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Westchester Medical Center

Working Toward Change: Chappaqua Dad & Distracted Driving Awareness Advocate Ben Lieberman

June 1, 2018 by Beth Besen

PHOTO BY CAROLYN SIMPSON

Ben Lieberman is a Chappaqua dad like so many others in so many ways. But, he is unlike most in one heartbreakingly distinctive way–he had to bury one of his children.

Seven years ago, the Lieberman family’s lives were forever changed by that phone call we all know as “a parent’s worst nightmare.” Their eldest, 19-year-old college freshman Evan, was being airlifted to the Level 1 regional trauma center of Westchester Medical Center (WMC) in critical condition due to injuries sustained in an automobile crash. Evan had been a passenger–a sleeping, rear-seat, belt-buckled passenger in an early morning car pool commute to a summer job.

The Liebermans immediately rushed to WMC, took up bedside vigil and never left Evan’s side. They slept on air mattresses in the hospital waiting room, and prayed and willed their son to beat the 10% first night survival odds doctors gave him. And Evan responded, fighting long and hard for his life for a solid month. Ultimately, however, he lost his battle, and the Liebermans lost their son and brother.

What do you do when you lose a child? Even in theory, it’s a question that is hard to think about; parents aren’t supposed to bury children, it just doesn’t make sense. Eventually, through a civil suit, the Liebermans gained access to the driver’s cell phone records, and determined that the driver had been texting during the drive and near the collision, Lieberman relayed. The crash happened in a dead cell zone, Lieberman also noted, so it couldn’t be determined either way what the driver’s exact activity was when his car crossed the double yellow line.

Ever since, and to honor Evan’s memory, the Liebermans have dedicated themselves to the dual causes of finding solutions for distracted driving and raising money for Westchester Medical Center.

Educating the Public About Distracted Driving

Combatting distracted driving has been a long, steady push to draw attention to the fact that distracted driving is as big an issue–if not bigger–than drunk driving.

Lieberman partnered with New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein and Police Chief Charles Ferry to create the “Hands Off the Phone and On the Wheel” initiative. Signs, banners and freely distributed magnets featuring the stopped hand logo (which also signifies the 5-point violation) are visible throughout town.

Lieberman also co-established  Distracted Operators Risk Casualties, aka DORCS, –with the front passenger’s mother, Deborah Becker–to help spread the message far and wide that distracted driving causes terrible injuries and takes lives. And he began work with an Israeli phone forensic company, Cellebrite, to develop a device that would enable police to determine whether a driver’s cell phone was being used at the time of an accident. They called the device a Textalyzer for its similarity to the Breathalyzer.

To counter the arguments from various civil liberties groups, Cellebrite even figured out a way to make sure the device simply determines data usage without accessing personal information. In 90 seconds, the technology generates a report that details illegal typing and swiping but also differentiates legal voice activation and Bluetooth.

Pending Legislation for “Evan’s Law”

Lieberman, Greenstein and Ferry met with New York State Senator Terrence Murphy and Assembly Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz to introduce the device, and to discuss a bipartisan state bill that would make New York the first state to attempt a distracted driving policy solution.

Ortiz, who was instrumental in the 2001 legislation banning the use of handheld devices while driving, stated: “We did a good job in implementing hands-free law; unfortunately, at a crash, the law can’t be enforced without an eyewitness or unlikely confession.” The proposed Textalyzer bill, a solution aptly named “Evan’s Law,” would enable police to examine phones at an accident site using the Textalyzer.

Governor Cuomo directed his Traffic Safety Committee to study the Textalyzer and the bill is pending.

Meanwhile, interest continues to grow and spread nationally, and Lieberman, who testified in Chicago, California, Washington, D.C., was recently honored with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Lifesaver’s Award for Public Service at the 2018 Conference in San Antonio Texas.

When not travelling and working to make our roads a safer place for all, Lieberman, together with his wife Debbie, is involved with fundraising for Westchester Medical Center through their now-established non-profit “Evan’s Team.”

