Dr. Jeremy & Jean Hewens: A Community Caring for Its Own
Dr. Jeremy Hewens spent his career as the quintessential family physician, often living just minutes from the hospital to ensure he never missed a delivery or a patient in need. When a tragic bicycle accident resulted in a chronic brain injury, the community he had spent a lifetime serving rallied to his side—with former patients even building the ramps that allow him to remain in his beloved home. Now supported by Hunterdon Hospice, Jeremy is surrounded by his wife Jean, their children, grandchildren, and pets. This story is a poignant reminder that healthcare is about more than medicine; it’s about a "village" of support that ensures dignity, comfort, and love for those who have given so much to others.
Bob & Barbara: A Lifetime of Community and Care
For Bob and Barbara, the secret to a long, happy life is a good sense of humor and a deep commitment to their community. As longtime residents and dedicated volunteers, they have always believed in giving back—but they never expected how much they would receive in return. When a routine concern led to a life-saving breast cancer diagnosis, the personal, "family-first" approach at the newly renovated Dr. Laurence M. Russell Campus at Phillips-Barber made all the difference. Your contributions ensure that world-class, compassionate care remains right around the corner for neighbors like Bob and Barbara, proving that in Hunterdon, we truly have each other’s backs.
Michelle: Strength Rooted in the Soil
Michelle’s life is defined by the 120-acre farm she loves, not the cancer diagnosis that tried to slow her down. After facing a recurrence of colon cancer, Michelle sought a partner in her care who saw her as a person, not just a patient on an assembly line. At the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, she found a "healing family" that paired state-of-the-art treatment with the deep, personal trust she needed to keep fighting. Today, Michelle is back in the fields and cancer-free, a testament to the resilient spirit of our community and the donor-supported programs that ensure no one has to face their journey alone.
Katie Benson: Turning Loss Into Legacy
For lifelong resident Katie Benson, the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center wasn't just a medical facility; it was a source of strength during her family’s most difficult chapters. After both her father and her husband, Jack, were treated with "calming confidence" and respect by the same dedicated team, Katie decided to turn her grief into a force for good. Through the annual Briarwood Derby Day, she has combined her love for the equestrian community with a mission to give back, raising over $250,000 for the center. Katie’s story is a beautiful example of how the bonds formed between patients and caregivers can inspire a legacy that ensures future families receive the same compassionate care and hope.
Hunterdon’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU)
Operating as a "rolling ICU," our Mobile Intensive Care Unit team provides a critical olive branch of care to the community during life’s most traumatic moments. Equipped with cardiac monitors, portable ventilators, and now life-saving blood products, these dedicated first responders—many of whom live in the very neighborhoods they serve—bring the innovation of the hospital directly to the patient’s side. Your support provides the essential equipment and technology needed to turn these vehicles into mobile ERs, ensuring that when every second counts, our family is there to protect yours.
Nursing Externship Program: Empowering the Next Generation
Investing in the future of healthcare begins with providing aspiring nurses the confidence to transition from the classroom to the bedside. Through our donor-funded Nursing Externship Program, student nurses move beyond textbooks to experience the "calm under chaos" required in a real-world hospital setting. From mastering complex time management to performing life-saving CPR for the first time, these externs gain invaluable hands-on experience under the mentorship of our seasoned staff. Your support of this program doesn’t just sharpen their clinical skills—it builds the confidence and resilience necessary for the next generation of Hunterdon healthcare heroes to lead with excellence.