Mission Statement
To provide immediate financial assistance to low income working families whose child requires multiple nights of hospitalization. We do this by supplying grocery cards, fuel cards (for those with longer commutes), hospital meal vouchers, and/or the subsidization of short term on site housing in an effort to offset the expenses of staying by their child’s side where they are needed most.
The need....
I have been working at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital as a pediatric social worker since 2006 and have seen an increase in the amount of family needs in the past few years. Unfortunately, funding has been cut from many of the programs that financially needy families depend on for basic assistance. For example, in the past I have been able to secure funding through grants for cribs, formula, and other baby/children basics but recently those funds are not available. I am very happy to be working with At My Bedside to help provide families in need with not only the resources to help them care for their children but the opportunity to be able to stay with their infants and children during their hospitalizations. My patients can stay just a few short days up to months at a time for families with newborns in our neonatal intensive care unit. It is my hope that At My Bedside will be able to help families secure local lodging if not available through the hospital so that they can remain with their children.
Often many parents are forced to choose between going to work to earn wages to support their children or staying in the hospital with them during their illness. This is a heartbreaking choice for parents to make but often they must return to work. Until the development of At My Bedside, no programs existed to support families financially so that they can remain with their children at such a crucial time. This aspect of the program is a novel idea and one that is much needed for my patients and their families. Our partnership with At My Bedside will be very beneficial to our youngest patients at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and we are grateful for the much needed support.
- Lily Sacks, LMSW
Maternal Child Health Division
Department of Social Work - Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital
Often many parents are forced to choose between going to work to earn wages to support their children or staying in the hospital with them during their illness. This is a heartbreaking choice for parents to make but often they must return to work. Until the development of At My Bedside, no programs existed to support families financially so that they can remain with their children at such a crucial time. This aspect of the program is a novel idea and one that is much needed for my patients and their families. Our partnership with At My Bedside will be very beneficial to our youngest patients at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and we are grateful for the much needed support.
- Lily Sacks, LMSW
Maternal Child Health Division
Department of Social Work - Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital
As a surgeon performing procedures on children, I have seen the impact on families when their child may need prolonged hospitalization. The stress the parents must endure is complex and made harder when they have to decide between the financial impact of missing work or emotional impact of missing time with their child while they are admitted to the hospital. No parent should have to be placed in that position, but usually they have no where to turn for this short term financial support. Now they can look to At My Bedside to provide some support to hopefully lessen this burden.
- Dr. Seilesh Babu
- Dr. Seilesh Babu
Board of Directors
Chuck Hoyt, President
Chuck is a Vice President of Sales for an Ohio based company and lives outside of Ann Arbor, MI with his wife and their two children. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family.
Dr. Seilesh Babu, Secretary
Dr. Seilesh Babu is a Otologist (specializing in disorders related to hearing and balance) and Skull Base Surgeon. He completed his ENT residency at Henry Ford Hospital and his Otology/Neurotology Fellowship at the Michigan Ear Institute where he currently practices. He lives in Novi, MI with his wife, Dr. Abbey Crooks-Babu who is an OB/Gyn physician practicing at Providence Hospital. When not caring for patients, the Babu family enjoys traveling and spending time with their 3 sons, Kavan (Age 12), Kethan (Age 10), Karun (Age 8), and their
daughter, Kareena (Age 5).
Jeff Nowosielski, Treasurer
Mr. Nowosielski holds a Masters Degree and is an instructor in the Airport Community School system in Carleton, MI. He has held positions of Vice President of Airport Education Association and Department Head for Social Science. Jeff lives in Britton, MI where he is a dedicated husband/father to his wife Nicolle and their two daughters, Avery and Madison. In the summer months, he keeps busy being heavily involved in 4H with his family.
