Lessons from a Big Sister

BY CAMMIE WRIGHT

the luckiest of us leave behind a legacy that long outlives our time on Earth. But the relationship between luck and legacy is rarely that of correlation.

Legacies are forged from things like hard work, determination and altruistic endeavors, not luck or happenstance.

The legacy of Dr. Renee Schwandt continues to touch the lives of people across the globe, from Fargo, to Haiti, to Jamaica. And the world was truly lucky to have her.

Renee was an OB/GYN at Essentia Health in Fargo, but in addition to her day-to-day care for her patients, she traveled on two mission trips, the first to Haiti and later to Jamaica.

In the long run, a legacy is nothing more than many stories of kindness and strength woven together into a life. Renee’s life was strewn with such stories.

After Renee’s unexpected passing in 2003, Renee’s sister, Sue Knutson, ventured back to Jamaica on the same mission trip Renee had taken. She heard stories of Renee’s kindness, laughter and generosity time and time again.

“It was amazing and moving to see how much she loved helping other people,” Sue said. “One of the stories that we heard in Jamaica was when one of the female patients came in without shoes, her feet full of wounds and cracks. That evening Renee took her own money and collected from others to buy a pair of tennis shoes for this needy patient. The next day, when she returned to the clinic, Renee gave her the shoes. The woman was so excited to finally have a pair of shoes, however, she had a look of worry about her. She looked at Renee and explained, ‘I don’t have any socks to wear’. Renee immediately took off her own shoes, removed her socks and gave them to the woman. Renee would literally take the clothes off her own body and give them to someone else.”

After Sue’s trip to Jamaica, she knew more than ever how important it was to continue Renee’s legacy of compassion.

And The Newt Mission was born. Named for a childhood nickname for Renee, the Newt Mission strives to continue Renee’s lifetime mission of making the world a better place.

A portion of the proceeds from the upcoming Go Far Woman Run will be donated to the Essentia NICU in honor of the late Dr. Renee Schwandt and the Newt Mission. The Go Far Woman Run is the first women’s only race in the Fargo-Moorhead area, and is slated for August 24th, 2013. Races include a 5k, half marathon and half relay. Registration is now open and available at www.gofarwoman.com

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