888-678-8678, or visit Redeemer Home Care.

With 1 in 8 women being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, a mammogram screening can find a breast abnormality often before it can be felt, giving valuable time for treatment. “Breast cancer that’s found early, when it’s small and hasn’t spread, is easier to treat," said Anna Mazor, DO, a breast surgeon with Holy Redeemer’s Comprehensive Breast Care Surgeons. “Early detection is key to saving your life.”

Current Guidelines
Most women should have a mammogram beginning at age 40 and continue to have one annually. All women 20 years and older should have a clinical breast exam every year. However, if breast cancer runs in your family, your doctor may suggest getting your first mammogram earlier, have additional tests, or be tested more often. Along with regular mammograms, Dr. Mazor suggests women stay familiar with their breasts so they notice any new lumps. “If you do feel something unfamiliar, don’t wait, contact your doctor to see if further action is recommended.”

What to Expect
If this is your first mammogram or it has been a little while since your last scan, it is helpful to know how to prepare and what to expect.

Before your appointment, make sure not to put on any deodorant, lotions, oils, or perfume, as these can interfere with the scan. You’ll be given a private dressing room to undress from the waist up and put on a gown open in the front.

Once you enter the exam room, you’ll stand in front of a machine where a certified technician will position your breasts one at a time in between two plastic imaging plates. Let the technician know if the position feels uncomfortable, as the machine might be at the wrong height. Then the machine will apply pressure and take multiple X-ray images from different angles. The pressure is necessary to spread out the tissue and get the clearest possible picture. The more pressure applied, the less radiation is needed for an optimal image.

Even though your natural reaction is to tense up, do your best to relax. Take a few deep breaths before you begin. The technician will step away to take the image and will return to reposition the opposite breast on the machine. Mammograms are fast procedures; the whole process shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes.

After your test, a radiologist will review your x-rays and send your doctor a report. Your doctor will contact you if there is anything that needs to be examined further.

Don’t Delay Your Care
Mammograms are considered preventive care and covered by most insurance plans. At Holy Redeemer we offer mammogram services at our health care locations throughout Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Walk-ins are welcome or to schedule your appointment call 215-938-5700 or visit our Mammogram page

At Holy Redeemer your health and safety are our top priority. We are taking every precaution to keep you and your family safe.

Redeemer Baby is excited to announce our Childbirth Education and Prenatal Breastfeeding classes are now virtual! That’s right! Our most popular maternity classes are now available anytime, anywhere, and FREE of charge.

“In order to best meet your educational needs and keep you and your baby safe, we have moved to a virtual childbirth education platform,” says Childbirth Education instructor Susan Cordero.

Childbirth Education classes explore pregnancy, stages of labor, relaxation and breathing techniques, pain and pain relief, Cesarean birth, and recovery and postpartum after vaginal delivery. In Prenatal Breastfeeding, topics cover the benefits of breastfeeding, latching, and positioning, how long and how often to breastfeed, and breastfeeding resources and products.

Collette Acker has been teaching Prenatal Breastfeeding classes at Holy Redeemer for more than 20 years. “I was sad when the pandemic halted in-person classes, but thrilled when classes were moved online for new families,” she says. “Holy Redeemer won’t let COVID-19 stop us from providing excellent education and care.”

Access Childbirth Education Classes

Access Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes