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Chandler Civil Patrol cadet earns big honor
SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
Cadet Col. Viet Zaengle of Chandler received the General Carl A. Spaatz Award recently in a ceremony at Arizona National Guard Headquarters. Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, Adjutant General of Arizona and director of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, presented the award to Zaengle.
Viet is a member of Civil Air Patrol’s Willie Composite Squadron in Chandler. He joined CAP in 2016 and currently serves as the cadet commander for his squadron. He just completed his junior year at Hamilton High School, where he also holds the grade of major in the Junior ROTC and is a member of the choir and cross-country team. He also is an Eagle Scout.
A recipient of the 2021 Air Force Chief of Staff Private Pilot scholarship program, Viet currently is attending a flight academy at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, where he will earn his private pilot certificate and six college credits.
“Working with cadets, watching them develop their leadership skills, seeing them choose to continue to serve as CAP volunteers as Colonel Zaengle is doing – it just doesn’t get much better than that,” said Arizona Wing Commander Col. Rob Pinckard.
“CAP cadets like Col. Zaengle give me hope for the future of our country,” he added.
The Spaatz Award is Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet honor. On average, only a half percent of CAP cadets earn the Spaatz Award.
It is presented to cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education.
Cadets qualify for this prestigious award after devoting an average of five years to progress through 16 achievements in the CAP Cadet Program.
Along the way, they develop self-dis-
Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, Adjutant General of Arizona, presented the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award to Civil Air Patrol Cadet Colonel Viet Zaengle in recognition of his demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education.
(Special to SanTan Sun News) “Working with cadets, watching them develop their leadership skills, seeing them choose to continue to serve as CAP volunteers as Colonel Zaengle is doing – it just doesn’t get much better than that.”
– Col. Rob Pinckard
See CADET on page 33
EV nurse advocates for, helps addicted babies
BY SYDNEY MACKIE
Staff Writer
As opioid drug overdoses spike again as a result of the pandemic, a Gilbert neonatal nurse is helping to lead a public information campaign to let expectant moms know there is hope for their babies if they are born addicts.
Tara Sundem last fall realized a years-long effort by opening Hushabye Nursery, which helps babies born with a drug addiction because of their mother’s substance abuse.
In Arizona, two babies a day are born suffering neonatal abstinence syndrome – a medical condition that addicted mothers pass on to their babies when they use opioids during pregnancy, thus harming the infant’s health and posing serious developmental complications.
Last November, Sundem opened Hushabye Nursery in Phoenix to help combat this issue locally and relieve pressure from busy and chaotic intensive care units while promoting an ideal healing environment.
Operating with 57 employees and 64 well-trained volunteers, Hushabye has been able to serve 75 infants and their families since opening its doors.
Opening during the height of the pandemic in Arizona was crucial timing as the group find that overdose and substance abuse rates of drugs such as fentanyl were skyrocketing in the state.
But, Hushabye Nursery was able to, “Relieve our community partners in the hospitals and say, ‘Give us some of your babies and you guys focus on the sickest of the sick,’” said Sundem, executive director of the nonprofit.
“When a baby comes to Hushabye Nursery, they’re usually 24 hours old and indicating exposure to an opiate. The family agrees for their little one to be transferred to us, and we have the ambulance pick them up.” Sundem said.
“When they get to us, they have a private nursery where the parents can stay 24/7. We also help connect these families with support services, therapy and counseling, all on-site so they don’t have to leave their babies.”
Offering a judgment-free healing facility for the entire family unit with constant care from neonatal or pediatric nurses, Hushabye workers carefully monitor these babies’ suffering from symptoms like uncontrollable shaking, discoordination, fevers, seizures, vomiting and sleeplessness.
Additionally, they provide this care in a dark and quiet environment to promote the child’s sleep and healing.
“We’ve found that babies suffering from who would not eat in the NICU will eat once transferred here. Apart from providing round-the-clock care, we’re able to provide a soothing sensory experience that allows their nervous systems to calm down and find balance as they move through a very painful transition,” Sundem said.
The group has found that because of this, the treatment process usually averaging from six to nine days, can be cut in half.
Hushabye patients are able to be fully detoxified and reunited with family at home after only four to five days at the facility. Being able to see and interact with their children has also proven to be an incredibly effective motivator for parents suffering from addiction to seek help and treatment.
“That’s the kind of thing that makes us stand out from the typical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, our support service that we offer for those really trying to heal the entire family system,” Sundem said.
After being recommended to those needing their services by pediatricians, obstetricians, general doctors as well as other patients, Hushabye Nursery is currently working with over 60 pregnant women.
Finally, the group hopes to connect with even more families in the earliest possible stages of pregnancy to ensure they receive the treatment and support they need to give their children the best care possible.