According to Lieberman, the fundraising started “almost by accident.” The Liebermans’ many friends all wanted to contribute something, to help in some way; many suggested various events and community gatherings that would keep Evan’s sports- and fun-loving spirit front and center while raising money in his memory. They started with mud-runs, poker nights, dodgeball games (one of Evan’s favorite activities). These events were a hit and filled a need.

And, says Lieberman, “ended up raising real money.” Thus, Evan’s Team was established; its first project, renovating the waiting area of WMC.

Evan’s Team Fundraising Efforts

The family felt fortunate that Evan received excellent medical care, but they found the waiting room areas and experience were lacking in basic necessities. “There was nowhere to sleep, shower, or get a nutritious meal. There was no privacy; doctors and families were discussing the most intimate details of life and care without the dignity of private space.” With the generous funds donated by Evan’s Team, WMC’s Trauma Intensive Care Unit is now able to offer families “The Evan Lieberman Friends and Family Lounge”–a comfortable and dignified space complete with consultation rooms, private sleeping spaces, locker rooms with showers and an always-stocked nutrition center.

Evan’s Team’s grass-roots outings have grown to become a well-sponsored and attended annual event. The local community continues to get involved, and friends who have since moved away return to reminisce and take part. It’s still “all about Evan and something he would have loved,” says Debbie. Golf, tennis, and, of course, Evan’s favorite dodgeball/funball make for a day of play, while the evening is capped by a dinner and much-anticipated car raffle. This year’s car is a 2018 blue Mercedes 4Matic, convertible with a sleek saddle interior. It’s a beauty!

Parked at the top of King Street, in front of Quaker Hill Tavern, the car stands as an invitation to buy a raffle ticket (only 1,000 are sold each year), to join Evan’s Team and support such a worthy cause and to remember that driving is a privilege that requires attention, concentration and respect for the road and other drivers. Money raised from the event will go to Evan’s Team’s latest project–funding Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital’s Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies, dedicated to meeting the unique emotional, developmental and cultural needs of each child and family in their time of crisis.

To learn more about Evan’s Team including the upcoming outing event and car raffle, please visit: www.evansteamny.com

 

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: awareness, Ben Lieberman, Car Raffle, Distracted Driving, DORCS, driving, Evan's Law, Evan's Team, Hands Off the Phone, lessons, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital’s Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies, Textalyzer, texting and driving, Westchester Medical Center

Mud, Sweat and Cheers: Hundreds Expected to Get Dirty for a Good Cause in the Evan Lieberman Westchester Medical Center Mud Run

June 24, 2016 by The Inside Press

Mud, Sweat and Cheers 1WHEN: Saturday, June 25. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. Heats begin at 8:30 a.m.

WHAT: The Evan Lieberman Westchester Medical Center Trauma Mud Run is a 5K foot race where participants traverse over, under and through a series of challenging obstacles including tire swings, cargo nets, fire towers, running streams, a giant mud put and more. Adding to the fun this year will be a new course feature – spray guns – that will douse participants with bright colors as they traverse two of the courses toughest obstacles.

 

Mud, Sweat and Cheers 2The event is a true endurance race, one that tests runners’ physical and mental abilities. It is also an important fundraiser for Westchester Medical Center’s Joel A. Halpern Regional Trauma Center and its Burn Center services. The Level I trauma and burn care services offered by Westchester Medical Center are the only programs of its kind in the region. They are a lifeline for the Hudson Valley’s most seriously burned and injured residents.

*Fun for children (and their parents!): a special Kids’ Dash heat will step off at 9:15 a.m. for participants under the age of 13. The Kids’ Dash course will be shorter and less challenging than the adult course, but just as muddy and colorful!

Mud, Sweat and Cheers 3To learn more, sign up and watch a promotional video showing the course and it challenging obstacles, interested participants should visit events.westchestermedicalcenter.com/mudrun

The Evan Lieberman Westchester Medical Center Trauma Mud run offers media the opportunity to cover a “dirty” story with great visuals. All are invited to attend.

WHERE: On the grounds of Westchester Medical Center, 100 Woods Road, Valhalla, New York

WHO: Hundreds of participants from the Hudson Valley and beyond brave enough to tackle course challenges.

