A Life Of Service

OF Life A Life ServiceService By Lisa Sydnor

In 1955, joining the military was not the usual path chosen by an 18-year-old woman, particularly, a black woman. But, then, Kem King Cain isn’t at all usual.

Kem has broken many barriers and accomplished much in her life journey. She has experienced support and encouragement in some unexpected places and maintains that the positives always outweighed the negatives. Her journey of service and caregiving spans over seven decades.

Kem was raised in South Bend, IN. In high school, track was her sport; the long jump her specialty. She worked toward qualifying for the Olympics training program. During her senior year, a training accident ended her dream of becoming a part of the

Olympics team.

Upon graduating from high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. According to the Defense Manpower Data Center (www.dmdc.osd.mil), in 1955, there were 2,935,107 enlisted military personnel and black women accounted for less than .032%.

After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in San Antonio, Kem’s first duty assignment, as an administrative secretary, was at F. E. Warren, AFB,

Cheyenne, WY. Later, she was assigned to March AFB,

Riverside, CA., where she served until she was honorably discharged from the USAF.

She Believed She Could, So She Did

Kem’s professional caregiver career began as an operating room scrub tech at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO. Her outstanding work and commitment as a scrub tech lead the doctors to recommend her for nursing school. In 1967, with the support and encouragement of the hospital staff and her family, the 32-year-old mother of five entered nursing school (utilizing VA Preference and American Legion scholarships).

Upon graduation in 1970, Kem returned to St. Luke’s as a Registered Nurse. According to the 1970 census, only 5% of RNs were black, marking this achievement as a groundbreaking milestone. Then in 1975, prompted again by the recommendation of the doctors at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kem went to Milwaukee, WI, to complete a degree program for Nurse Practitioner, specializing in Family Planning.

A Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are trained to access needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose, formulate and prescribe treatment plans. Included in this

degree program are disease prevention, coordination of care and promoting wellness. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NPs are educated at the graduate level to provide primary, acute, chronic and specialty care for patients of all ages.

Kem and family moved to Oklahoma City in 1978. From 1978 until joining Griffin Memorial Hospital in 1984, she worked with five nurse-staffing agencies. As a private duty nurse, she has cared for two former governors and other Oklahoma dignitaries. Kem has worked in hospice care, geriatrics, home health, private duty, in medical clinics and hospitals.

As a member of the Oklahoma State First Responders team, Kem was called to the Murrah Building on April 19, 1995.

She was among the first medical professionals on the scene. Her assignment was to setup triage and coordinate establishing a portable morgue. Upon arrival, it was clear there were few survivors. As she surveyed the devastation, her heart broke and only years of professional training allowed her to perform the duties required. I asked her how she functioned, she said,

"I was in shock, there was no time to stop and think. I did what was asked of me and cried. Having been an ER and a surgery nurse, blood and trauma were not new, but such devastation was heartbreaking. The youth pastor of our church was a teacher in the daycare. It was personal. With tears running down my face, I did what was needed. "

Until 2008, Annie Mae King (Kem's mother) lived in South Bend, IN. She was active in the community and attended the same church for 68 years. After a phone conversation with Annie Mae, Kem called relatives in South Bend asking for a wellness check. The result was a call saying you need to come home. Her mother was asking for her brothers, reliving times past and referring to herself in the third person. caring for mom

Kem brought her mother to Oklahoma City, watching her continuous decline in cognitive thinking. Keeping Annie Mae safe was a 24/7 job. At 88 years old, her physical health was good. Kem worried as Annie Mae roamed the house at night. Ensuring doors were locked and limiting her access to leaving the house was a constant challenge for Kem.

Kem once found Annie Mae having a seizure. She was transported to ER. Kem was shocked when the doctor asked when Annie Mae had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. By this point, the tumor was inoperable. On doctor's orders, Annie Mae was admitted to a full-care facility. Kem and herchildren rotated assisting in the daily care of Annie Mae. Eighteen months later, Annie Mae King, age 89, went to her heavenly home.

The Next Chapter

Knee replacement surgeries in 2013 and 2015, prompted Kem’s decision to retire from nursing in 2017. But her nursing retirement didn't mean that she quit working.

Kem currently serves as the Health Program Manager at Envision Success for Veterans in Norman. She works with veterans to provide support through counseling, education and training as they continue to live productive lives. Various programs are available to assist in reintegration for veterans returning to civilian life, veterans returning from incarceration or facing incarceration, women leaving an abusive relationship or addiction or mental illness.

Envision (or ESV) also offers testing and assistance for achieving a GED. One of Kem’s current projects is the Envision Wellness Fair. The goal of this annual event is to ensure veterans are aware of services available, where to find them and how to access specific assistance. Sounds a lot like what we here at CAREGIVER Magazine try to do in every issue. We are proud to have sponsored the 2020 fair and we’ll look for all you veterans at the next event! Kem’s long history of personal achievements and caring for others is an inspiration to those who know her. Kem has been a caregiver in many different situations. Her personal caregiving has included her mother, a daughter, a son, an aunt and, most recently, her brother, Joe King. No longer able to physically care for her loved ones or other patients, Kem still monitors medication, doctor appointments, and the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the patients in her family (and their caregiving teams).

Kem states that, at 84 years of age, the mother of ten (nine boys & one girl), grandmother of forty, great grandmother of ten, great-great grandmother of seven and loving aunt to her many nieces and nephews; she has all she needs. Her skill at tickling the ivories is legendary and she is ever in demand for leading a spirited sing-a-long.

Kem King Cain has blazed trails, pursued her dreams, and lived a life of service; to her country, her family, and the communities in which she has lived. Kem is indeed, not the usual. When asked what keeps her going, she stated: "I do the best I can, for as long as I can, for as many as I can, with the Lord as my strength."