Kindness comes
HARRISVILLE — Doug Kennedy learned kindness from his mother, Lucinda, who's been a nurse for more than 40 years.
“What my mom has instilled in me is an exceptionally kind heart,” said Kennedy, 42.
“I would say her biggest attribute is the kindness that she shows to other people, her good heart, her generosity and her prayers for others.”
All his life, Kennedy said he has witnessed how much his mother truly cares for her patients and their families.
In particular, he remembers Lucinda's reaction to a phone call in which a patient's family asked for her help, even though they were unable to pay.
“My mom said, ‘That's fine,' and did the services that she needed to do,” said Kennedy. “She stayed with that patient until that patient left the Earth.”
Kennedy made a connection between his mother and late grandmother, Eleanor, who was also a nurse.
Many people in town were without health insurance or money to pay medical fees, Kennedy said, and Eleanor was often called upon to help.
“She would go to their house and do the best she could, or else she would call the doctor and work with them to help the people get better,” he said.
“They didn't have any money, she was just doing it because the people needed medical attention.”
Kennedy believes his grandmother instilled the same sense of altruism in his mother, Lucinda, who is now retired but still works with elderly patients as a home health aide.
“I'm not just saying this because she's my mom — she has a very good rapport in the nursing community,” Kennedy said. “She's one of the best geriatric nurses around.”
