At Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), there are regular mentions of the “VNA family.” It refers to the close bond and genuine connection between staff members at VNA. This bond has been fostered by a combination of factors, such as the length of service of many staff members, a shared commitment to VNA’s mission, and the staff largely being made up of caregivers. It is a very real and valued part of the organization and has been since VNA’s inception. Cindy West has experienced the concept of the VNA family from several different perspectives. She started as a field nurse in 1987, later moved into an administrative role, and left VNA in 2004, but stayed connected to VNA through several of her former coworkers and a very special plant named Piney. Now, Cindy is a patient of VNA’s Hospice program.
A picture of Cindy West and her wife, Judith, in front of Piney, their 10-foot tall Norfolk Pine.
Cindy and her wife, Judith, both share a vivid memory of how Cindy’s journey with VNA began. When they returned to Northeast Kansas after living in England for a short spell, Cindy needed a job and applied to be a field nurse at VNA. “I initially didn’t think I was going to take it because they didn’t think they were competitive enough with Kansas City salaries, but then I got a call from Marceil herself on a Saturday night,” Cindy said. Marceil Lauppe was one of VNA’s original nurses, a longtime Executive Director, one of the most important figures in the organization’s history, and she was determined to have Cindy join VNA’s staff. “She was very convincing,” Cindy said.
It took some back and forth, but Judith remembered Marceil’s commitment to recruiting Cindy. “Marceil was running the numbers,” Judith said. “I think she even hung up and called back again because she’d run more numbers and done more thinking.” By the end of the conversation, Marceil was successful in convincing Cindy to join the VNA family.
In her 17 years at VNA, Cindy had many meaningful experiences with patients and their families. She also enjoyed some of the unique elements of providing in-home care. “She got to be her own boss, ride in the country, be outside,” Judith recalled. “She loves to drive, so being able to be in her car with the windows rolled down and out in the country was great, but what she would say always is that the specialness of this job was that you were a guest in someone’s home and they were the ones in charge. It was your job…”
“To make them better,” Cindy added. Cindy was passionate about her job and loved the work she did. She described working at VNA as being like she “had fallen into Nirvana.” One of the aspects of the job she appreciated was the excellence of her colleagues. “I don’t think anybody would argue with me saying that I never worked with such a competent group of people,” Cindy said. “As a matter of fact, this community has the best nurses I’ve ever worked with and I’ve worked as a nurse for 40 years.”
Even though Cindy loved her job, there were still plenty of difficult days. It was in these moments that the close bond she developed with her colleagues was especially important. In one harrowing instance, Cindy arrived at a patient’s home after his wife had called and said she was worried about her husband. To her shock, she found an armed man threatening to harm himself and her if she didn’t leave. Cindy asked the man’s wife to call the police. When they arrived, they found Cindy standing next to the man and talking to him. She had already talked him out of his weapon, ensuring the safety of all involved. It was an incredible example of Cindy’s commitment to taking care of others. This nerve-shattering scenario would shake anyone to their core. Cindy called Judith to tell her what had occurred and to let her know she was heading to VNA’s office. Judith then called the office to share what Cindy had experienced and to let the staff know Cindy was on her way. When Cindy arrived, Judith witnessed the incredible support and comfort the other staff members offered to her. “I watched her walk into that office and those women just enfolded her,” Judith said. “The whole energy of that room was just to take care of one of their own, which is what they’re doing now with her.” This stunning story captures the essence of what it means to be part of the VNA family.
Now, Cindy is experiencing the loving care and support of VNA’s staff from the perspective of a patient in VNA’s Hospice program. While it is never easy to navigate the end-of-life process, there is a special relief that comes from VNA caring for Cindy. “It’s a great comfort, now that Cindy herself needs this care, to know that it’s happening with VNA,” Judith said. Though there are very few staff members still at VNA that Cindy worked with, “it still feels like you’re being taken care of by family,” Judith said.
The Hospice Care she is receiving and longtime friends, like VNA’s Hospice Manager – Debbie Ahlert-Caffey, aren’t the only connections Cindy still has to VNA. A very special Norfolk Pine, named Piney, has been a living connection to VNA for the last 30 years. Piney came home with Cindy and Judith as a table favor from an employee appreciation dinner in the early 90s and has grown ever since. Now Piney is a towering 10 feet tall and has to be trimmed to fit in the house. Piney is not only a visible connection to Cindy’s time working at VNA, but also another testament to her ability as a caregiver. Piney has the potential to live for 150 years, making him a lasting symbol of the VNA family and Cindy’s place in that family.
Piney was a small table favor from an employee appreciation dinner, but over the last 30 years he has grown to be over 10 feet tall.