Heidi Wilke was kidnapped, robbed, and raped on January 30, 2002 while leaving a Methodist Richard Young Hospital Board meeting. After her ordeal, Heidi and her husband Jeff wanted to help other survivors.

The answer was to initiate Omaha’s first and only Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Program. A SANE is an experienced, specially trained registered nurse and the SART includes YWCA Omaha Counselors, members of the Special Victims Unit of the Omaha Police Department, the City/County Prosecutors Office, as well as Methodist Hospital physicians, pastoral care, and health care professionals.

In June, 2003 The Heidi Wilke SANE/SART Survivor Program was established in Omaha. A separate waiting area and treatment unit at Methodist Hospital is now available for survivors along with medicines, proper equipment, a shower and seasonably appropriate clothing for victims to wear home. This program is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for victims of sexual assault. The average Emergency Department wait time for sexual assault victims has been reduced from 70 minutes to 33 minutes. All victims now receive follow-up care, compared to only thirty-five percent of victims prior to implementation of the program.

Thanks to many generous donors, a permanent fund of $1.5 million was established to assure that compassionate care will be available for every sexual assault survivor.