Simi Valley Hospital Foundation dba Adventist Health Simi Valley Fdtn

The Simi Valley Hospital Foundation is an IRC 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Our purpose is to support the mission of Simi Valley Hospital and Health Services in improving the quality of life and health in our community. We do this by:1. Building strong philanthropic support to meet capital and funding needs of the hospital.2. Ensuring appropriate stewardship by demonstrating an ethical and fiduciary responsibility to our donors and supporters.3. Developing excellent relationships with the community at large, and within the hospital in order to support our ministry of philanthropy.4. Working with community partners, organizations and volunteers.The following story illustrates how Adventist Health Simi Valley works to provide quality care for our community and why our Foundation has such a passion for raising funds to continue improving the care we can provide:Mark lived with pain for more than a decade. Ive had back problems since I was 20, it would come and go depending on the year, but it was prevalent through most of my adult life, says the 37-year-old software engineer. The pain became unbearable in late 2023 after returning home from a trip. "Within a few weeks, I was in the emergency room because I had lost feeling in both of my legs." he says. Physicians told Mark that he had lumbar nerve entrapment, meaning the nerves in his spine were compressed by the vertebrae, causing severe pain and numbness. This can build over time because of normal wear and tear or stress on the back from heavy lifting or accidents.After his hospital visit, Mark made an appointment with Zachary Sharfman, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in spinal surgery at Adventist Health Simi Valley. Dr. Sharfman explained, We spent a lot of time working together on a treatment plan and discussing his options, but ultimately, I left the decision in his hands because I like to empower people to make the choice for themselves.Mark says that he had tried several treatments to relieve his back pain over the years, including physical therapy and steroid injections to reduce the inflammation, but nothing lasted. He knew it was time for an operation. Earlier this year, Dr. Sharfman performed a lumbar laminectomy on Mark. "His nerves were really compressed" says Dr. Sharfman. He used special tools to remove small portions of Mark's vertebrae to provide more space for the spinal nerves.Dr. Sharfman recommended this operation for Mark because it didnt require placing metal in or around the spine. The procedure is minimally invasive, meaning it can be performed through small incisions. In addition, patients typically have shorter recovery times and less pain after minimally invasive procedures than with traditional surgeries. Mark recalls, At Adventist Health Simi Valley, everyone was extremely attentive after my surgery. They taught me how to get out of bed, stand, and walk properly. I was only there one night. It was a really warm, welcoming hospital."Mark says that his recovery went well, particularly because he felt prepared for what to expect. He also shared that, Dr. Sharfman was always in contact with him and answering his questions. After three weeks, his pain cut in half every day. By the fourth week, he didn't need any pain medication at all." Mark did physical therapy to rebuild strength in the muscles that support his spine. Mark says, "When my pain was at its worst, I couldn't go to the market or go on a date with my girlfriend, I couldn't even stand for more than 60 seconds. Now, I have virtually no pain. I can do anything I want. My life is no longer restricted by pain."Compassionate, high-quality patient care; life-saving and life-preserving medical and surgical services in a community-based hospital; essential emergency servicesthese are the reasons we are in the Simi Valley community.For more information on the work that we do, visit us at https://simivalley.give.adventisthealth.org/