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Posts Tagged ‘Coupeville’

“May you dance again, pain free”

Posted in In Memorium, tagged , , , , on March 28, 2020| 14 Comments »

Beatrice Cross (Photos courtesy Dawnelle Conlisk)

Beatrice Cross passed away Friday, March 27, 2020 at Careage of Whidbey in Coupeville.

The following is from her daughter-in-law, Dawnelle Conlisk:

 

As I lay here this morning thinking about what to say and share.

Coronavirus is real, it’s not a joke, it kills, it took my mother-in-law.

We are a part of the Island, seeing people say “Stay far away from anyone associated with Careage of Whidbey in any way,” is a very rude comment.

We should all be taking social distancing seriously from everyone.

On March 6th, 2020 my husband and I showed up at Careage to visit my mother-in-law after a run to Walmart to buy her four tubes of lipstick, some gum, hard candy, and a new shirt to surprise her.

We arrived to the door being locked and Careage protecting their residents early on.

But in that moment Careage wasn’t only protecting my mother-in-law, they also protected my husband and myself.

Unknown to any of us at that moment.

But it’s bigger than that, as I work in the Oncology clinic at WhidbeyHealth. They protected your friends and family too.

Beatrice Cross arrived to Careage of Whidbey on May 1, 2013.

She has been cared for with compassion for just short of seven years.

Her 75th birthday would have been in August.

Bea was known for her giggles and love of bingo.

She loved that the staff at Careage would bring her the articles printed out extra large of her grandson Danny Conlisk’s latest races.

Her pride even from the view from the nursing home was giant.

This past fall her granddaughter, MaryBeth Conlisk, joined the Air Force.

Every chance she got to catch a new photo or story of her, she took it.

She was so proud of her son, daughter, all six grandchildren.

Every person who would come into her room when I visited she would tell them over and over where I worked. I know she loved her own connection to this Island and the people.

Careage tested everyone.

She was one who came back positive but had no symptoms until Thursday night; Friday morning she woke up.

Around 10:30 AM the nurse went in to check on her and found her gone peacefully in her bed.

It was so fast!

The staff is selfless and still taking care of all the residents. Risking themselves with their giant hearts.

Instead of negative comment throwing we should be supporting these amazing angels.

They are family to the residents of Careage.

I was able to speak with a few of them on the phone and express that I am sorry for their loss too.

Bea was very happy and comfortable and part of their family too.

She didn’t die alone and afraid, because they showed up to work.

Please take this epidemic seriously. I can’t say it enough!

May you rest in peace Bea and be dancing again on the streets of gold, pain free.

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“That school bus represents hope”

Posted in Basketball, community, tagged , , , , on March 27, 2020| 1 Comment »

Waiting for the lunch bus. (Photos courtesy Brad Sherman)

Ready to chow down.

Brad Sherman is Coupeville through and through.

A teacher and head boys basketball coach at CHS, he and his brothers are the third generation of their family to graduate on the prairie.

Now Brad and wife Abbey have four young boys who are beginning their own school journeys in the town where their dad and grandma Deb are both teachers.

As everyone adjusts to the school shut-down brought on by the nation’s battle with the coronavirus pandemic, Coupeville’s Connected Food Program has made sure local students are still being fed.

One teacher and father’s thoughts, as Brad Sherman shares his perspective with us:

Brady looks out the window each morning when it’s approaching the time for lunches to arrive – he knows once he sees the bus turn on Sherman Road that he’s got about two minutes before they get around the loop to our house.

And when he sees the bus, and his bus driver (shout out to Mr. Jump), and whichever staff member is volunteering on the route to hand him lunches each day, he grins from ear to ear.

The other day, Mr. Kemmer was that staff member.

When the boys asked for turkey sandwiches, he responded: “Gobble, gobble.”

They called my mom to tell her how funny he was.

Our kids don’t understand the magnitude of what’s going on around them. They just know something is very different.

They miss their friends.

They wonder why they aren’t starting tee-ball.

And for them, this is about more than lunches.

It’s about a little bit of normal. That school bus represents hope.

It represents the hard work of so many at a school district that sincerely loves its kids.

Proud to call Coupeville home.

Proud to call this my school district.

And proud to work with a whole lot of amazing people.

Go Wolves!

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Help Baby Owen survive and thrive

Posted in Fundraisers, tagged , , , , on March 19, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville’s lil’ miracle guy, Baby Owen, has grown from 1.5 to 4.5 pounds since birth. (Photo courtesy Leslie Improta)

One of Coupeville’s littlest heroes continues to fight, and we can help his progress.

