Under the Jacaranda Tree

Home / News & Events / Newsletter

Under the Jacaranda Tree: A Story of Love

Jan 31, 2023

By Glenda Hahn

Many lasting and loving relationships are formed at Los Angeles Jewish Health. During this season of love, we want to share this very special and touching story written by Glenda Hahn, the daughter of Mary Freeman.

My mom, Mary, came from a marriage that offered little by way of love or affection. We were led to believe my parents stayed together for the stability of their children.

When my father passed away in 1995, my mom felt like a bird let out of a cage. This was her opportunity to spread her wings and follow her dreams to emigrate from her native South Africa to join me and my family in the United States. My kind and generous husband offered her employment, and thus an avenue to support herself. Mary was independent, caught buses to wherever she wanted to go, made new friends, and created a great and happy life for herself.

When Mom eventually needed more assistance with daily living, we were fortunate to find an excellent facility for her: Los Angeles Jewish Health, formerly the Los Angeles Jewish Home. The slight resistance she initially gave us quickly dissipated when she realized this was a place for her to enjoy playing cards and bingo, learn the computer, and enjoy movies and other activities. She was social, made new friends, and soon realized she had come to the right place.

I’m not sure how Mary and Cyril first connected, but it could have been in discussion of the beautiful jacaranda tree that sat in the gardens of Eisenberg Village, located on one of the Los Angeles Jewish Health campuses. Coincidentally, Cy was also from South Africa, and the tree brought back memories for both of them of the beautiful trees, with their magnetic purple blooms, lining the streets of Johannesburg and Pretoria. The shade of this beautiful tree would later become their meeting place—a spot where they would sit, hand-in-hand, admiring the blossoms and reminiscing about life in the "old country." It was the start of a love story between two nonagenarian expats from South Africa.

Not only did the twosome discover they were from the same country; they came from small cities in close proximity to each other. In fact, Mary’s husband had gone to Cyril’s high school! Now, many decades later, they were sitting cuddled up in a place over 10,000 miles away.

Mary and Cy (as he was called) became known to the residents of Los Angeles Jewish Health as "a couple." They would spend their days in the Newman Lounge watching TV, or in front of the Newman building, where more often than not, at least one of them would doze off. They would reminisce about life in South Africa, talk about their children, and quote excerpts from Hamlet, which they had both studied in high school.

After some time, it became clear Mary required more care. The decision to move her to skilled nursing was a difficult one because separating her from her beau would be hard on both of them. Yet, the separation only brought them closer. With the exception of mealtime, Cy spent nearly every waking moment trekking over to the Max Factor Building to be with Mary.

It seemed nothing was going to keep these two apart…until COVID hit. Quarantine meant they would no longer be able to spend time together. For nearly eight months, they were separated by the virus. Would their relationship be able to weather this storm?

When the pandemic began to wane, Mary, whose memory and cognition had deteriorated, moved to the Goldenberg-Ziman Special Care Center. As it happened, Cy was also suffering from the early stages of dementia – and he, too, moved to the G-Z Building.

American poet Maya Angelou wrote, "Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." Suddenly, the duo were together again, and the connection was still there. Both were hard of hearing, which made verbal communication difficult, but they had each other, their memories, and their mutual longing for South Africa and its beautiful jacaranda trees.

Mary passed away several months ago. This spring, as the jacaranda at Los Angeles Jewish Health begins to bloom, I’ll think with gratitude of my mother, and of Cy, and of the wonderful time they spent together.

Prev Page Next Page

Share

Sign up for the Los Angeles Jewish Health newsletter, Connections.

