CHRISTUS Health

This Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. As we gather with friends and family, we also take a moment to acknowledge those who never made it home with a prayer service and a Missing Man Table—an enduring symbol of remembrance.
Learn more about the Missing Man Table at https://warmemorialcenter.org/missing-man-table/

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are celebrating saints like Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki. Born near Nagasaki, Japan, Magdalene endured the loss of her family to martyrdom, yet her faith only deepened. Magdalene taught catechism, sought alms for the poor, visited the sick and encouraged fellow Christians during intense persecution. After several spiritual leaders were martyred, she continued their mission and eventually surrendered herself to authorities in 1634 to strengthen the courage of others. She endured torture for 13 days before her martyrdom. Canonized in 1987, Saint Magdalene remains a powerful witness of courage, solidarity and unwavering love for Christ.

Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month holds special meaning across our health system. For Auxillia Anthony, revenue cycle optimization instructor, it's a time to reflect on how her background has inspired her to become a villager for her team. "In Indian culture, community means everything and supporting your peers is taken to the highest regard. Having those ideals instilled in me has helped me to elevate my team through collaborative efforts," Auxillia shares. "I bring a people-first perspective, thinking of what my students' needs are when I design instructional content and meet them where they are."

After having her gallbladder removal surgery slightly delayed at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa-Alamo Heights hospital, Amanda Vargas suddenly began showing signs of a stroke. Her wife had noticed her difficulty speaking and notified her medical team.
Because our emergency team is trained to respond quickly to a stroke, they coordinated an immediate transfer within the CHRISTUS network, and Amanda was moved to our Westover Hills hospital after imaging and assessments. There, specialists identified a clot on the right side of her brain that was affecting the left side of her body.
Neurosurgery Specialist Dr. Ryan Morton and his team performed a thrombectomy to restore blood flow within an hour of her arrival, and Amanda began improving immediately. Following physical and occupational therapy, she continues to recover with no lasting neurological deficits.
Today, she's grateful to her family, friends, and our staff for being there for her, but also to our fast stroke response time, which she calls "excellent." She advises others to pay attention to their health and act quickly, never ignore any changes, and seek care right away if something feels off.