Christmas Morning

By: Jessica Bahny
NCC Activities Assistant

Can you believe it, another year has come and gone!  I can’t believe we are welcoming 2012.  That being said, I wanted to take a few minutes to share my wonderful holiday experience here at NCC.  So many times people ask me: “doesn’t it stink working holidays?”.  Nope!  I had a great Christmas holiday here at NCC with some of my favorite people- my wonderful clients and co-workers. 

The holiday spirit was definitely in the air when I walked in on Christmas morning.  The clients and I shared our usual coffee house time- this time with my “special” coffee (It’s just coffee with cinnamon and nutmeg, but the clients love it, and I try to make it for them on special days).  We laughed out loud as we read letters that children wrote to Santa.  You could feel the excitement in the air after coffee house when it was time for me to pass out the gifts.  Now, this is my favorite part of working the holiday.  I LOVE watching the clients’ eyes light up when they open their presents.  Everyone was talking and laughing at the same time.  It was total chaos, but the best kind!  Christmas at NCC is like Christmas anywhere else- it’s filled with laughter, hugs and some tears.  After they opened their gifts, the clients sat down to a fabulous meal.  The kitchen staff really outdid themselves!  There was honey baked ham, potatoes, rolls, and a beautiful dessert selection. 

I left work that day with an amazing feeling.  I was able to be a small part of giving the clients a memorable holiday.  To all of my coworkers who also shared the holiday with the clients- please know that we all had a hand in the festivities.  As I was heading out to celebrate the day with my family I realized this: I may have passed out gifts to the clients, but they gave me something that can’t be bought.  So many of them told me how much I matter to them, and how happy they were to celebrate the holiday with me.  That’s the greatest gift of all.  And believe me, the pleasure was all mine!  I hope everyone’s holiday was wonderful.  Even though the “busy” time is over, we won’t be slowing down in activities any time soon!   I’ll be back soon, keeping you in the loop of leisure!

The Holiday Season at NCC

By Jessica Bahny

NCC Activities Assistant

Well, it’s been looking a lot like the holidays here at the NeuroCare Center.  I thought I’d update everyone about what’s been shakin’ here in the activity department.  As you can imagine, we’ve been busy, busy, busy- but always having fun!  As we do every year, we’ve been trying to go to the Wayne County Lightfest every Thursday night.  I personally went recently, with Brian O. and Bradly R.  We had so much fun!  The holiday music was cranked up, and we sang and laughed the whole way.  The lights were quite a spectacle this year- they had the usual displays, but DTE energy sponsored the new addition- blinking musical notes in a rainbow of colors.  Very cool. 

 

On December 11, my co-worker Kari and I were fortunate enough to be able to take two of our clients to the Lion’s game.  Willie B., James H., Kari and I had a rockin’ good time watching the Lions face the Minnesota Vikings.  It was a packed house at Ford Field, and oh yeah, the Lions won!!!  The staff was very gracious to our gentlemen- what a great experience!  

This past Friday was our annual Winterfest here at NCC.  We had a full day of games, crafts, food and excitement.  My leader, Amy Blevins, did a great job as always coordinating the whole thing, and all of the awesome therapists, RST’s, and everyone else working that day were so supportive in working the different stations and helping the clients get from one place to another.  It always feels so good to see all of us working together to give our clients a good day.  One more shout-out has to go to our Dietary Staff for the AWESOME food!  We had soup in bread bowls, and fantastic wrap style sandwiches.  They worked very hard, and it certainly paid off with compliments from clients, staff and guests alike.  We’re all decorated up for the season, with the Christmas tree that our clients helped decorate sitting in the dining room and our menorah lit.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.  Stay tuned for more updates!  There’s always something going on!

Pay Day at Last!

There’s nothing like the feeling of getting your first paycheck, even if you have to wait until you’re 59! Client Dusanka was thrilled to get her first paycheck EVER for her vocational work in Special Tree’s Day Treatment Service’s in-house ceramics studio where she creates ceramics and keeps the studio clean and organized. “Dusanka is a hard worker and voluntarily takes on extra tasks,” said DTS Manager Kathy Gray. Dusanka has a long work history — just not for jobs she got paid to do. After immigrating from Romania, she raised three kids and helped care for her five grandchildren. Working in the studio has dramatically changed Dusanka’s outlook on her abilities adds Kathy. “Instead of saying she can’t do something, she’s now focused on what she can do to make more money!”

But Dusanka’s new job has given her more than just money -- it’s also boosted her self-confidence. In October, she bravely spoke about her work experiences to a large crowd at the Michigan Rehabilitation Conference in Grand Rapids. Dusanka, her co-worker David, and DTS staff made the trek across the state to participate in the Conference’s Micro Enterprise Mall where they sold over $500 worth of client-made ceramics at Special Tree’s product booth.

