TCH Newsroom
Contact: Rodney Foushee
Public Relations & Marketing Manager
(828) 883-5435
Senior Project Makes More than a Grade, It Makes a Difference
BREVARD, N.C., Nov. 26, 2007—What began as a Senior Project has become an ongoing mission for Rosman High’s Courtney Stroup.
Inspired by the care and compassion her grandmother received as a hospice patient, Courtney decided to do her Senior Project through Transylvania Community Hospital’s Hospice Program. In this special role, she bakes birthday cakes, makes cards and delivers them to TCH Hospice patients at home. Although Courtney will complete the requirements for her Senior Project this month, the rewards have been so overwhelming that she plans to continue providing this extra caring touch as a hospice volunteer.
“I have seen how the birthday cakes really touch the hearts of patients … and their families,” says Courtney, adding that she has learned and grown a lot from this project. She hopes to attend Western Carolina University next year and is planning a career in physical therapy.
Gladys Barnhill, whose husband, Jim, is being cared for by TCH Hospice, confirms just how much this special effort means. “I wish you all could have seen my husband’s face when Courtney walked in with his birthday cake! He was thrilled and so was I,” says Mrs. Barnhill. “We were impressed that Courtney chose this as her Senior Project. She is a wonderful example for other young folks. It’s people like Courtney who make us realize that there is a lot that is right in this world.”
“November is National Home Care and Hospice Month,” says Liz Cozart, volunteer and bereavement services coordinator for Transylvania Community Hospital Hospice. “And this gives us an opportunity to reflect on the valuable services provided by our caring hospice staff and volunteers.” She adds, “The Senior Project birthday cake program is a wonderful benefit for our patients and their families, while it also allows young members of our community, like Courtney, to discover the rich rewards of volunteering.”
Transylvania Community Hospital is fortunate to be able to provide a wide range of home care and hospice services, Cozart says. In addition to professional, compassionate care in the comfort and dignity of the patient’s own home, TCH Hospice services include the valuable support that families need as they face this difficult period in their lives.
For more information on hospice services offered by Transylvania Community Hospital, call 883-5254.
About Transylvania Community Hospital
Transylvania Community Hospital is a nationally ranked 5-Star Hospital and a leading provider of quality healthcare services in Transylvania and surrounding counties. Based in Brevard, N.C., it is a not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1933 and is the largest employer in Transylvania County.