SKLD families write about their healthcare heroes

While we salute the healthcare heroes supporting our communities in Ohio and Michigan, fewer accolades go to their families, who shoulder the burden as well.

Families of healthcare workers in the pandemic are enduring the challenges of worrying about their loved ones, combined with the added logistical challenge of managing the home front for these essential workers.

SKLD Lebanon reached out to families, asking families to write about their healthcare heroes. Following are the two winning submissions from Amber Castle’s family and Kim Reeder’s family.

How does our healthcare angel inspire us?

by Noah and Rosealy French

Our mamaw Kim Reeder inspires us every day. She not only takes care of people at the nursing home, but also takes care of her animals and family.

Mamaw works hard at work every day and at home. She always finds time to come to our sports to support us. She also keeps us all night and makes the best snacks. She inspires us to want to work hard. We love going to garage sales with mamaw to pick out treasures.

She is our hero because she loves us. She is our mommy’s mom. Mamaw is very busy but makes sure we know she supports everything we do. She is the best mamaw in the world.

She is our healthcare angel because she loves and cares for everyone she knows. Our mamaw inspires us to try harder and work hard at everything we do. 

My Healthcare Hero

by Kayleigh Allshouse

My mother, Amber Castle, is my healthcare hero.

Of course it's always nice to have an experienced healthcare worker around, but it goes so much deeper than that. For as long as I can remember, my mother has not only cared for the health of others, but her connections with them as well.

As a child, mom would take me up to the home for adults with disabilities she worked at. We called this place the Big House. While she did work there to earn money and raise me, she also genuinely enjoyed putting a smile on the residents’ faces. I would help her set up the breakfast table and do activities with everyone. Coloring with Jessica was always my favorite.

Through these experiences, mom taught me that everyone deserves compassion. After many, many years, mom got a job opportunity with a new company! But don't worry, we still visited the Big House. Mom’s new job opportunity seemed great but turned out to be very stressful for her.

Mom worked very hard to maintain the happiness of the people with disabilities who came there to work. My favorite memory was an event held for them. There were snacks, activities and lots of dancing!

Over the years spending days at work with my mom, she taught me that perseverance is a very valuable trait. Though it was hard, she stuck through it to benefit the people around her. After moving to this house, mom’s next big goal for herself was becoming a nurse! This required her to do a little over a year of condensed schooling. But she wasn't just going to school to get her nursing license, she wanted to be the very best. After months of hard work, studying, and dedication, mom reached her goal of the highest GPA in her class!

Seeing her set a goal so high and taking all the steps to achieve just that really inspired me. Because of my mom, I strive to apply myself 100% in every aspect of my education. One day I hope to be a confident and compassionate worker just like her.

After schooling, mom found a new job opportunity with the nursing home she currently works at [SKLD New Lebanon]. After work each day, mom would come home excited and full of stories! Mom works very hard to keep everyone healthy, happy, and comfortable. Not to mention, she really enjoys doing it! The nursing home holds a small event for halloween where the residents pass out candy if they want to. One of the coolest experiences was meeting all of the people I have heard so much about.

I wouldn't be the kind and dedicated person I am today without my mom. She is quick to help others and has saved lives that way. She has always had others in her best interest and has taught me many valuable lessons through her actions. My mom is my genuine healthcare hero.