First Name

Last Name

Email

Recent Articles

Dec 10

Women's Philanthropy Inaugural Event

At Los Angeles Jewish Health, Care Is a Two-Way Street

For nearly 20 years, Hangnga Vu, MD, has been a source of vital care and comfort for residents at Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH). They rely on her profound knowledge and skill to help them meet critical daily health challenges—and, over the course of two decades, she has come to rely on them for the abundant grace and wisdom they offer.Recently, after recovering from a minor virus that triggered a bout of vertigo, Dr. Vu realized just how powerful that grace and wisdom could be.“After getting better from being sick, I was back at work and participating in an event celebrating LAJH’s Staff Appreciation Week. My colleagues and I were dancing a little, which must have caused my vertigo to resurface,” she says. “Later that day, I was meeting with a resident when I lost my balance and tipped over a glass of water that had been sitting on my desk. The liquid spilled everywhere.”Dr. Vu was initially uncomfortable in her moment of vulnerability in front of a resident—until the resident demonstrated the kind of compassion and understanding that often comes with age.“He said, ‘You did well, Dr. Vu. You handled that nicely,’” she recalls. “In that moment, I knew he was caring for me as much as I was caring for him. I was also incredibly grateful to my medical assistant, who treated me with such gentleness and respect.”As Dr. Vu sees it, the reciprocal relationship between providers and patients is just one of the many things that makes LAJH special.“I’ve worked for other healthcare organizations, and I can tell you that you usually get 15 minutes with a patient, and that’s it,” she says. “LAJH is different: Even though we know cost-effectiveness and efficiency are important, we place even more emphasis on quality care and love. Our productivity is measured by the wonderful care we provide and by how happy our residents are to be here.”Inspired by her experience, Dr. Vu wrote a poem that was published this fall in the newsletter of the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical (PALTmed) Association. It is our privilege and pleasure to share it with Connections readers today.Hangnga Vu, MDMessy Grace: A Flood of Careby Hangnga Vu, MDToday at work, we had Appreciation Lunch — music, food, dancing… I joined in for a few steps, playing along like I had rhythm.Just a few steps — and the stars spun above me under the hot California sun.In the middle of clinic — while talking, while examining — I knocked over a full cup of water across the desk, drenched the papers, flooded the floor…My head spun. My heart, too.The patient sat there — not upset at all — watching me as if witnessing a gentle… summer flood.My medical assistant, remained calm. No sighs, no scolding. She simply smiled — and began mopping the floor, as if picking up the day, piece by piece.The patient looked at me and said: “You did well, Dr. You handled it nicely.”I laughed, a little stunned Because yes… I had just received a performance review on flood management.And just like that — doctor and patient set the stethoscope aside, and shared a moment simply… human. The assistant turned to me and said:“Dr, you should sit down. I don’t want you to fall. I can do it easily.”Then she held my hand. One hand cleaned, the other — and her heart — steadied me.At that moment, I knew I was being cared for. Not because I was flawless — but because I was surrounded by people kind enough to lift me even when I was messy.I told them, honestly:“In that moment, I was just… myself. No filters. And still — gently held.”Today was Staff Appreciation Week. But I believe — I was the one most deeply appreciated.I have some nice photos: with another medical assistant, with a few lovely patients. But none with this patient, the one who shared the messiest part of my day.And maybe that’s the point:The deepest kindness often needs no proof. Just a quiet presence — and a floor gently wiped. Thank you, B. Thank you, TP. Thank you to those who didn’t appear in any photos today, but left a print… right in my heart.

Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE Welcomes Jasmine Young to Its Executive Leadership

In her new role as senior vice president of Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC) PACE program, Jasmine Young brings a unique combination of clinical insight, strategic innovation, and organizational acumen that sets a benchmark for excellence. She is a distinguished senior healthcare executive whose career reflects more than two decades of transformative leadership, operational excellence, and unwavering commitment to uplifting the lives of older adults.From a young age, Jasmine was guided by the profound wisdom and support of her grandmother, mother, and extended family, each of whom instilled in her a deep respect for elders, a reverence for service, and a belief in the power of compassionate care. This intergenerational foundation shaped her calling to pursue a lifelong purpose in healthcare.“Helping seniors age gracefully and independently is the mission statement I wake up to every day,” she affirms.Jasmine YoungJasmine’s expertise in the PACE model is both comprehensive and distinguished. She has held major leadership roles at San Diego PACE and WelbeHealth, where she played an instrumental role in scaling WelbeHealth PACE, now the largest PACE program in the nation. Her advancement from director of operations to associate vice president, chief of staff, and now senior vice president reflects her exceptional ability to strengthen organizations, elevate performance, and build mission-driven teams that deliver outstanding care.Her impact extends across the broader healthcare ecosystem. During her time at L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan, Jasmine cultivated a deep understanding of the medical, social, and behavioral needs of older adults in diverse communities. She has worked closely with medical groups, health systems, and community partners throughout Los Angeles County and San Diego, giving her an unmatched familiarity with the Southern California healthcare landscape.“Jasmine is a seasoned executive leader with a consistent record of transforming organizations, driving operational excellence, and scaling programs,” says Larissa Stepanians, chief operating officer at Los Angeles Jewish Health. “Her depth of experience positions her exceptionally well to lead our current PACE sites and to drive successful expansion into new communities across Southern California.”A proud Northern California native with strong professional roots in the southern region of the state, Jasmine earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She later completed a dual master’s degree at the University of Southern California in social work and business, with concentrations in gerontology, organizational leadership, and development. Her academic preparation, combined with her personal purpose, fuels her dynamic and compassionate approach to leadership.At BCSC PACE, Jasmine is committed to advancing the program’s legacy of excellence while expanding access to high-quality, culturally responsive services for seniors in Los Angeles, the South Bay, the San Fernando Valley, and the Coachella Valley. She aims to elevate the organization’s signature strengths and replicate its successes in communities where vulnerable seniors need it most.“Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE and Los Angeles Jewish Health are already doing tremendous work,” Jasmine says. “My goal is to elevate that impact even further. We have so much to offer, and I am privileged to be here, committed to making a meaningful difference and advance our mission.”