Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505230010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Jeanne Werrell\
Christiansburg
Care outstanding at Radford Hospital
We were visiting my mother and her husband, Alice and Larry Haulman of Radford, over Easter when my mother needed to be hospitalized. She suffers from Lou Gehrig's Disease, a neuromuscular disorder that leaves one a virtual prisoner inside one's own body. On Easter morning when she was unable to breathe, her husband took her to the Radford Hospital.
I am a New Yorker and a social worker well-acquainted with hospitals. From the time we entered Radford Hospital, the care provided was nothing short of remarkable. The emergency room nurses and respiratory therapists were compassionate, empathic and supreme professionals. Not only did they provide excellent medical care, but they also cared for us, the patient's family. Her personal physician, Dr. Richard Williams, was called in. He is an expertly competent physician, and equally important, a gem of a human being. Those two qualities do not often come together. He treated us all with dignity and respect at a time when we were fraught with anxiety.
When my mother was moved upstairs, the nurses were careful to put her in a room right across from the nurses' station, because my mother was not physically capable of ringing the nurses' call button. The nursing care my mother received was unlike any I have ever seen. Nothing was too much, no matter what time of the day or night. Not only were they superbly competent nurses, they were kind human beings who had not lost that sense of caring.
I cried when I said goodbye to one of the nurses, Margaret Finity, a unique individual and one of life's gifts. One night-shift nurse, Vicki Kidd, gave us the best medicine of all - laughter! My mother truly felt she was dying, and I did not know which way it would go. This was not a happy time. Yet Vicki came in and my mother and I spent the night giggling. I will always treasure that memory.
I have found in my life that at times of greatest tragedy, one also collects life's best memories of people's innate goodness. I shall always be grateful to the staff at Radford Hospital, from the social workers, to the nurses, to the doctors, to the respiratory therapists and all of the support staff. At a time when I was watching my mother die a horrific death, I was also able to come away from a heartbreaking situation celebrating the depth of caring, compassion, competence, professionalism and genuine goodness of so many people. Thank you for that renewed belief.
Sharon Griest Ballen\ Katonah, N.Y.
Vaughn supported for clerk of court
For the citizens of the city of Radford to abstain from soundly supporting the candidacy of Zelda S. Vaughn for the position of clerk of Radford City Circuit Court would be spiteful.
I further contend should the citizens not elect Vaughn it would constitute a mistaken perception of reality. Causing a condition of being deceived by an erroneous belief that the citizens of our fine city can find a more experienced, efficient and capable candidate.
I applaud her professional competency and her pleasant demeanor. Vaughn's systemized organizational capabilities are characteristics which set her apart from her opposition.
Charlie B. Ratcliffe\ Radford
by CNB