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Gifts of Gratitude

Paying It Forward with Heartfelt Thanks

When exceptional care inspires generosity, lives across Calvert County are touched in lasting ways.

When Bob Deasy collapsed without warning one ordinary afternoon, life changed in an instant. A stroke stole half his body’s function, and his wife, Palma Yanni, remembers those harrowing moments vividly. “The world stopped when Bob collapsed. Every second mattered. CalvertHealth didn’t just respond. They fought for him.”

Thanks to swift action and expert care, Bob not only survived but thrived. Just six months later, the couple was back sailing down the Patuxent River, grateful for each day they could share together. Their recovery story, they say, is more than personal— it’s a call to action.

“Some debts can only be paid forward,” Bob reflects. “Someone else’s loved one will need that same fighting chance. That’s why we give.”

The couple’s generosity is part of CalvertHealth Foundation’s Gifts of Gratitude program—an opportunity for patients and their families to honor the caregivers who touched their lives while making a difference for future patients.

Gratitude That Inspires Hope

The Deasys are not alone in wanting to give back. Reggie and Rosalind White also turned their gratitude into action after facing an unexpected and frightening diagnosis. At 65, Reggie was shocked to learn he had a rare form of male breast cancer.

Terrified, he found hope at CalvertHealth. “When Dr. Tsangaris hugged me, I knew I’d found someone who truly cared,” Reggie recalls, tears filling his eyes. His treatment restored not just his health but also his spirit. Today, he and Rosalind support the Gifts of Gratitude program so others can experience the same lifechanging care.

“I am eternally grateful to those whose divinely guided hands saved my life,” Reggie says. “Our gifts are about making sure others feel that same embrace of healing.”

A Meaningful Way to Say Thank You

For many, gratitude goes beyond words. A compassionate nurse who offered comfort during a frightening diagnosis, a skilled surgeon who restored health or even a volunteer who brightened a difficult day—these moments of care often leave a lasting mark.

The Gifts of Gratitude program allows families to express thanks in a tangible way. Whether honoring an individual caregiver, a department or an entire program, every gift helps CalvertHealth invest in advanced technologies, expand facilities and ensure patients continue to receive exceptional, personalized care close to home.

“When you experience extraordinary care, gratitude becomes a powerful way to give back,” said CalvertHealth Foundation Executive Director Amy Phillips. These gifts strengthen our health system while celebrating the people who make healing possible.”

Your Gift in Action

Every contribution to the CalvertHealth Foundation—large or small—has a direct and lasting impact on patients in our community. Gifts of Gratitude support urgent needs, enhance services, and sustain programs that touch thousands of lives each year.

Current priorities include:

The Fund for CalvertHealth: Flexible support for urgent and emerging needs.

Cancer Care: Access to advanced treatments, equipment, navigation and research opportunities.

Sheldon E. Goldberg Center for Breast Care: Comprehensive breast health services, from screening to survivorship.

Behavioral Health: Inpatient and outpatient mental health programs for adolescents and adults. CalvertHealth is the only facility in Southern Maryland with an adolescent program.

Surgical Services: Investments in specialized equipment and innovative procedures.

Helen P. Marcellas Pathways to Nursing Education Fund: Scholarships for employees advancing in nursing.

CalvertHealth Compassion Fund: Emergency assistance for CalvertHealth employees in crisis.

Every gift remains in the community, strengthening local health care for generations to come.

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