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Show A I ..'1 Sun Advocate Price, Utah Thursday May 9, 2002 IB r The lady who loves the trucks ByRICHARD SHAW Focus pages editor ' w ' ago, just as the onset of plaining the situation, alzheimers beginning. "Those trucks and the numerDear Savage Coal Service she sits by the window looking at the traffic particularly the Sav- ous other vehicles that pass by Corporation My grandmother, Amelia age Thicks that haul coal by her gave her company for years and y home. Her relationship with still da But no one knew until Guadagnoli, who liver on those trucks and the drivers in her grandson, James F. Pace 55 is in the final stages of them was unknown until re- found the poem a fewweeks ago. Alzheimers disease. He sent the poem to Savage InEarly on, after mygrandfathers cently, when it was discovered that she had written apoem years dustries along with a letter ex-- death, she would be very much alone, looking outherpicture window toward the hijftiway. She and They keep me company to see Ihem go by I had always found the sight and the sound ofpassing traffic to be by Amelia Guadagnoli pleasant and relaxing. November 26, 1991 i Most times you dont know and is being taken care of by her daughter Beveriy Pace. Each day . Its a question that has to be asked. ! ; iWhen, do we, as individuals stop contributing to society? ; ;Is it when we retire? Certainly not. Many retired people not only have a lot of fun in their retired yean, but also add greatly to the community with volunteer work and other types of activities. 1$ it when we are past the age when' we go out and really do things independently? No, not then either. Often people add to othere lives by just being there for them when they need someone to talk to. : Is it when we are sick and old or more specifically, the victim of an affliction such as alzheimers disease? Certainly not Everyone contributes to our society in a number of ways, sometimes in ways that we cannot imagine. Ifcke the case of Amelia Guadagnoli. She is in the late stages of alzheimers, yet still makes an impact on those who come in contact with her, even indirectly. At the present time, she still lives in her house on Highway 55 1 Higfr-wa- Dear driver of a truck. I have not had any luck Tb say hello, or goodbye. From my windows as you pass bp If yon come to see me You may have a cup of coffee or tea. It would be nice you see attached poem. In her solitude, your drivers, and their trucks were her solace, friends and company. Thank you for simply doing ; wewwtP ' yourjobs. to remember me as a friend to be I sit quiet as a mouse But Love people to come to my house It lets the day go by fast to talk about new or tilings of the past Fm sure somehow our friendship someday and let my blues go away. Thick driver I pray it could happen someday it would be ftin anyway. A few days after he sent the letter, Amelia started to get flowers and other gifts delivered to her home. "We were all very, touched by her poem and the letter, said Dave Sorrells of Carbon Transport, Prices Savage operation. We gave a copy to all our drivers and they just thought it was great Amelia Guadagnoli sits at her window by some of the flowers sent by Savage Industries in response to her touching poem about its drivers and trucks. Sometimes its hard to imaging halt Everyone just waited for ine how we are touched by one us. . Sometimes in our busy lives it another, but certainly a bunch of coal truck drivers had some wet is good to be reminded ofour hueyes the day they saw that poem. manity, of our temporary physi- But Amelia also contributes cal abilities, for surely, all of us at in other ways, despite her afflicone time or another suffer from tion. Just as the drivers and trucks something that keeps us from be- -. have added to her life, she coning whole as we once were. tinues to add to others time on . Alzheimer's disease is a brain this planet A simple story about disorder in which nerve cells in the brain die, making it difficult traveling to Walmart tells it all. When Walmart was in its old for the brains signals to be translocation, Beveriy used to take her mitted properly. A person with elver to the store almost every day Alzheimers disease has prob- because she enjoyed it so much.