Grateful Patient Recognizes Lifetime of Great Care by Supporting Henry Ford in Living Trust

At 78-years-old, Fred Naseef maintains an active and healthy lifestyle. A retiree of the U.S. Postal Service, the St. Clair shores resident eats well, works out at the gym regularly and is an avid dancer – Latin, ballroom and swing.

Looking back, Fred said his life could easily have taken a different – much less healthy – direction, if not for a visit with a Henry Ford nurse practitioner at a critical turning point in his life.

When Fred was 12 years old, he was diagnosed with a chronic health condition that would require thoughtful management and long-term care. But as he progressed from his teenage years into early adulthood, he focused on things besides his health, like many young people do.

“To be honest, for the first 30 years living with this disease, I really coasted,” Fred said. “I ignored my diet and only visited the doctor casually. And even though I wasn’t really taking action, I did spend a lot of time worrying about the long-term effects.”

In his mid-40s, an annual physical revealed some concerning results, and Fred was referred to a Henry Ford specialist. That’s where he met Davida Kruger N.P., who delivered the push he needed that put him on a healthier path.

“She told me straight out: ‘Look Fred, all the things that could go wrong with you have already begun. If you want to avoid those things, you’re going to have to start managing this better,’” Fred recalls.

It was the wake-up call he needed. With expert care from his Henry Ford specialists and guidance from a dietician, Fred was able to overhaul his lifestyle, get on a consistent course of treatments and set himself up for 30 healthier years to follow.

That conversation took place in 1992, and Fred is still grateful.

“Frankly, I feel pretty darn good,” he said. “I owe that to the people who helped me in the beginning. They laid it out for me and helped me stay motivated to take care of myself.”

Recently, as he thought about his approaching 80th birthday, Fred began thinking about his long-term legacy and plans for his estate. Never married and without kids, he wanted to ensure that any assets he leaves behind are used to make a meaningful difference.

After speaking with Henry Ford Senior Gift Planning Advisor Joe Impellizzeri, Fred decided to establish a revocable trust that would benefit Henry Ford and several other charities. The trust will provide directed support to the Henry Ford programs that have been most important to Fred.

“It dawned on me that I could do something that was particularly close to me, and that was to support the people at Henry Ford and a couple of other charities I felt strongly about,” Fred said. “I’ve been affiliated with Henry Ford since before 1960. I’m indebted to medicine and to the hospital, so I feel really good about this decision.”

More recently, Fred has also turned to Henry Ford for care related to two orthopedic procedures that were critical for maintaining his active lifestyle.

“Thanks to my doctors, I’m back on the dance floor,” he said.