Woven together through care

Jordan Munsters is always on the go. He’s an avid motorcycle racer, runner, and dirt biker, Jordan is always on the go, and even opened a go-karting track in Okemos. But in May 2020, that all changed when he was left badly injured and immobilized from a dirt biking accident.

Jordan was rushed to E.W. Sparrow Hospital, where X-rays found that his hip socket had shattered. Through an intense 11-hour surgery, Michael Tucker, D.O., was able to reattach Jordan’s hip — but it looked like he would be lucky to ever walk again, let alone run.

For Jordan and his team at Sparrow, however, luck alone wouldn’t cut it. “The doctors said it was the worst hip injury they’d ever seen, but they never gave up hope,” Jordan says.

A week into his recovery, Jordan attempted to walk around the first floor of the hospital. When he was moved to Mary Free Bed at Sparrow for inpatient rehabilitation, Jordan continued to work on regaining mobility of several paralyzed muscles in his legs and overcoming extreme nerve damage with the help of Sparrow Physician Assistant Jason Maxa.

“Jason played a huge role in helping me get back on my feet not just physically, but also mentally,” Jordan recalls. “He pushed me to overcome my extreme nerve pain, and got me to the point where I was able to take no pain medications just seven months after the injury.”

Despite all odds, eight months after the accident, Jordan was able to walk again. A year after the fateful day, he was able to ride his motorcycle. And a year and a half after the crash, he was even able to complete a 15-mile Tough Mudder run and obstacle course.

“At Sparrow, they looked at me directly and saw me for who I was, not as another number,” Jordan says. “They never gave up. I’d be dead in a field if it wasn’t for them.”

For community members like John Pirich, Sparrow is a family affair. His children were born here. His grandchildren were born here. And, throughout his life, he’s had the experience of being a Sparrow patient himself. It’s this strong, intergenerational connection that inspires John to give back.

John currently serves as Campaign Chair for Sparrow’s community investment plan. He’s also Board Chair for Sparrow Health System, Emeritus Chair for the Sparrow Foundation, and — on top of it all — a Sparrow volunteer. But why Sparrow, and why now?

For John, it’s about Sparrow’s strong presence in the Mid-Michigan community, but also the community Sparrow has created in itself: a collection of individuals working to support one another, regardless of the circumstances.

“As a patient and volunteer, I've seen an exceptional level of care, dedication, and commitment from Sparrow’s caregivers,” John says. “We have the most wonderful nurses and incredible doctors — but our broader, overall staff is also something to behold. People smile and love what they're doing here because, at the end of the day, they’re making peoples’ lives better. They’re making Sparrow a home.”

Through his work on the board, John wants to ensure that every person’s experience at Sparrow is better than their last. “Sparrow touches lives throughout the community on a daily basis,” he says. “Whether it's delivering a baby, responding to a heart attack, performing surgery, or whatever it might be, Sparrow’s level of care is personal. It’s about people, not numbers.”

Seeing his family rely on Sparrow over the years and being a patient himself, John understands the value of having an adept health system close to home. For him, one of the most notable parts of the community investment plan is improvement to Community Hospitals, making care more accessible to those at all corners of Mid-Michigan.

“Being home is the best part of a patient’s experience. There’s nothing better than getting back to a familiar place with your family,” John says. “I’ve seen Sparrow go above and beyond to serve outlying communities, and to serve as a home away from home. Sparrow is home: for patients, for caregivers, for the community.”

Growing up on a centennial farm in Ann Arbor as the oldest daughter among nine, Ann Garvey gained a firm understanding of the power of helping others early-on. “I’ve always believed that you give back to the community you live in,” Ann says. “We’re in this together. My dad taught me that.”

A resident of Charlotte for the last 40 years, Ann has deep roots in her local community, particularly with Sparrow Eaton. In 2012, her long-time Sparrow dermatologist looked at a spot on her back and was alarmed. Two days later, she got a phone call. “When they told me to bring a friend for a follow-up meeting, I knew it would be bad news,” Ann says. The spot turned out to be melanoma that had started spreading, meaning she needed to have surgery to have it removed as soon as possible.

After surgery, Ann’s doctors watched the melanoma for four years. “Over time, I got to know all of my Sparrow caregivers on a personal level,” she says. In October 2016, Ann felt a lymph node that seemed to have changed. “I could tell something was different, but nobody could find anything wrong. My doctor sent me to University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor for further investigation,” Ann recalls. There, doctors identified cancerous nodules in her right lung. It was melanoma that had metastasized. “I’ll never forget what the doctor told me at that moment,” Ann recalls. “He said, ‘If this were five years ago, this would’ve been a death sentence.’” Luckily, U-M Health had the new technology and skills needed to do a biopsy in Ann’s lung and begin addressing the problem, immediately.

Ann was able to start a trial drug for immunotherapy. She traveled 144 miles round trip each week to receive this treatment in Ann Arbor, with added dates for bloodwork. “I’d drive to Ann Arbor, get my immunotherapy, spend the night, and get bloodwork the next day. It was a tiring process,” Ann says.

Thankfully, the treatment paid off — less than a year later, there were no identifiable nodules in Ann’s lung. “With the right care across both Sparrow and U-M Health, this situation went from a death sentence to the best Christmas present ever,” Ann says. As of 2023, Ann is celebrating seven years cancer-free.

Considering her experiences as a Charlotte resident and cancer survivor, Sparrow Eaton’s new infusion center is especially personal to Ann. “As one of the people who made the drive to U-M Health weekly for treatment, I know just how critical this new center is,” Ann explains. “Even more important than cutting down travel time, though, is the power of being able to receive healthcare locally. This new infusion center will reduce stress in already stressful situations, for both patients and their family members. Being able to have conversations with caregivers who live right in your own community will be so relieving for everyone who has to go through this.”

Ann has also seen the strength of Sparrow and U-M Health working together firsthand. “When you look at other locations that don’t have as much access to healthcare, I feel immense gratitude for what Sparrow and U-M Health are doing with this partnership,” she says. “Sparrow is exceptional — but consider how much more of an impact they will have with even greater collaboration with U-M Health. Over the years, I’ve relied on care from both of them. Together, they’ll be able to help so many more people who need it.”

Today, Ann reflects on Sparrow being there for many monumental moments throughout her life, beyond the cancer care. “All four of my grandsons were born at Sparrow. I had two back surgeries at Sparrow. Both of my parents passed away peacefully with care from Sparrow. Whatever it was, Sparrow truly always was there.”