Once in a great while, you meet someone who is truly inspiring. Someone whose spirit shines so bright, even in the darkest of days, that you can’t help but be moved.
Barbara Johnson is one of these people. For the past three years, she’s been providing in home care to those in need as a professional caregiver with Kristin Shute & Terry McIndoe’s Caring Hearts and Direct Link office in Ramsey, NJ.
From the moment Kristin and Terry met Barbara in 2010, they knew she was special.
“She has a big heart and always goes above and beyond for her clients,” said Kristin. “She is the kindest, most compassionate, dedicated person, and she is a wonderful caregiver. Barbara has an amazing way of engaging her clients and getting them involved in the community.”
Just one example of Barbara’s selflessness came after volunteering her time at a homeless shelter this past Thanksgiving. After finishing her shift, she picked up a long-time client and took him to dinner so he wouldn’t be alone for the holiday.
She did this out of the goodness of her heart. She understands that sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is simply your presence.
Finding Hope after Loss
On Christmas Eve 2011, Barbara lost her 28-year-old son to Histiocytosis, an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells mistakenly attack the body, rather than fight infections.
Even after this devastating loss, Barbara remained loyal to her clients and looked to them for strength.
Today, she continues to support research efforts toward finding a cure for this rare disease, including organizing the Histio Walk in memory of her son this past April. Co-workers and even clients came out to support her on the day of the walk.
Barbara’s unwavering hope and faith are truly inspiring, and we are honored to recognize her as the Caring Hearts Caregiver of the 4th Quarter 2012!
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize some other outstanding caregivers that were nominated, including:
- Elizabeth (Beth) Anslover of Brian & Damey Heckman’s Canton, OH, office.
- Ja-lene Nakken of Clare Parker & John Moon’s Signal Mountain, TN, office.
- Monte and Susan Julian of Bridget Norambuena’s Torrance, CA, office.
- Sally Gibson of Bill & Janet Dean’s Chillicothe, OH, office.
- Tina VanVleck of Kathryn Jurica’s Bourbonnais, IL, office.
Thank you to all the caregivers out there making a difference every day! Your compassion and dedication are truly inspiring to us all.