VNAIC
PRESENTS JOHN L. TREADWAY LOVING CARE AWARDS
Press Release
The Visiting Nurse Association of the Inland Counties held its 24th annual meeting at the Riverside Convention Center on March 8th with part of the program dedicated to recognizing special people for the extraordinary loving care they have given to a family member, friend or to their community. The VNAIC Board of Directors named the awards in memory of Mr. Treadway’s many years of service to the VNAIC.
Award recipients were represented from each of the seven VNAIC offices.
The Barstow Home Health Program recipient was Brenda Folden. Together with her mother Betty, Brenda is making sure her grandparents spend their final years together in the home they built. As her grandmother’s Alzheimers disease has progressed, Brenda left her full time job to become her grandmother’s daytime caregiver. She is committed to making sure her grandparent’s every need is met while preserving her grandmother’s dignity and function. She fills her days with joy, home cooked meals, special activities conversation and laughter. Brenda says her grandmother is a wonderful soul. VNAIC feels Brenda takes after her grandmother. The large Manis family is proud of their grandparents and their history in the Barstow community. VNAIC staff is delighted to recognize their gracious and special care.
The Riverside Hospice Program’s recipients were Vicki Haner and her children, Courtney, Morgan and Austin. When young father and husband William Haner was diagnosed with cancer, his wife Vicki, her daughters Courtney and Morgan and son Austin did everything they could do to help him fight a courageous battle for over two years. As his condition worsened and he endured multiple hospitalizations, the family learned complicated medical procedures, allowing him to stay at home and making his final days full of love, family memories and compassion. They faced his illness head on and were dedicated to caring for him. The loving care, closeness and compassion of this family was a tribute to their father and a constant inspiration to the VNAIC staff.
The Victorville Home Health Program recipient was Matthew Ahlheim. Matthew is a remarkable young man. At age 15 Matthew has been the primary caregiver for both of the parents. His mother received a heart transplant in 1997 and his father also became ill with cardiac disease in 2004 and had a heart transplant in 2009. Even at his young age, he learned complicated medical procedures and was a constant source of emotional and physical support. He says he learned the importance of caring for people from his parents and that he just followed their example. In addition to learning to assist with medications and medical procedures, Matthew helped with the cooking and housekeeping and whatever was needed around the house – all of this while going to school full-time. He is truly an outstanding young man and the Loving Care award recognizes his maturity, selflessness, commitment and loving care.
The Banning Hospice Program’s recipient was Donna Smith Burgess. Donna Smith Burgess is an active professional woman working and living in Loma Linda. Like many women in the sandwich generation she had children of her own but she found herself being the caregiver of her elderly father who lived in Idaho. She traveled there on a regular basis but in 2006 when her father no longer could live alone, she packed him up and brought him home to live with her. Donna was not new to loss and had experienced the loss of her mother, sister, brother and husband. Dad was the last of her immediate family and she was committed to making his last days comfortable. As his condition deteriorated she arranged for his daily care and opted for Hospice. She personally managed his care and devoted every spare moment to assure he was surrounded with love. Helping her father in his final journey with Alzheimer’s disease while balancing the needs of her job and family was an inspiration to everyone involved.
The Palm Desert Home Health recipient was Marilyn McConnell. The care that Marilyn has provided for her husband Jimmy is a shining example of love and devotion. Theirs is a love story of more than 50 years and Although Parkinson’s Disease has robbed him of language and mobility, Marilyn and Jimmy have found ways to communicate and they share activities that make his life meaningful. Jimmy’s care requires medication every two hours and now, assistance with every aspect of his daily living activities. Marilyn will say Jimmy doesn’t have the disease, they both have the disease and they do everything they can to make every day the best day it can be. Marilyn’s dedication to her husband is an inspiration to all the VNAIC staff.
The Visiting Nurse Association of the Inland Counties is the largest and oldest non-profit organization of its kind, providing both Home Health and Hospice services throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties since 1931. Go Back |
