Meet the Queen!

The bonds, friendships and interactions between staff and clients at St. Ann Center mean as much to the staff member as it does to the client. One example is Sandy who works in our Southwest Unit, nick-named The Queen, and Jo-Ann who comes to the center Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Jo-Ann spent 3 weeks creating a special sign, crown, cape and royal staff for Sandy as a surprise birthday present, even though no one knows when Sandy's birthday is. Sandy spent all afternoon showing off the card that reads:

To the Queen: Your kindness has made all the difference. Thank you very, very much.

 “I’m glad you are there for me every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I look forward to seeing you. Also I like helping you around St. Ann’s. I’m glad that you ask me to help you. I’m so happy that you welcome me back when I miss a day or two. I hope you enjoy your birthday present (whenever your birthday is) also enjoy your sign. I’m happy I have a good friend like you.” - Jo-Ann

Thank you to our clients and staff who do the little things to show they care, because those little things make the biggest difference.

Darby's Dash Welcomes Special Guest - Wickett!!

St. Ann Center is excited to welcome Wickett as our special guest at Darby’s Dash. Wickett is a 5 year old Shih Tzu/Pekingese Mix on wheels. In 2010 Wickett and his owner Sarah were in a car accident that left the young dog paralyzed. From then on his life in a two-wheel cart could not slow down this exceptional little dog. Still full of life, he immediately took to his wheels and now, he is even training to be a certified therapy dog. 

At Darby’s Dash – St. Ann Center’s first ever pet-friendly and family-fun 5K run/1mile walk – participants will have the chance to meet Wickett and Sarah.  Darby’s Dash was created to honor the amazing volunteer dogs that visit St. Ann Center on a daily basis to spend time with our adults and children at St. Ann Center.  Wickett will not be staying home just because of his condition, and this event invites our pets, family, and friends to come outdoors and enjoy a community event and engage in an active lifestyle regardless of life’s challenges. Wickett and Sarah’s story relates closely to the lives of St. Ann Center’s clients – especially those who have their own wheelchairs. Read Sarah's perspective on how Wickett has changed her life; plus, how he continues to inspire her and everyone they meet.

Wickett on Wheels

“To say that my experience with Wickett has changed my world would be an understatement. Our car accident and what happened to him was the worst day of my life, but it turned into something really unique and beautiful. It has changed every part of my life, from my career to the way that I think about the world and being more attuned to the needs and situations of animals and people around me.”

In Early 2010 Sarah and her energetic Shih Tzu / Pekingese mix were on their way to work when they were T-boned by another driver speeding through a residential neighborhood.   Both Sarah and Wickett were badly injured.  Wickett shattered one of his spinal vertebrae and was instantly paralyzed.

“I asked my Grandma, who lost her leg below the knee to complications from a heart attack 10 years ago, what she thought about the idea of a dog in a cart. As a person living in a wheelchair, did she think it was mean to do this to a dog? Did she think his life would be happy? Her answer was the only one I needed to know, that I was making the right choice with Wickett. She said that yes her life was different after she lost her leg, but it was still her life and she loved it, and, if anyone tried to put her down she'd BITE them--and she thought that Wickett would say the same!”

For Sarah, caring for Wickett and his new needs was never a question, it was just a continuation of the promise she made when she adopted him.  After much medical care and casts, they created a wheeled cart to allow Wickett to continue living a fairly normal dog’s life.  It took some adjusting, but Wickett quickly learned that he could still do many things that other dogs do. Wickett is a perfect example of how happy and healthy an animal with a disability can be, given the right home care and love. 

“When we go to the dog park he is always a topic of conversation and a really good opportunity for people to see his smiling face and maybe change the way they think about handicapped pets. He is very physically independent with the help of his cart, and at the dog park he will run across the field faster than I can to go meet new people and visit. I get every reaction from ‘Aww’ to ‘That's so awesome’ to ‘That poor thing, you should put him down’ to ‘I couldn’t do that’.  People often praise me for caring for him.”

Sarah’s sentiments resonate with caregivers and so many clients’ stories at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, where people of all ages and abilities receive day services.   Whether loved ones are elderly, disabled or 4-legged, they all deserve to experience life and quality care even through life’s toughest challenges. 

“I never imagined how much Wickett would change my life. I have a best friend and companion in everything I do, and I have an opportunity in a compelling way to educate people and to pass on Wickett's love of life. He inspires me to be grateful and smile and always remember that the worst day of your life can turn into the best path life ever set you on.”

Meet Sarah and Wickett at Darby’s Dash on Saturday, October 4th at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care. This event will be our first pet-friendly and family fun 5K & 1 Mile Walk/Run. All ages and abilities are welcome to participate.  For more information and to register for this great event please click here>

Massage Therapy: Every “Body” Benefits

Everyone benefits from the Massage Therapy Services at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care.

The goal is to nurture and promote good health for the mind, body and spirit. Besides the typical Massage Therapy services (i.e. therapeutic and relaxation massage, pregnancy massage, infant/child massage and chair massage), additional therapies are also offered. The newer services consist of Hot Stone Massage therapy and CranioSacral therapy. These massages are available to the St. Ann Center Day Care clients, caregivers, volunteers, employees and the community. Four Massage Therapy professionals provide over 2500 services per year - approximately 225 treatments per month are provided. People of all ages and abilities are relaxed and rejuvenated. Quality of life is enhanced when one experiences Wellness through a massage at St. Ann Center.

