Business briefs, June 7

Published 8:07 am Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Haven Care Center, a pregnancy resource center in Danville, has announced that Kristen Wesley is now part-time client services director at the center.

Wesley recently graduated with a bachelor of arts in anthropology and sociology, with a minor in Spanish from Centre College. She is also a 2013 graduate of Danville Christian Academy.

Wesley said, “I look forward to being a supportive and energetic force in maintaining good relationships with the center’s supporters.” She also will be on hand to help the center always be open and will help train and work with the volunteers, who she said, “are the lifeblood of Haven Care.”

Haven Care Center provides free services including self-administered pregnancy test; education on abortions; ultrasound; peer counseling; parenting education, medical referrals and community resources. The center is located at 475 West Main St., Suite 106B. The phone number is (859) 236-9282 or (859) 236-3097. The center is open to residents in  Boyle, Mercer, Lincoln and Garrard counties.

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center earns KODA Award two years in a row

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (EMRMC) recently received two awards at the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) Award banquet.  The Medical Center earned the 2015 and 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award.

Every two years KODA presents awards to the Kentucky hospitals which have had patient families willing to donate tissues, bone, or organs after their loved one has passed.  KODA shared that Kentucky has 54 percent of licensed drivers on the donor registry.  This is one of the highest percentage of registered donors in the country.

During the Award Program attendees were able to listen to the stories from a donor mother, Denisha Henry, and a donor father, Michael Chumbler.  Both of these parents travel to many places to tell their story of how each of their children died as young adults.  Also present were the pancreas and lung recipients from Michael Chumbler’s son.  Michael, through tears, attempted to explain what it was like to hear his son’s heart beating and air exchanging through his son’s lungs within these recipients, which are just like family.  He shared with the audience, that although his son is gone, he lives in the lives of these and many others through the organ and tissue donation made at his death.  Fallon Long was the pancreas recipient, and she told her story, comparing how her life was and the new life she now has because she was able to receive the organ.

EMRMC is happy to be a valuable partner with KODA.  The hospital sponsors activities throughout the year to raise organ donor awareness and give people the opportunity to join the donor registry.  In mid-April the hospital raised the KODA flag during one of these events.