Community Corner

Beloved Nurse Needs Prayers, Cheering Up, Friend Says

A familiar local face could use some cards and best wishes, her friend says.

A familiar local face has been facing some health challenges recently — and her good friend is reaching out to the North Fork community to try and lift her spirits.

Many locals know Mary Mary Swiatkowski, a South Jamesport resident, as  "the wonderful, caring nurse for Dr. Cynthia Carlson and Dr. Luigi Buono" at North Fork family medicine in Mattituck, her friend Anne Bialeski said.

Bialeski said Swiatkowski was first hospitalized at Stony Brook Hospital, where she was recovering from Guillain Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that attacks the peripheral nervous system.

"Mary is now on the road to recovery and in true Mary fashion, she is more worried about her patients than herself and wanted you all to know why you haven’t seen her in the office these last few weeks," Bialeski wrote in a message Patch. "Mary has a few hurdles to overcome before she is back to work but she will be back."

Swiatkowski's daughter Michelle, Bialeski said, has told her that GBS is a "very rare, serious and scary syndrome.' 

"Her family asks that you keep Mary in your prayers as she recovers," Bialeski said.

After several weeks in Stony Brook's intensive care unit. Swiatkowski was transferred to the rehabilitation center at St. Charles Hospital, where she will probably spend approximately a month, Bialeski said.

But now, Bialeski said to her Facebook friends, her friend and colleague needs a little help.

"She could use some cheering up so I would appreciate it, even if you don't know her, if you could send her a funny card," Bialeski said. "She is doing well with therapy but being away from family, friends, and work is taking its toll on her spirits and I thought maybe a bucket load of cheery cards would lift her spirits."

Cards can be sent to Mary Swiatkowski, P.O. Box 76, South Jamesport, NY 11970. Her family will get the mail to her, Bialeski said.




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