Fort Scott Presbyterian Village
MAY 2022
Celebrating our Nurses Fort Scott Presbyterian Village is blessed to have dedicated and compassionate nurses who care for our residents every day. Even without the COVID 19 pandemic this job isn’t easy, but these nurses have been there giving it their all every day. They often go far and beyond treating not just medical needs but also emotional, mental, and even spiritual.
Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Mary Bridges, chaplain at Salina Presbyterian Manor®
Mary’s Musings By Mary Bridges, Chaplain
I must confess that Memorial Day was never my favorite holiday. Growing up, my family made our annual trek to the cemetery to deliver fresh peonies from my mom’s garden. That evening, we’d go back to pick them up. As I grew older, I began to lose friends and family members — even our son. Visiting graves and offering remembrances still left me feeling sad and empty.
The love they have for their residents is truly reflected in the amazing care they provide. Thank you to Ellen Fairchild, RN, Jordan Mitchell, LPN, Lauren Flater, LPN, and Robin Whitmore, LPN, and all our nurses for everything that you do! FSPV is genuinely a special place to be. It also has some special residents we would like to recognize. Residents Joan Hembree, Pat Scott, Kathy Powell, and Ruth Streitmatter all retired after several years providing care as nurses. That nursing instinct does not go unnoticed - each and every one of these ladies are among the most kind and nurturing people you will ever meet. Thank you for all your years of hard work. u
However, my view on Memorial Day has changed. To illustrate that, I want to tell you about my friend Mary Ellen from Menomonee Falls, Wis. We became friends in 1999 while serving on a national women’s board. More importantly, we became prayer partners. Each day when I awoke, I visualized Mary Ellen on her treadmill, praying with me. Through 20 years, we prayed with each other through our ordinary days, through illnesses and the loss of loved ones. In the midst of the pandemic, Mary Ellen was diagnosed with cancer. Her final Christmas letter in 2019 ended
Prayer – continued on page 6
Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org/covid-19.
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