Twenty-nine hospital beds from Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana and Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center in Hoopeston are improving patient outcomes half a world away.
Sixteen bed frames and mattresses from Carle Foundation Hospital and 13 from Carle Hoopeston were donated to the city hospital in Kichevo, North Macedonia, after they were replaced by new hospital beds, thanks to the inspiration and heavy lifting of Xhevat (Jeff) Bejzati and Tutti Selimi.
Selimi is the Food Service retail operations manager at Carle Foundation Hospital and her husband, Bejzati, is a hospital mechanic there. Her parents are from Kichevo, also spelled Kicevo, North Macedonia, which is north of Greece. He is from Kichevo and spent most of his life there before moving to the United States several years ago.
In July 2023, Carle Foundation Hospital was replacing its beds, Johnalene Radek, MSN, RN, director of hospital operations and clinical support services, said.
“New beds were needed to support our patient capacity at CFH, and that allowed us to support the need for beds at other locations,” Elizabeth Angelo, DNP, RN, Carle Health senior vice president and chief nursing executive and Carle Foundation Hospital president, said.
Beds were first offered to other Carle Health locations and extra mattresses went to the Strides Shelter for unsheltered individuals in Champaign.
Team member asks if beds can be donated
Bejzati, who assisted facilities in moving the existing beds, asked Radek whether Carle Health would donate some of the older beds to the city hospital in Kichevo. Growing up there, he knew of the need. He observed firsthand that the need remained when his father was hospitalized there last year.
“They have good doctors but are lacking in equipment and supplies,” Selimi said. Hospital rooms are dormitory-style, with men and women together. There is no privacy. Sometimes, basic supplies like wheelchairs, commodes and soap are lacking.
“It’s rough,” Selimi said. “He knew these beds would make a big difference. They would be a huge upgrade in what they had.”
Radek and Angelo were happy to approve the donation. “Jeff and Tutti are important members of the Carle Health team and we’re grateful to be able to help meet the need in Kichevo,” Angelo said. She approved the donation.
“I was so happy,” Bejzati said.
Bejzati spoke with a doctor at the Kichevo hospital and confirmed they could use the beds. Then Bejzati contacted an Albanian-American non-profit organization, Shoqata “Uskana” USA, which has an office in Chicago. The organization arranged for one semi-tractor-trailer to pick up some of the beds, and Bejzati worked with family and friends to secure another semi to haul the remaining beds.
The semis drove to a port in Indiana where a friend of Bejzati and Selimi worked with an official to arrange for the beds to be transported by container ship to Macedonia. When the official found out that the beds had been donated, he agreed to ship the beds at no charge. From there, they were taken by semi to Kichevo. The entire trip took several months.
The mattresses were cleaned, and the Kichevo hospital began using them in spring 2024. They are making a difference.
“Everyone in Kichevo, including community leaders, are very grateful for this generous donation,” Selimi said. “They are still shocked that a donation this big can happen to their small city.”
“Thank you to Carle,” Bejzati said.
Carle Foundation Hospital presented plaque by a grateful community
When Selimi and Bejzati visited family in August in Kichevo, they saw the beds being used. They received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Municipality of Kichevo, Republic of North Macedonia, on behalf of Carle Foundation Hospital. The plaque has text in English and Albanian.
Bejzati and Selimi presented the plaque earlier this month to Angelo and Radek.
“This has been a huge change for Kichevo,” Selimi said as they presented the plaque. “We can’t express enough how much we appreciate it.”
“This is going to be a big help,” Bejzati said.
“To be just ordinary employees who asked a few questions and were able to get so much in return was absolutely amazing,” Selimi said. “We have always been proud to be Carle employees. It is not any ordinary organization. It is a second home and a second family.”
“I’m so grateful that the beds are going to good use,” Angelo said. Healthcare professionals worldwide are linked together by common values, and she is gratified to know beds that served patients in central Illinois are now serving patients in Europe.
Radek said, “We know their patient outcomes will improve. And Jeff and Tutti are a part of our Carle community. We determined that this was an instance where we could benefit our Carle community, even though the benefit would be felt thousands of miles away.”
