Patient Stories

For over 125 years, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York has been a beacon for New Yorkers in their darkest moments. Our charitable and community programs bring free and discounted home care services to poor uninsured homebound seniors; provide assistance to young, low-income, first-time mothers and their babies; ensure that elderly, isolated residents in Chinatown are connected to the resources they need to age in place safely; offer community outreach programs to children and adults struggling with mental illness; and much more.

As a not-for-profit agency, we rely on donations to help us provide the care we’re known for. Thanks to our dedicated supporters, VNSNY is able to change the lives of our underserved neighbors every day. Here are some of their stories.

	Steven’s Story Steven, a man facing end of life, was suffering more than usual because of the loss of his cat. VNSNY hospice spiritual care counselor Bette helped find the cat, and immediately saw a difference in Steven. Read More
	Samantha’s Story Samantha wanted to be a great mom, but needed help. VNSNY’s Nurse-Family Partnership help give her the tools she needed to provide a great life for her son Read More
	A Bronx Family’s Story When three young siblings were all struggling with mental and behavioral health issues, VNSNY Community Mental Health Services was there to help their great-grandmother. Read More
	Ana’s Story Each year, VNSNY provides free or discounted home care to thousands of uninsured and underinsured New Yorkers. VNSNY helped one of these patients, Ana, get back on her feet after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Watch the Video
	Ashley’s Story Thanks to VNSNY’s Nurse-Family Partnership and the care and assistance of her nurse Lynette, Ashley was able to access the resources she and her infant son needed to ensure success for them both. Watch the Video
	Julio’s Story Following a devastating brain hemorrhage and a year in the hospital, Julio* could barely move or speak and depended on a feeding tube. VNSNY put together a comprehensive team to help him and his family. Read more
	Marlenne’s Story Although Marlenne appreciated VNSNY’s Nurse-Family Partnership throughout her pregnancy and her daughter’s infancy, she realized the power of the program when motherhood suddenly felt unmanageable. Read more
	Edward and Marcella’s Story Every war veteran has a unique story. VNSNY Hospice Care’s partnership with We Honor Veterans lets hospice veterans like Edward know that their service has not gone unnoticed, and that it is greatly appreciated. Read more
	Arjan’s Story Uninsured, Arjan* has congestive heart failure. Thanks to Charitable Care Services from VNSNY, he is recovering from his recent hospitalization, and his daughter feels great relief that she has help caring for her father. Read more
	Mr. Chan’s Story A resident of Chinatown, Mr. Chan* is 79 and in fragile health. He and his wife were afraid they were going to be evicted. But because they are members of VNSNY’s Chinatown NNORC, they were able to get the help they need. Read more
	Raysel’s Story When Raysel* found out she was pregnant, she was an 18-year-old high school student. Although she was devastated to abandon her dream of joining the military, she has a new dream, fostered by a nurse with VNSNY’s Nurse-Family Partnership. Read more
	Gloria’s Story After her mother’s death, Gloria realized “that she forgot to teach me how to live without her.” Because VNSNY’s Hospice and Palliative Care offers families 13 months of bereavement counseling, Gloria was able to get the support she needed to find peace. Read more

* Patients’ names have been changed for privacy.