When Just Doing Your Job is a Gift

The Wound Care Centers at Hackensack Meridian Health’s medical centers offer specialized treatments and education that are a godsend for hard-to-heal cases, which can become critical if not managed properly.

Those centers can sometimes be overlooked - until they are needed. That’s why caregivers at Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center in Brick were pleasantly surprised when Toms and Katherine Royal of Point Pleasant donated to the center.

Royals Return the Favor

Kathy, as she was known to friends and family, came to Ocean with a leg wound last year. She and her husband, Toms, were pleased that after weeks of treatment, Kathy made a full recovery. As a result of that treatment, the couple decided to make a donation to the Wound Care Center in honor of the great care they provided.

Sadly, later in the year, Kathy passed away at age 87, but the family’s gratitude remained. A mother of four and grandmother to 18, Kathy leaves behind a legacy of love, and her family again thought of the Wound Care Center, designating it as one of the recipients of memorial donations in Kathy’s honor.

“We’re very happy we ended up at the wound center,” said Toms. “They are a real team down there.”

No Strangers to Great Care

The Royals are no strangers to Hackensack Meridian Health, having utilized services at several hospitals following their return from Florida. In addition to the care and compassion experienced by the couple for Kathy’s treatments, Toms also had surgery to remove a salivary gland at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and received radiation at Ocean.

“Hackensack Meridian made the Brick Hospital into a good place,” added Toms.

Anna Wagner, clinical program manager at the wound center, said her “incredible team” was just doing its job. 

“We are very grateful for the donation,” she said. “We truly appreciate it, and it warms our hearts that we had an impact on them. We have a really good team; they care about their patients.”

A Record-breaking Year

Ocean’s Wound Care Center treated a record number of patients this year, providing specialized and personalized care for chronic wounds (those that haven’t healed within an expected timeframe). The center offers a comprehensive range of treatment options, from compression therapy to cutting edge methods like hyperbaric oxygen therapy and advanced biological dressings that stimulate natural healing processes. Patients are carefully monitored throughout their treatment journey.

“We do a lot of different advanced modalities and a lot of education for patients,” said Wagner. “We get involved early, so hopefully they don’t wind up in the hospital.”

Next Steps & Resources:

Make a gift to the Wound Care Center at Ocean University Medical Center, or learn more about how you can give back in honor of the great care you or a loved one received at GiveHMH.org/Ocean.