Award/Scholarship Winners, photos

Congratulations 2007 Oley Award/Scholarship Winners!

LifelineLetter Annual Award
In honor of Nutrishare, Inc., Platinum Partner
Barbara Klingler
 Valkaria, Florida

This year the LifelineLetter Annual Award went to Barbara Klinger. In November 2006, Barb marked twenty years on HPN. She commemorated the anniversary by planting two trees in her front yard. It was, she says, a celebration of life.

Typical of Barb’s generosity in helping others, she recently flew over a thousand miles to assist a friend and fellow-consumer recover from a difficult illness. As an HPN consumer herself, during her visit Barb saw needs others could not anticipate. As well as helping to cook, clean, and care for pets, Barb helped organize her friend’s medical supplies and locate community resources.

Barb is very involved with her church. She leads the CD/DVD duplication department and the couples’ ministry. Since 1999 she has coached the church Bible quiz team. The team has won the state championships for five years.

Barb and her husband, Lee, have been married for twenty-four years. Barb notes that they are best friends. Embracing life and pursuing the things they enjoy, together Barb and Lee have visited forty-eight states.

Barb routinely exhibits the qualities this award sets out to recognize: courage, perseverance, a positive attitude, and exceptional generosity. We are grateful to have her in our midst.

Nominees: Pam Belmonte, Jim Cowan, Roberta Gelle, Malisa Matheny, Lisa Miller, Liz Tucker, Jim Wittmann, The Woods Family

Oley Foundation Child of the Year
Gypsy Rose Blancharde
 Aurora, Missouri

Gypsy Rose Blancharde is twelve years old, yet one of her friends says she has wisdom and compassion beyond her years. Multiple health issues don’t stop Gypsy from encouraging and uplifting others. Before Hurricane Katrina caused Gypsy and her mother to relocate, Gypsy would talk at a university in New Orleans on why we should help and love one another.

At eight years old, Gypsy took the allowance she had been saving for a trip to Disney and used it instead to buy food and blankets for those in need. When she and her mom ended up in need themselves, Gypsy’s mom says she never complained. Instead she would say things are getting better and point out a beautiful flower, saying, “We didn’t see that yesterday; how lucky that we can see it today.”

Just ten hours before Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana, Gypsy and her mother were evacuated to a special needs camp in a safer part of Louisiana. Gypsy named their shelter Camp Bright Beginnings, and arranged for the evacuees to gather for stories, songs, and games. Thank you, Gypsy Rose, for sharing your smile and big heart with the Oley community!

Nominees: Ana Maria Bennett, Colyn Woods

Celebration of Life Award
In honor of Coram, Inc., Golden Donor
Colyn Woods
Hemet, California

Colyn Woods, age eleven, has faced many challenges in his life, yet is seldom heard complaining. Though he confronts a lack of energy and pain, he has set a goal to not let either slow him down or keep him from doing things that are important to him. Colyn is quoted as recently saying, “This backpack [with my IV pumps] is a part of me. It doesn’t stop me from doing things. If there is something I’m told I can’t do, I figure out how I can do it instead of accepting that I can’t do it.”

Colyn has taken responsibility for his health care and learned how to handle his PN, fluids, nebulizers, and medications. He has recognized the importance of understanding his health issues and has made it a priority. He is also an active participant in such things as the Oley conference, where he is a friend to so many. Colyn is known to greet everyone, visit the exhibits and talk to the exhibitors, and raise money at the walk-a-thon.

Colyn is noted for his smile, his sweetness, and his compassion, as well as his zeal for life.

Nominees: Rommel DeGracia, Alicia Hoelle, Barbara Klingler, Kyle Noble, Mark Reedy, Christopher Tournier, Jennifer Wright, Don Young

Lenore Heaphey Grassroots Education Award
Ben Hawkins
Cincinnati, Ohio

Ben Hawkins has been an Oley Regional Coordinator in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area for over fifteen years. Despite a relatively small turnout at first, Ben and his mother persevered in organizing the outreach meetings. One of Ben’s friends likens him to an early union organizer, “standing on a cold and damp street corner handing out leaflets to people who had never heard of something called Oley. It was hard and often discouraging work.”

As a regional coordinator, Ben takes his message about Oley to others, in the hospital or at home. In a recent article in the Cincinnati Enquirer Ben is quoted as saying, “Oley took me from feeling totally alone to having a network of people I can talk to, and people I can help. Because of my condition, I have great compassion for others.”

More recently Ben took on the volunteer position at Oley as coordinator of the equipment exchange program, which enables Ben to reach out nationally. As coordinator, Ben keeps a spreadsheet record of all the supplies anyone offers to donate—from durable goods to tubes and bags to formula—and looks for a match when someone contacts him with a need. Don’t hesitate to call him. He is very capable at his job, and it makes him happy to make a match. Thank you, Ben!

Nominees: Robbyn Kindle

Nan Couts Award for the Ultimate Volunteer
Coordinated by Judy Peterson, RN, MS
Marcia Boatwright, RN, CRNI,
Minneapolis, Minnesota

This year the Nan Couts Award for the Ultimate Volunteer goes to Marcia Boatwright. As a nurse, Marcia is very involved in patient care and goes out of her way to attend to the things HPEN consumers will or may need.

Marcia has been active at several Oley conferences, both regional and national. She has actively contributed to making the conferences better and more efficient, and helps consumers in need quickly and appropriately. Marcia is very knowledgeable and is eager to share what she knows with others, both consumers and clinicians. She is dedicated to sharing information that will help each individual consumer and spends much of her time at the conferences talking to consumers about their health issues.

We are very pleased to present this award in recognition of Marcia’s willingness to give of herself in educating homePEN consumers, thereby empowering them and improving their quality of life. Marcia, thank you for going above and beyond in serving others.

Nominees: Alyce Newton, RD

First Kyle R. Noble Scholarship Awarded

In early 2007, the Noble family established the Kyle R. Noble Scholarship in memory of their son. The first scholarship was awarded this June at the Oley conference to Alicia Hoelle, who embodies many of the qualities for which Kyle will be remembered. Alicia has overcome a number of challenges posed by a reliance on HPN and inspired others to live life to the fullest.

Alicia completed her associate’s degree in December 2007 and plans on transferring to a four-year college to work on a bachelor’s degree. She’d like to major in psychology and be a child life specialist when she finishes her education. She’d like to use her education and her experience—twenty-two years on HPN and confrontations with a number of health-related obstacles—to help other children face the difficulties presented by long-term illnesses.

Alicia is very active in her community. Since she was sixteen she has served as a regional coordinator for Oley. She is also a leader with REACH, which, in Alicia’s words, “is an organization founded by teens and young adults with chronic illnesses for teens and young adults with chronic illnesses. [REACH has] monthly meetings on topics like relationships, college, wellness, and transitioning.” Alicia has also been a member of the Youth Advisory Council at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for eight years, and has served as its president for the past two years. Congratulations, Alicia! We look forward to hearing what your future brings.