Venner Farley became choked up when she tried to explain how thankful she is for the care she’s received at the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) at Long Beach Memorial. Since 2009, Farley has been a patient at TCI after she was given the devastating news of being diagnosed with a lymphoma diagnosis.
“I never thought a cancer diagnosis would happen to me,” says Farley. “I want to give all of my support to the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute and the Memorial Medical Center Foundation for providing that ‘Extra Measure of Care’ to me during this difficult time.”
Farley is very familiar with Long Beach Memorial, as a longtime supporter of the Memorial Medical Center Foundation and a retired nurse herself, she understands that community support and philanthropic gifts are essential to growing medical programs and services at a community hospital.
To show her appreciation for her physician, Eknath Deo, M.D., an oncologist with TCI, who is currently treating her cancer, Farley and her partner, Dolores Perretta made a gift to the current Todd Cancer Pavilion capital campaign. The campaign is going to expand the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute’s offerings of oncology services in a new, spacious 64,000 square foot pavilion.
“Dr. Deo is always reminding me that cancer is a treatable chronic illness and there’s always something else we can do for treatment,” says Farley. “I am so happy with my care at TCI, the staff, physicians, nurse and entire care team is outstanding.”
Farley is just one of many major donors that help support the Foundation and in-turn Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach. To show appreciation for their generous donors, the Foundation hosts an annual Seaside Legacy Luncheon at the hospital for members of the Memorial Seaside Legacy Circle. Legacy Circle members enjoyed lunch and heard hospital leaders and physicians share stories of how philanthropy changes and shapes medical programs at both Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s.
Shaun Setty, M.D., medical director of pediatric and adult congenital cardiac surgery at
Miller Children’s and Long Beach Memorial shared with the crowd that the reason he is at the hospital is because of a large donation that endowed his medical chair and will help him and his team to unlock some of the medical mysteries of congenital heart disease.