I strongly believe that people who work in healthcare have a calling. A “why,” if you will. It is impossible to have your heartstrings tugged at, deal with family dynamics, and do duties outside the box to help patients and families if your heart isn’t in the right place.
I have two “whys:” my mom and my daddy.
In 2008, my mom was diagnosed with cancer in May and passed in October. I had the honor of seeing how hospice and personal care work together so beautifully! My only regret is not knowing enough about hospice to have gotten them involved much sooner in her journey. The caregivers gave Daddy back his freedom to attend Lion’s Club meeting and church on Sundays, knowing that Mom’s personal care needs – which he already struggled to provide – were attended to. When I visited, I was able to be “the daughter” again instead of cleaning toilets and trying to tell my parents what to do. That is a tough spot for any child to be in, when we have to become “the parent” to our parent. A third party alleviates that stress and allows the family to be just that.
In 2014, Daddy took a tumble in the bathroom overnight. He was found the next morning by my sister, who just happened to stop by. He had surgery due to several broken vertebrae, got pneumonia during his inpatient rehab stay, and passed within days. We learned the hard way just how devastating an otherwise innocuous “fall” can be.
I came to Care Advantage in May 2017, with the passion to “pay it forward.” I love educating families about what services in the home will allow their loved one to age in place to live out their retirement years the way they dreamed of. Because of my experiences with Mom and Daddy, I speak with families about the continuum of care in the home – from home health to palliative and hospice, and how personal care integrates with those disciplines for far better support. I wish my family had had someone like me to educate us on all of the options!
Falls can be devastating, and far too many families underestimate the importance of prevention. I know we allowed Daddy’s stubbornness to get in the way of him having the extra help he should have had. While I cannot go back and redo things, I do often wonder if things had been different, if he would still be here today. Since life doesn’t give us do-overs, educating others about the risks like falls that can create premature crisis for a family, is my way of trying to make it right.
In my time outside of work, I can be found most weekends at Smith Mountain Lake on the water in a 1973 KingsCraft houseboat that my husband and I totally renovated from the aluminum studs upward. And I am an honored furbaby momma to a 5 pound Pomeranian named Sazzie. I am a graduate of James Madison University with a BA in English with a concentration in communications, as well as a BA in theatre and dance. I have held some amazing positions over the years, but I have worked the longest and been the most rewarded in my heart during my seven years at Care Advantage! It has always been important for me to give back to my community, which was instilled by Mom and Daddy. I have been actively involved with the American Heart Association over the years, and have served on boards for the Junior League of the Roanoke Valley, the Square Society for Center in the Square, and Mountain View Humane Society, to name a few. I am currently in my ninth year on the board of the American Cancer Society, and in my fifth year planning their annual Cattle Baron’s Ball fundraiser in the Roanoke Valley. We are always seeking sponsors and other partners, if anyone is interested!
