Good Samaritan – Carrie Shephard
Congratulations to Carrie Shephard, a day shift RN on the CCU, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Carrie as an award recipient.
One thing that every human being has in common is that we are born and then one day we will die. However, the circumstances between birth and death vary so greatly for each individual. The choices we make, people we encounter, and experiences we have all depend on fate. With these differences acknowledged, I believe one thing we can all hope for is to encounter and make relationships with someone that will be there for us in our final moments.
Carrie Sheppard was that person for Yoko Taji. As many know, Yoko was an amazing nurse that we were blessed to have at MCH. While working together Yoko and Carrie became close friends. When Yoko was diagnosed with cancer Carrie quickly stepped in as Yoko’s support system and later as her caregiver. Carrie advocated for Yoko at various points in her journey with cancer, helped identify a rare disease process secondary to Yoko’s treatment plan, ensured that Yoko had all of the supplies and support needed, helped organize time slots for coworkers and friends to provide close to 24/7 coverage for Yoko during trying times, took her to and from appointments, treatments, and visits to MCH and other facilities, and so many more things. Carrie was by Yoko’s side during every office visit, hospital admission, infusion, and difficult conversation that occurred all while still tending to her own children’s lives and her work obligations.
Few people would essentially put their lives on hold for someone in need, but Carrie did all of that plus more. At present time, Carrie is still honoring Yoko’s wishes by ensuring her beloved dogs (Butter and Biscuit) are being care for, planning a celebration of life that will involve Yoko’s family from Japan, and helping Yoko’s other close friend Masako finalize the estate and final wishes of Yoko Taji. I am not going to pretend to know all of the things Carrie did or all of the circumstances she found herself in during this time, however I can assure you that Carrie went leaps and bounds further than many of us would simply in the name of friendship and being a good person. If there was ever a person deserving of this award Carrie Sheppard is that person. I would encourage us to dig a little deeper in this nomination as Carrie was not once seeking acknowledgment, recognition, or credit for her acts. She only asked for help when needed, would only divulge necessary details, and tried to respect the privacy of Yoko when possible.
I suspect that none of us truly know the extent of what Carrie sacrificed for her friend, but I hope that when I am nearing the end of my time, someone is there for me in such a way that Carrie was for Yoko. – Jordan Keen.