CONTACT: Andy LaGuardia

(914) 493-6532

andrew.laguardia@wmchealth.org

Filed Under: New Castle Releases Tagged With: 5k, Chappaqua, Inside Press, theinsidepress.com, Trauma Mud Run, Westchester Medical Center

Open to Caregivers! The All New Evan Lieberman Friends and Family Lounge at Westchester Medical Center

October 17, 2015 by Inside Press

Article and Photos By Grace Bennett

Thursday night’s unveiling of Westchester Medical Center’s expanded, amenities-filled waiting area for families with loved ones in its Trauma Intensive Care Unit, signifies a true triumph for the Lieberman family, a culmination of several years of dedicated fundraising efforts by the board of Evan’s Team; the fund steadily grew as donations poured in following multiple fun and festive events that celebrated Evan Lieberman’s life and gifts.

liebermans very best

“The day began like any normal day…” Ben Lieberman began, recalling to friends, family and media gathered of any parent’s worst nightmare–the day their 19 year old son Evan was transported to the Trauma Center, where he died four years ago as a result of injuries sustained as a passenger in a motor vehicle accident. “We grabbed whatever ‘real estate’ we could,” explained Ben; he and his wife Debbie, and Evan’s sisters Rachel and Jamie, stayed by his side at all times as he fought for his life over the next 30 days.

Ben described a woefully inadequate waiting area at that point in time and disturbing conditions for family members “catapulted” into similar trauma situations, he said. “We were hearing every type of noise,” he said. “There was an apparatus sending blood all night long.” With no place to rest, “people brought in their own mattresses,” he said.

“Due to the unique nature of its services, our Trauma Intensive Care Unit often operates at patient capacity and when it does, we host 15 patients with three or four caregivers at their side. That’s a lot of people spending extended times in our hospital,” explained Linda McGinnis, R.N., Vice President, Patient Care Services, Westchester Medical Center.

While grateful for the medical care given to Evan, the Liebermans felt the space provided to caregivers could offer more support. Their fundraising efforts raised over $500,000 to support the new space.

At 2,400 square feet, The Evan Lieberman Friends and Family Lounge is more than twice the size of the previous unit and features showers, lockers, nutrition stations and modest sleeping accommodations for caregivers who wish to remain close to their injured loved ones. Its entire design revolves around providing comfort for families during a challenging period.

In attendance were Evan’s friends Richie Giner, Billy Sadik-Khan and Jack Zandi, pictured from left to right below with Ben. In an interview with News 12, they each spoke about Evan.

Said Jack: “We want to support Evan’s family. He has done so much for me and to see them take this tragedy and turn it into something so great for families inspires me.” Jack further described Evan as a young man who was fiercely loyal to his friends, too. “He would always be there for us whenever you needed him.” Richie said Evan would light up a room and that “you couldn’t ask for a better friend.” Billy recalled how difficult it was to “internalize what had happened.”

ben and boys

Members of the unit’s surgical team were on hand to express their appreciation for the new facility as well. Dr. Gary Lombardo described the previous situation as a “major oversight. The families are equally important; at least we can help them make the best now of a horrible situation. This was built with a real purpose.” Dr. Anthony Policastro noted too, “People were stuck in small spaces which can be very traumatizing.” He described the new lounge as “exceeding all expectations.”

The Evan Lieberman Friends and Family Lounge, named in honor of their son and brother and supported by a community of champions, is a tribute to all the families who spend countless hours supporting critically injured family members in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit.

Additional photos courtesy of Westchester Medical Center/Photographer Benjamin Cotton:

wmc waitiing area

wmc.computer

wmc consult room

wmc sleeping area

shower area

wmc group at plaque

Wmc.group shot

Evan's Lounge 1

Evan's Lounge 2

The Old Waiting Area...
The Old Waiting Area…

Filed Under: New Castle News Tagged With: Caregiver Facility, Evan Lieberman, Lieberman Family, Trauma Intensive Care Unit, Westchester Medical Center

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