Another component of the Massage Therapy Services is the Benevolent Touch courses. These 4 hour educational workshops teach caregivers and health care professionals how to give a nurturing, caring touch to older adults, people with special need - everybody. Each year over 150 people learn how to enhance the quality of life for their loved ones. In addition, the Benevolent Touch - National Instructor Certification course certifies health care professionals to teach the BT workshop within the community and their facility.

For more information about these services, please visit our websites at www.stanncenter.org/MassageTherapy or www.stanncenter.org/BenevolentTouch or call 414-977-5056

- Sandy Anderson
 Certified Massage Therapist
 St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care
 414-977-5056 | sandya@stanncenter.org

Our Aquatic Program teams up with the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center!

Level 3 Swim Lesson

"Back in July 2013, I was approached by Bob and Ann White who run the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center, an indoor swim facility for children in the Brown Deer area. We began an informal referral partnership with St. Ann Center's aquatic program. They had just started a swim team for the kids on the south side at Deer Creek Elementary School and were looking for strong swimmers who completed all the swim levels we offer to join the team. I had several kids who were completing level 4 and decided to recommend them to tryout for the team. 3 have made the team currently compete. Any children who tried out and they felt needed a little more work, Bob and Ann referred back to us. As they grow their team, I grow my lessons.

Level 3 Swim Lesson

They continue to send me children and I continue to refer to families whose kids I think could be strong competitors. As a swimmer, I am happy to endorse a well-rounded, fun and healthy sport. I am also very proud of all the kids who made the team from our Aquatic Program!  For more information on the Schroeder South swim team, click here> 

- Nicole Michalak,  Aquatic Center Director 
Phone: 414-977-5015, nmichalak@stanncenter.org
View our current swim schedule at: http://www.stanncenter.org/AquaticCenter

Bumblebee Friendship Books

I am sure I can speak for everyone when I say, "There have been times in our lives when we have been down and hearing something positive about ourselves from a friend has lifted our spirits."

Children are no different. They need to be uplifted and encouraged just as much, if not more, than adults do. As a class we decided to make "Friendship Books" for each child in the classroom. Each child thought of something nice about each one of their classmates. We wrote it down, and they drew a picture.

About two weeks into the project, Lilly came to me and asked, "What are you and Ms. Mali going to do when you get sad? Maybe we should make books for you too!" So each child made a page for us as well. That's 15 pages for each child! It took over a month to complete and compile everything but we finally have finished "Friendship Books" for all of the Bumblebees to take home and treasure.

My favorite part was seeing the children's faces light up when they heard the nice things their friends said about them. Our hope is that these books will always bring those smiles to their faces.
 - Diana Koppa, Bumblebee Teacher

The Bumblebees pictured with a favorite page of their "Friendship Book."

Pumpkin-less Jack-O-Lanterns!

These Jack-O-Lanterns are require no knives, no seeds and no candle flames, making them an easy minimal mess craft, safe for inside, outside and all ages.

Brought to you by St. Ann Center's Afterschool Group.

Items You'll Need:

• One Empty Milk Carton for Each Pumpkin
• Orange Tempera Paint 
• Black Paper
• Scissors
• Tape or Glue

Step 1 - Pour paint into the milk carton, and shake until paint completely covers the inside.

This part is a lot of the fun for the kids. Encourage them to shake the carton as hard as they can and watch them laugh and make funny faces. Make sure the cap on tight! You may have to add a little more paint or pour out the extra when the carton is completely covered.

Step 2 and 3 - Draw shapes for a Jack-O-Lantern Face, cut them out & stick or glue the to the "Pumpkin".

Leave the cap off the milk carton and set it to the side while the kids draw their face. Use a white crayon on the black paper to draw the outline of the shapes. The Afterschool group got really creative and made shapes like bows for the top of the pumpkin and glasses in addition to the normal facial features. There is room for endless creativity! The Afterschool group put glue in bowls and used paintbrushes to apply it to the paper but you can use tape for a cleaner short cut.

Final Step - Admire Your Jack-O-Lantern!

While you can't put an actual candle in the these because the plastic would melt, they are fun and easy craft to recycle some old milk cartons.

If you do this craft, take a picture and share it with us on Facebook so we can see what you create. 

Need more ideas? Try using green paint to make a Frankenstein, like some of the Afterschool Group. Or black paint could make a black cat face! Check out more fun family Halloween crafts here>

Comment with your favorite Halloween crafts!

Generations United Program of Distinction

St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care has been renewed as a Generations United Program of Distinction! We feel very blessed to receive this honor for another year.

Generations United describes this designation as:

Generations United annually recognizes outstanding intergenerational programs with the Program of Distinction designation. This designation developed and launched in 2010 with support from the New York Life Foundation, serves as the U.S. benchmark for intergenerational programs and is based on the criteria that underpin the effectiveness of any intergenerational program. The intention of the designation is to recognize excellence while celebrating the rich diversity among intergenerational programs.

 Click here to read more about this honor on Generations United site>

A special thank you to our staff, volunteers, clients, youth and all who offer support because the people in St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care's community are what make it such a special place.