compassion
RESPITE
A
for THE SOUL
visit to the Hills is like a visit to grandma’s house. Southern hospitality on display. Freshbaked brownies sitting on the counter. Chilled water and Cherry Ale-8 waiting in the refrigerator to refresh the body. But what Renee Thomas brings to the Hill family each month is respite for the soul. Mary is the primary caregiver for her husband of 49 years. Sherman has Parkinson’s and is in the early stages of dementia which require around the clock care. Renee comes twice a month (about six hours each visit) which allows Mary time to go shopping, to doctor appointments, or to get her hair done. When Mary was 10 years old, she ended up in the hospital and was so struck by the kindness of her nurse that she decided then and there that she would become a nurse too. “She was so good to me,” Mary said. “We were from a poor family. Twelve in all. Eleven of us grew up then on Daddy’s farm. We didn’t have much, but we had each other and we had good times. We made the best of what we had. The Lord blessed us and all 11 of us graduated from high school.” Mary took the life lessons of taking care of those you love and making the best of tough situations with her into her married life. 26
Mary’s husband Sherman worked as an educator in the prison system to help inmates get their high school diploma in order to improve their opportunities when they were released. He retired when Mary had a stroke in order to care for her. When she recovered, Mary could not return fully to her career as a licensed practical nurse, but her compassion for others led her to Christian Appalachian Project. Mary was providing in-home respite services to a local family whose mother, Barbara, had Alzheimer’s, but she knew that they needed more help. Mary saw a flyer on the bulletin board at the senior center about CAP’s In-Home Respite Program. She connected Barbara’s family to CAP.
give her full attention to him. After five years, Mary left Barbara fully in the care of Renee. Later, Mary would need more help with Sherman, and Renee has assisted the family with in-home respite care for the past three years. “It is a godsend,” Mary said, when she sees Renee coming up to the house. “I don’t know what I would do without her and the supplies CAP provides.”
The increased medical expenses have been a strain on the family’s limited resources, but Renee helps with necessities through CAP’s Operation Sharing Program. Through the program Renee is able to obtain hygiene Before Mary could finish her story, products, personal care items, and Sherman chimed in with the love household goods for the Hills. and gratitude of a life partner fully embracing the marriage vows “to have “I also find gifts for participants’ birthand to hold, from this day forward, for days, wedding anniversaries, and even better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, Christmas baskets,” she said. “Sherin sickness and in health, to love and man is unable to get out of the house to cherish, until death do us part.” to get Mary a gift or a card so this is one of the things I can do to help him “I couldn’t make it without Mary,” Sherman said. “I tell you the truth show appreciation. By helping SherMary, if it wasn’t for you, I’d be dead.” man do these things, it brings a smile to Mary when she returns home.” Barbara became CAP’s first in-home respite participant and Renee was Renee helps Sherman write thank you her caregiver. Mary and Renee got to notes to Mary and gifts to assure Mary know each other. When Sherman’s that he loves her and appreciates all health began to decline, Mary had to that she does for him.
christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive | SPRING / SUMMER 2018
