Hospital unveils sparkling new rooms

Your next hotel room should look so good.

Sonoma Valley Hospital unveiled three redecorated rooms at a reception last week hosted by the Skilled Nursing Makeover Committee

The hospital’s Hal Broderick Healing Garden was packed with community members, volunteers, doctors, former patients and families.

CEO Kelly Mather launched the event with an early appearance to view the room and present a $500 check to Helen Fernandez, the inspiration and leader of the committee. Fernandez, a former patient, spearheaded the effort to redecorate all 14 SNF rooms. So far, the committee has raised enough to have completed three rooms and, after this reception, will have enough for another room, plus a start on a fifth.

Mather, just weeks on the job, saluted “the grass roots effort and generosity that I’m finding is characteristic of the community of Sonoma.”

“To me,” she said, “a hospital is a place for healing for individuals, staff and the whole community, and community involvement is a healthy thing.” 

Each revamped room has a new ceiling, new floor, new window treatments, a new coat of paint, new flat-screen TVs, chair guards for the walls, and tasteful artwork. The cost is $10,000 per room.

Sonoma Valley Health Care District board member, Madoyn Agrimonti, also on the committee, said she was thrilled with the fundraising response, and expressed “her deepest gratitude” to all the donors for their contributions. She also noted that the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation earlier this year donated the new beds for the makeover project.

Suzanne Brangham, a member of the committee, served as decorator and taste-setter for the rooms. She said the reception “was a wonderful turnout with a terrific financial return.” She also noted that, “the food and wine was perfect. The kitchen staff did a superb set up and service.”

Mather said she is coming to know that the community around Sonoma Valley Hospital is generous and dedicated. “I am truly honored to be able to serve all of you.”

A makeover committee is changing Sonoma Valley Hospital rooms from drab and depressing to warm and comfortable.