“Is it a process? Absolutely! Does it take time? Definitely. Do we see these families succeed every day? Yeah, I sent two moms and babies home today, they are absolutely fabulous and succeeding in everything they are doing,” Sundem said. Information: Hushabyenursery.org.
Hushabye Nursery is a judgment-free healing facility for the entire family unit with constant care from neonatal or pediatric nurses. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
CADET from page 32
cipline, a strong sense of personal responsibility, the ability to lead and persuade, and the foundations necessary for pursuing a career in aviation, space, or technology.
The final step a cadet must complete to earn the Spaatz Award is a rigorous four-part exam consisting of a challenging physical fitness test, an essay exam testing their moral reasoning, a comprehensive written exam on leadership, and a comprehensive written exam on aerospace education.
Upon passing the Spaatz Award exams, the cadet is promoted to the grade of cadet colonel.
Contact: Maj. Margot Myers, CAP Public Affairs Officer, Arizona Wing
Email: margot.myers@azwg.org
C: 480.773.3118
About Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is the longtime auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a valued member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and 1,944 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. It performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 82 lives annually. CAP’s 60,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief, and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state, and local agencies. Operating as a nonprofit organization, CAP also plays a leading role in STEM/aerospace education, and its members serve as mentors to about 25,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www. GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.azwg.org for more information.
Gilbert nurse gets national DAISY award
SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
Gilbert nurse Danielle Schneeweis recently received the DAISY award, a national honor recognizing “the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.”
Schneeweis is a nephrology nurse for DaVita Kidney Care, one of the nation’s largest providers of kidney care services for 20 years that treats patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage kidney disease.
At DaVita, Schneeweis provides care to people with kidney failure who rely on dialysis to live.
“Dialysis patients are often older and have multiple, serious medical conditions beyond kidney failure,” a DaVita spokeswoman said.
“Because of this, Danielle went above and beyond to help keep these high-risk patients safe in the pandemic. In the early months of the pandemic, she manned DaVita’s 24-hour COVID-19 hotline giving guidance to anxious dialysis patients across the state.”
“Schneeweis was a trusted resource on DaVita’s 24-hour COVID-19 hotline, answering questions and giving comfort to patients from 50 DaVita dialysis centers across Arizona and the Four Corners area,” the spokeswoman added..
Schneeweis also led DaVita’s efforts to vaccinate Arizona dialysis patients, including organizing the administration of 1,000 doses in a 48-hour period.
“By recognizing nurses who received DAISY awards, we are celebrating their profound compassion and motivation to positively impact the lives of our patients and help them be successful on their unique care journeys,” said Mandy Tilton, chief nursing officer for DaVita Kidney Care.
The DAISY Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by his family. He died at age 33 in 1999 from complications of a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease.
DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.
“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, president-co-founder of the DAISY Foundation. “Yet, these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work they do.
“The kind of work the nurses at DaVita are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
Danielle Schneeweis, a nephrology nurse for DaVita Kidney Care, won a prestigious
DAISY Award. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
Chandler Service Club honors Flower Girls
SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
Chandler Service Club recently recognized its Flower Girls from the 2020-21 school year.
“Their eff orts in the community and in the classroom did not go unnoticed,” a spokeswoman said. “We appreciated the limited amount of time that we spent getting to know and learn about all of their gifts and talents.”
The goal of the Flower Girl Program
is to foster a lifelong commitment to helping others through community service; to promote an appreciation for social graces and etiquette; and to develop leadership, self-image and other character-building skills for young women in our community.
Chandler Service Club members are mentors for each community service, educational and social event in which the participants have opportunities to experience, practice and enjoy the skills they have learned.
This year’s class of Flower Girls includes: Rae Allen, Milani Alo, Rebekah Bailey, Savanna Bell, Kendyl Brass, Gracelyn Brittingham, Brenna Brooks, Sophie Cooper, Sierra Dixon;
Also, Rylee Emerich, Allison Evdokimo, Payton Francisco, Claire Glessner, Ava Guereque, Savanah Gutierrez, Emma Harris, Carter Henkel, Grace Hicks, Kensington Jephson, Devon Knox, Keely Kroeger, Tatum Linnen, Alexis Mueller, Cally Munguia; Also, Talia Nark, Nina Petrone, Jaiden Phillips, Brooke Romero, Tatiana Savedra, Hailey Sherman, Jaelah Stanley, Lacey Stanton, Jordynn Stephens, Abigail Stoll, Madison Stoltz, Lexi Tamburrelli, Brinley Terry, Grace Thornton, Kiyra Tibke, Alexandra Ulibarri, Gracie Vincelette, Jolie Wahlberg and Amanda Wichman.
The Chandler Service Club recently honored its 2020-21 Flower Girls. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
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