Tonya Sosebee, Denise Chreene and Ron “Luke” Lucas visit Walt Disney World together every year. But it’s not a vacation.
The three Texas Health employees, along with J. Mac Slaughter, M.D., a physician on the medical staff at Texas Health Southwest and Jay Pond, M.D., a physician on the medical staff at Texas Health Arlington Memorial, serve as medical volunteers on the annual Kidd’s Kids trip for children with life-altering conditions and their families. The program was founded by radio personality Kidd Kraddick.
All three employees have previous pediatric experience and say that going on the trip renews their commitment to health care and Texas Health’s Mission to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve.
“It definitely helps me in my job and has really strengthened my faith in God,” said Luke, M.S.N., M.B.A., R.N., Emergency Department manager at Texas Health Southwest. “Those kids and their families are amazing. They go through so much every day that many of us never have to deal with and they do it with a smile on their face and lots of love in their hearts.”
Luke, who has been going on the trips for five years, uses PTO for the trip and saves his CTO hours for other projects. So does Denise, M.B.A., RRT, CPHRM, program manager for patient safety and risk management at Texas Health.
“I use my CTO for a volunteer project with my team,” said the veteran of more than 20 trips. “Working with the families helps me reconnect with my roots in patient care. But I also just really believe in the cause.”
Tonya, M.S.N., R.N., interim chief nursing officer at Texas Health Azle, has been going on the trips for 20 years.
“It re-energizes me and reminds me why I became a nurse,” she said.
This year’s trip includes 55 families and about 12 medical professionals – nurses, respiratory therapists, child life specialists, physicians, a paramedic and an emergency medical technician.
Everyone is there to help support the families. The participants say it’s a true reflection of Our Texas Health PromiseSM: Individuals Caring For Individuals, Together®.
“Nobody is above whatever task is needed,” said Dr. Slaughter, who has been on about five of the trips. “That’s the best part about it. We each step up into whatever role is needed at that moment.”
Kaytee Shelburn’s 9-year-old daughter, Avery, was chosen for this year’s trip after being diagnosed with a benign tumor on her brain stem that could not be completely removed. Kaytee says she doesn’t expect to need much help because Avery navigates with a special walker and wheelchair.
“But she still has a problem with vomiting and can only eat soft food,” the Mansfield mom said. “So it’ll be great to have people there who can help us find what we need, and who are ready to step in if she has any problems.”
All the volunteers plan to go on the trips as long as they can.
“It’s not what it brings to me,” Denise said. “It’s the experience these families get to have, the memories they get to make. We have families come back years later and tell us how much this trip changed their lives. To me, that’s the best gift.”
by Robin P. Loveman • Posted November 20, 2018
