THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 40, NO. 29 | MARCH 8, 2019
SEEKING SAFETY AT SACRED HEART Nursing home residents seek refuge at Tonganoxie parish
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Legend Healthcare workers bring in a wheelchair and medical supplies to Sacred Heart Parish, Tonganoxie, after the health care facility was forced to evacuate because of carbon monoxide. By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
T
ONGANOXIE — The carbon monoxide levels had risen to unsafe levels inside the Legend Healthcare facility here early on March 4. The gas meant that residents could not stay inside — and subzero temperatures meant they could not stay outside. Director of nursing Lisa Drake knew there was only one thing they could do: evacuate to another place. “When I first started thinking about calling the churches,” she said, “I thought, ‘This is a no-brainer. I know who we’re calling.’” At 4:45 a.m., she called Father Mark Goldasich, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish and son of Angeline Goldasich, one of the Legend’s residents. “He answered right away,” said Drake. She told him the situation. Could the nursing home patients be evacuated to Sacred Heart Parish? “He said, ‘Absolutely. I’ll be glad to help. I’ll meet you up there. I’ll be on my way right now,’” she said.
Before long, the 68 residents, plus the staff, began to arrive by school buses and vehicles from other nursing homes, and ambulances from various agencies in the surrounding area. The Tonganoxie Fire Department, the Police Department, as well as fire departments from surrounding jurisdictions, also aided in the evacuation. It seemed almost providential that the Legend evacuees found refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. And right on schedule, Father Goldasich — also editor of The Leaven — celebrated 7:30 a.m. Mass. And he had a chance to say hi to his mother, who is due to celebrate her 101st birthday next month. Alarms first sounded at about 11:45 p.m. on March 3, said Vince McGowen, the Chicago-based vice president of operations for Aperion, the post-acute care provider that owns and operates the facility. Carbon monoxide had been detected in one part of the building. They vented some hallways and turned off the gas to a newly installed water heater. By 2:30 a.m., the levels were dropping. But then, they began to rise again. >> See “SACRED HEART” on page 7
WINNING COMBO
Aquinas assistant basketball coach helps establish winning tradition. Page 3
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Sacred Heart Church in Tonganoxie opened its doors at 4:45 the morning of May 5 to give shelter to residents of Legend Healthcare after the nursing home was evacuated for carbon monoxide. Donna Prentiss, left, checks on her mom, Millie Wilson, at Sacred Heart.
HOLY RELIC
The heart of St. John Vianney is coming to the archdiocese March 17-18. Page 5
HUNGER COALITION
Benedictine College’s Hunger Coalition helps feed Atchison’s hungry. Pages 8-9