Since March we have all struggled, and unfortunately, some have felt the effects of the pandemic more significantly than others. “We are All in this Together” is a phrase that resonates and is meant to encourage comradery. But this is a Catch-22, because how can we support one another if have to social distance for safety? Brandi Smallwood and her 10-year-old daughter Jocelynn are the epitome of this phrase because of the method they devised to let employees and residents of long-term care facilities know they are vital.
At age 94, Mildred Knapp, Brandi’s Grandmother had to be placed in a nursing facility. Her family struggled with the decision, as many do when faced with this situational change in the circumstances of life. Mildred (or Milly, as she was fondly called by her caretakers) became a resident at the Woodlands Health and Rehabilitation Center in August 2019. Brandi came to visit every day and became close with both the residents and healthcare workers. She would try and take her Grandmother on the outings and activities with other residents.
Beth Ramsey, an LPN in the Comfort Corners dementia unit, was one of Mildred’s attendants. The Woodlands closed to visitors during quarantine and when that happened, some serious issues arose; people could not visit their loved ones and the staff had to take on more responsibility in a variety of ways.
“When you have someone you love you can’t visibly see for months and you are on the phone asking “How are they” it is not the same until you can physically lay your eyes on them,” she said of the situation the staff was put in during lockdown. Even though it was a difficult time, when duty called, the Woodlands staff rose to the occasion and became both family, friend, and nurse to their patients.
The unit was hit hard by several deaths in a short amount of time, including Mildred, who passed away on April 14th, Brandi said. The nurses were significantly impacted by this trauma because of the bond developed with clients and their families. The nurses handled end of life phone calls to inform family members of the patient’s health, when they are not doing well, if they have taken a turn for the worse and if they are passing. Visitors were allowed admittance during end of life experiences. They could come and dress in the protective suit and mask to say their good-byes or choose not to come in. “Either way is a heroic act,” Ramsey said ardently, “because it an extremely hard choice”. Brandi was close with both staff and residents and was broken-hearted when her Grandmother passed away. She felt a connection to the people at Woodlands because of time spent with them and the special care they gave Mildred. She wanted to give back to them in some way.
Brandi had an idea to brighten the workers’ day by drawing huge sidewalk messages of positivity for them to see outside the Woodlands, to let them know they are appreciated. “To lighten their day or have them look out the window, see the message and know they are not alone,” she said is what she hoped to accomplish. She and Jocelynn along with various other children, have been doing this since May for the Woodlands and later the Alpine House care facilities they call it “Chalk the Walk.”
Health providers are so crucial with everything our society is experiencing it is easy to say they are currently the backbone of our way of life. Ramsey explained very passionately that she thinks Brandi is amazing and her whole family goes above and beyond when thinking of the staff and residents. “They never forgot us,” she said. They would draw and color these huge notes in the parking lot and we started calling them the Sidewalk Chalkers,” she said with a smile in her voice at the thought of someone doing something so selfless.
Brandi and the children leave two different messages for workers and residents where they can be seen from windows or going out the doors. “We do a lot of hearts, smiley faces and rainbows,” she said of what they draw. “Just bright happy things. We want to make them smile.” Some of the messages have been:
- “When I is replaced by We, even illness, becomes Wellness!”
- “You are my Sunshine!”
- a KFC bucket filled with masks and hand sanitizer named “Kewl Face Coverings” instead of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
They also drew an obstacle course all the way around the parking lot for the staff that walk there every day. Brandi watches for any stretch of weather when there isn’t rain, so the drawings do not get washed away. About once or twice a week she goes up to complete these messages of support and the residents love to stand at the window and watch them draw, she said.
As a way of expressing their gratitude, members of the Woodlands staff have taken it upon themselves to write to the Ellen DeGeneres Show in acknowledgment of how important what Brandi and Jocelynn do is. “I just want her noticed,” Ramsey said of how momentous these messages are to making workers feel good. “Brandi is not aware of the letters to the Ellen DeGeneres Show.” (So this will be a surprise when she reads it.) They have not gotten a response back yet, but they will continue to write to Ellen once a week until they respond, Ramsey said laughingly with conviction. “It could take two years; we are still going to do it.”
One good deed deserves another and in this case Brandi’s continual writing of messages for healthcare workers in acknowledgment of their time and sacrifices has not gone unnoticed. Her kindness toward others knows no bounds and because of it the positive cycle continues.