Ceramic works by Dusanka and other clients in the DTS vocational program are on display (and for sale) at the Troy Neuro Skills Center. You can also purchase ceramics by contacting the ceramics sale manager at victoriamannino@specialtree.com.

Knock, Knock... It's the Holidays!

By: Tonya Bryant, CBIS
Residential Manager
Webster Court

This year the staff at Webster Court wanted to do something fun with our clients to get them in the holiday spirit.  We decided to have a Holiday door decorating contest.  All week long we have encouraged any visitors at Webster Court to take a walk through and vote for the most creative and festive door. Tom had a box of Godiva chocolates set outside his door to share with all of those who stopped by to vote.  This afternoon we tallied up our votes and we have our winners.  In first place we have Tom, known at Webster Court as “The Mayor.”  He won a $20 gift certificate to Fanatic U. In second place we have Shanay, who a $10 gift certificate to Dots.  In third place we have Bill who took home a $5 gift certificate to Fanatic U.  Staff also decorated the office door to join in on the fun.  Everyone enjoyed this contest and we plan to make a holiday tradition at Webster Court.

Tom, "The Mayor" who's festive door was awarded 1st place

Shanay's door adorned in red and green and got her the number 2 spot 

Humble, yet festive Bill was awarded 3rd in the contest

Happy Holidays!

Gingerbread, trees and trains, oh my!

By: Jessica Bahny, Activities Assistant 

The annual Festival of Trees at the Dearborn Community Center is truly a feast for the eyes!  Each year, it seems that the holiday season starts earlier and earlier.  When client Bradly and I found ourselves in the mood for some holiday cheer, we headed out to the Festival of Trees.  The festival benefits Children’s Hospital, which makes it wonderful from the start. 

Families, corporate groups and organizations decorate and donate trees for the display.  There are too many trees to count, each different in their own way.  It’s hard to choose a favorite, but both Bradly and I were partial to the Dr. Seuss tree.  It was too cool with pink, green, and purple lights.  Stuffed characters from all of Dr. Seuss’ most famous books sat in the branches.  Before you ask, of course the Grinch was there!  There were wreaths decorated as well. 

There was also an amazing display of handmade gingerbread houses.  We kind of giggled, because our houses we build every year at NCC don’t turn out that well.  Bradly enjoyed looking at the trains, and people watching.  There was an arts and crafts table, where we were able to make an ornament together to commemorate our special outing.  I say this so much, but I really do love my job- especially the outings.  This time of year always brings so many wonderful chances to bond with my clients and make great memories.  We’ll be going next to the Wayne County  festival of lights, so stay tuned for more holiday happenings in the wild world of this activities assistant!

Thankful for a Good Harvest

This year when the clients from Moravian West sit down for their Thanksgiving dinner they’ll be thankful in a new way.  The vegetables that accompany the turkey will taste fresher, and the pumpkin pie will be a little more sweet.  That’s just one of the many beautiful things that has come from a harvest season following a summer of gardening in their backyard. 

This summer the residents rolled up their sleeves and got down to gardening when a new garden box was built behind their house. Clients Violet L. and Darin H. had previously been master gardeners and were excited to exercise their green thumbs.  It didn’t take long before the soil filled box was full of sprouts that soon turned into a plentiful garden of tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries, green peppers and pumpkins. The clients were able to enjoy the fruits of their labor when they picked the vegetables and turned them into delicious treats like fried zucchini, zucchini bread and crisp, fresh vegetables.  

At 85 years old and in a wheelchair, Violet will tell you that gardening is ‘more interesting’ now than it may have been in the past, but she still loves everything about it and was grateful to return to one of her favorite pastimes. She’ll tell you she has a great appreciation for her Thanksgiving dinner and the vegetables that are on the table because she knows the time involved to grow them. Violet and the other clients at Moravian West are excited for the arrival of next spring and a new gardening season, but for now their thankful for a good harvest.

We Did It Again!

Special Tree is thrilled to once again be named a Top Workplace in Michigan by the Detroit Free Press. To make the list, employees fill out an independent survey conducted by the Detroit Free Press on factors that contribute to a great work environment – Direction, Execution, Career, Conditions, Managers and Pay & Benefits.  Thanks to our staff’s  honest feedback and positive written comments, our high survey score put Special Tree on the Top Workplaces list for the second year in a row.  Special Tree also made an impressive showing in several categories.   According to Lynn Slevin, Chief Quality Officer who handles the Top Workplace nomination and survey process, out of the 77 companies in the mid-sized category, Special Tree ranked 7th overall, only two places below Google (5th),  2nd in the “Career” category, and 4th in the “Direction” category.   “The creativity and talents of our staff help our clients shine and make Special Tree a truly exceptional place to work,” said Lynn.  Read more about Top Workplaces results by clicking on the links below from the Freep’s Sunday, November 13th edition.

2011 Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces Winners
2011 Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces National Standards
2011 Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces: Worker’s Feedback
Best Workplaces Put Priority on Satisfaction of Their Employees