Sixteen bed frames and mattresses from Carle Foundation Hospital and 13 from Carle Hoopeston were donated to the city hospital in Kichevo, North Macedonia, after they were replaced by new hospital beds, thanks to the inspiration and heavy lifting of Xhevat (Jeff) Bejzati and Tutti Selimi.
Selimi is the Food Service retail operations manager at Carle Foundation Hospital and her husband, Bejzati, is a hospital mechanic there. Her parents are from Kichevo, also spelled Kicevo, North Macedonia, which is north of Greece. He is from Kichevo and spent most of his life there before moving to the United States several years ago.
In July 2023, Carle Foundation Hospital was replacing its beds, Johnalene Radek, MSN, RN, director of hospital operations and clinical support services, said.
“New beds were needed to support our patient capacity at CFH, and that allowed us to support the need for beds at other locations,” Elizabeth Angelo, DNP, RN, Carle Health senior vice president and chief nursing executive and Carle Foundation Hospital president, said.
Beds were first offered to other Carle Health locations and extra mattresses went to the Strides Shelter for unsheltered individuals in Champaign.
Team member asks if beds can be donated
Bejzati, who assisted facilities in moving the existing beds, asked Radek whether Carle Health would donate some of the older beds to the city hospital in Kichevo. Growing up there, he knew of the need. He observed firsthand that the need remained when his father was hospitalized there last year.
“They have good doctors but are lacking in equipment and supplies,” Selimi said. Hospital rooms are dormitory-style, with men and women together. There is no privacy. Sometimes, basic supplies like wheelchairs, commodes and soap are lacking.
“It’s rough,” Selimi said. “He knew these beds would make a big difference. They would be a huge upgrade in what they had.”
Radek and Angelo were happy to approve the donation. “Jeff and Tutti are important members of the Carle Health team and we’re grateful to be able to help meet the need in Kichevo,” Angelo said. She approved the donation.
“I was so happy,” Bejzati said.
Bejzati spoke with a doctor at the Kichevo hospital and confirmed they could use the beds. Then Bejzati contacted an Albanian-American non-profit organization, Shoqata “Uskana” USA, which has an office in Chicago. The organization arranged for one semi-tractor-trailer to pick up some of the beds, and Bejzati worked with family and friends to secure another semi to haul the remaining beds.
The semis drove to a port in Indiana where a friend of Bejzati and Selimi worked with an official to arrange for the beds to be transported by container ship to Macedonia. When the official found out that the beds had been donated, he agreed to ship the beds at no charge. From there, they were taken by semi to Kichevo. The entire trip took several months.
The mattresses were cleaned, and the Kichevo hospital began using them in spring 2024. They are making a difference.
“Everyone in Kichevo, including community leaders, are very grateful for this generous donation,” Selimi said. “They are still shocked that a donation this big can happen to their small city.”
“Thank you to Carle,” Bejzati said.
Carle Foundation Hospital presented plaque by a grateful community
When Selimi and Bejzati visited family in August in Kichevo, they saw the beds being used. They received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Municipality of Kichevo, Republic of North Macedonia, on behalf of Carle Foundation Hospital. The plaque has text in English and Albanian.
Bejzati and Selimi presented the plaque earlier this month to Angelo and Radek.
“This has been a huge change for Kichevo,” Selimi said as they presented the plaque. “We can’t express enough how much we appreciate it.”
“This is going to be a big help,” Bejzati said.
“To be just ordinary employees who asked a few questions and were able to get so much in return was absolutely amazing,” Selimi said. “We have always been proud to be Carle employees. It is not any ordinary organization. It is a second home and a second family.”
“I’m so grateful that the beds are going to good use,” Angelo said. Healthcare professionals worldwide are linked together by common values, and she is gratified to know beds that served patients in central Illinois are now serving patients in Europe.
Radek said, “We know their patient outcomes will improve. And Jeff and Tutti are a part of our Carle community. We determined that this was an instance where we could benefit our Carle community, even though the benefit would be felt thousands of miles away.”
Categories: Community