Note of Appreciation
Dear citizens of the Crescenta Valley,

On behalf of my family, I would like to thank you all for being the most compassionate, considerate and authentic people with whom we have ever met.

During the month of July and part of August, my family and I were stationed at Verdugo Hills Hospital. We had traveled from the East Coast (West Virginia) In order to have the world’s best urologic surgeons perform a miracle on my father-in-law. They were magnificent and the surgery was successful.

As luck would have it, the surgery had to be performed at VHH instead of the main USC campus due to a scheduling conflict. We were so blessed by the wonderful care we received from the volunteer staff to the nurses to the doctors to the CEO. A community hospital with world-class staff – we have never seen anything like that and we have been to all of the “best” in the country. VHH is the epitome of great care and compassion – one-of-a-kind!

Obviously, it’s tough to be 2,000 miles away from home for 34 days but the care and compassion we received outside the hospital was just as amazing.

No matter where we went (stores, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, etc.) we were amazed by the way in which we were treated. So, thank you! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love you showed a family from West Virginia who needed support and compassion during our very stressful journey.

Obviously the weather, the scenic landscape, the wonderful food, and all the pretty people (y’all are so darn pretty) play a role in your happiness but this compassion was deeper than just a courtesy, “good mood” kind of thing. It’s much deeper, an inner core kind of thing. Overwhelming. Great people; rare nowadays. Something to be very proud of, for sure.

Don’t worry; we will keep this our little secret!

Thank you so much.

Todd Shell on behalf of the Straub Family
Huntington, West Virginia