-- . lems with memory, judgment, However, it was, more than... . and thinking, which makes it just a visit to a merchant It was a hard for the person to work or chance for others to be touched . take part in life. Most : by her. Often children would patients' symptoms progress come up to see her and often they slowly over a number of years. would touch her. Sometimes, it is only when famOne time this family came ily members look back that they realize when the changes started up to us, says Beverly. ously they were fairly poor by the to occur. Amelia will be 93 years way they were dressed. One of old this summer, and each day the boys in the family was just her private disease grows worse. taken by my mother. Hp hugged There are days when she her and I could see my tpbm had knows exactly where she is and just (nought something out in this why things are the way they are. young man. It showed me that we At other times she is lost in the all have something to give, no mist of her mind. ' . matter what our age, station or According to Sorrells, some, condition in life. of the drivers at Savage had talked about her poem and have even , When the store moved a few weeks ago, having to cross busy .thought about that cup of coffee she offered. But then, they worry Highway 55 became a concern. The daughter hesitated to take aboutwhat might come of their her mother to the new location, - visit and her condition.. but .one day she realized how But regardless of her age and much her mother mimed it so die her condition Amelia has decided to try anyway. touched many lives for the better It was amazing, said in her later years, just like thouBeverly. It was like the parting sands of seniors in our society do of the Red Sea, I pushed the everyday. wheelchair up to the cross walk And they do it whether they and the traffic came to a screech realize it or not day-to-d- ay . Conrnnmity Nursing Services: cam -- ciplinary team provides care to clients at the end of life, with emphasis on pain care and supportive ser- and symptom control, as We promote well as support for the clivices. wellness in the community ents and families. Kaleidoscope Kids is a utilizing our experiences, knowledge and resources. specialized program for We also provide preventive children and facnilies faced programs such as mobile with life threatening illness. immunizations for children, Home Health Plus serves adolescents and adalts. CNS is the oldest and only freestanding goals, while maintaining independence and dignity, through appropriate health infants, children, new mothers, and adults with home health needs. All of CNS services are tailored to the clients health care' problems and are reimbursed Insurance, through Medicare, Medicaid and private pay. not-for-pro- CHAP accredited home care program in Utah. We are providers for Community Nursing Sendees employees, Beck Raw: Ttont Mogensen, R.N., Deborah Jones, RN., Unda Betti, RN MSN, Area Manager; Brian Powell, PX, Heather Norton, CMA., Lae Nielsen, PX, Shewn Horrocka, L.P.N., Terri Fausett, MSW, Brenda Stanley, C.NJL, Shirley Ryser, C.NA., Sharon Norris, Secretary; Middle Row: Nancy Craig, R.N., Jed Utter, S.T., Vonda Polonl, LJN., Debbie Jolsma, RN, BSN, Front Row: Sherri Boren, C.NA., Pernio Olsen, Office Manager, JoAnn Jensen, R.N Stall Not Pictured: Susan Acerson, RN., Christy Robb, L.P.N., SMa Fassto, P.T., Marilyn Harbor, CL T., Scott Crider, OX, SarakteKemple, C.NA, VkM Dulaney, CMA., Delenn Rhodes, CMA., Theresa Brewer, RN., Kami Olsen, LP.N., 7Tsa Pendergrass, LPM., Danielle Pendergrass, RN, BSN, Brianna Mere m, L.RN., Jean Cameron, Volunteer, Chelsey Jetsma, volunteer, Use Dalrymple, C.NA. of the staff at Com- munity Nursing Sendees (CNS) are happy to be a All providing high quality, friendly care to our clients in the comfort of their own clients of all ages. We are. available 24 hours a day, seven, days a week. almost all insurance companies, and are Medicare and Medicaid certified. Our staff of registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, pharmacists, certified nursing assistants, homemakers, and volunteers offer comprehensive care. . We provide comprehensive home health care to senior citizens, disabled, ; Community' Nursing and terminally ill. Through CNS offers heme health Sendees mission is to assist our ery County community. hospice and palliative We are committed to and hospice programs to clients td attain health care care programs, an interdis part of the Carbon-Em- - homes. ' ;r flaring Metemal-Ckil-d OnPemrkPnpem IbacUngA Can f:f&CBrfifledNimssMdn Homemakers -- rr-ytv " fkearmcjd fhfokfenagneem .IVDrugTherm ? nifciimm JbdcSffiiXfp!; PP5)I3-88fc- . f; y |