FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
88-YEAR OLD VOLUNTEER RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
28 Years of Service and Counting
KANSAS CITY, Mo., February 20, 2019 – This month in Jefferson City, the Missouri Hospice and Palliative Care Association named Doris Lisenby of Raytown the Heart of Hospice Lifetime Achievement Award winner for 2019. For the past 28 years, Doris has volunteered weekly at Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care.
In accepting the award, Doris smiled and said “I’m going to be 89 next week, so I guess you all have to listen to me!”
A Senior with Seniority
Doris has more seniority than most employees and only a handful of people have been with Kansas City Hospice longer. After the death of her husband, she decided to help out in any way she could. “I said, well I couldn’t put a Bandaid on straight, but I’d like to help,” Doris quipped. Week after week, year after year, good weather or bad, Doris arrives with a smile on her face. She is always on the lookout to find out what needs doing and what would most help.
Doris has worked in almost every department. And, her attention to detail and professionalism makes it hard to replace her. Doris frees up staff to concentrate on caring for patients.
The “Office Mom”
Doris knows everyone’s name and has a kind word of encouragement for each person she sees. She is never content to just eat lunch with staff and keep them laughing. Doris makes it a point to clean up the kitchen, do dishes, look for little things that might make work lives a little easier, and generally, be the office Mom.
She does all this and more with complete humility and self-deprecation. The value of her work alone over the years would exceed that of the most generous donors. When new people first meet this tiny white-haired lady, they wonder how someone who looks so frail can have such energy and passion. Her sharp wit and humor is only exceeded by the size of her heart.
She brings such a cheerful attitude to every task that just walking past her makes you smile. But, the most important aspect of Doris is her passion for hospice. Having received such wonderful care for her husband, she is an ambassador for hospice in the community. Doris wants everyone to have a beautiful end of life experience and has dedicated her time and energy for over 28 years to helping see that care is available to all, to spreading the word throughout the community, and to sharing her experience with all she meets.
About Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care
The mission of Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care is to bring expert care, peace of mind, comfort, guidance, and hope to people who are affected by life-limiting illness or by grief. And, the vision: each person in our community is valued from life through death and each family is supported in their grief. The team of caring and trained clinical professionals is considered the leader and innovator in palliative and end-of-life care in this region. More than 500 volunteers assist in many roles, including administrative duties, plus working with patients and families.
For More Information:
Wanda Kelsey-Mendez
Communications Manager
For Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care
816.276.2632 or wanda.kelsey@kchospice.org