Former CMS counselor Leslie Improta has been leading the charge to help out the Camatti family, whose son Owen was just 1.5 pounds at birth.

The lil’ guy is at the University of Washington’s Medical Hospital, and has packed on three more pounds thanks to great care.

Owen’s mother Carrie, who is staying with her son, has MS, and she and Owen’s father Charles can use all the support they can get during this time.

If you can help, checks made out to Charles Camatti can be mailed to Leslie Improta at 683 Power Road, Coupeville, WA 98239.

There is also a GoFundMe set up:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-preemie-babys-family

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Write me something. Anything.

Posted in community, tagged , , , , , , on March 15, 2020| Leave a Comment »

The Sad Coyote compels you.

Coupeville students (of any age), parents, teachers, coaches:

If you’re looking for things to occupy you during the six-week school shutdown, I have an offer.

Write something. ANYTHING.

Sports or non-sports. Doesn’t matter.

Buff and polish every word, or just drop some random thoughts.

Vent about the spring sports season you’re losing.

Tell us about your cat, or what you just watched on Netflix.

Write a poem, or, especially for young children, draw us something and take a photo.

Then send it to me, either on Facebook or at davidsvien@hotmail.com, and I will publish it on Coupeville Sports, so the whole world can see your work.

As a community, we are likely going to be forced apart in the coming weeks. This is a way to shorten that distance.

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Hospital sets new rules for visitors

Posted in coronavirus updates, tagged , , , on March 15, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Whether you call it WhidbeyHealth or still think of it as Whidbey General, our hospital sits in the heart of Coupeville.

As health professionals deal with the spread of the novel coronavirus, new rules have been put in place to govern visitors.

The latest update, released early Sunday afternoon:

 

Beginning Monday, March 16th at 8:00 AM, WhidbeyHealth will implement new limitations on visitors to the Medical Center to protect patients and staff from Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

Coronavirus is highly contagious, thought to spread from one person to another.

Droplets from coughs and sneezes can transmit Coronavirus to people close by.

A person can also become infected by touching an object or surface that has droplets on it (such as a door handle), then touching his or her face before washing hands.

This is why ‘social distancing’ is so important and why we are implementing restrictions to visitors at the WhidbeyHealth Medical Center.

 

The following changes are effective Monday, March 16th.

– All patients and visitors entering the Medical Center must enter by the main entrance and be screened by our staff, including a brief interview and temperature check.

– Visitors not seeking treatment who are exhibiting symptoms (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath) will be asked to leave and follow up with their doctor.

– Visitors accompanying patients to the Emergency Department, surgery or the MAC clinic will be asked to wait in their car while we care for the patient.

– Patients who are exhibiting symptoms (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath) must put on a mask upon entering the Medical Center.

 

Exceptions include:

– Moms in labor may have one designated support person who must remain at the Medical Center for the duration of their stay.

– Minor children being cared for may have one designated parent who must remain at the Medical Center for the duration of the child’s stay.

– Please note that any supporting visitors who develop symptoms will be asked to leave the Medical Center.

 

What you can do:

– If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911

– If you are experiencing mild symptoms, contact your doctor for medical advice. Many patients are able to isolate at home for the duration of their illness, as they would with the flu.

– If you are not ill, or experiencing mild symptoms, please do not come to the Emergency Department to be tested. This can increase your risk of infection from coronavirus or other illnesses. 

– Instead, call the WhidbeyHealth Coronavirus Hotline at 360-240-4055 for screening and to be registered for drive-through sampling. The Hotline will be open from 8:00AM to 4:00PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00AM to 2:00PM on Fridays.

– If you need assistance with your bill or wish to speak with someone from the Patient Financial Services team, please make an appointment by calling 360-678-7656, extension 4097.

– WhidbeyHealth’s Westwind Café will be closed to the public until further notice. We regret the inconvenience.

 

Things you should know about testing:

– Analysis of samples is done offsite by specially authorized laboratories. Our staff collects samples which are sent to an offsite laboratory for evaluation, and like most hospitals, we do not conduct the actual diagnostic test.

– Test result times will vary. Nationwide, labs are experiencing heavy demand. WhidbeyHealth is not able to control the amount of time it takes for laboratories to process test results. We have recently seen results as quickly as three days, but many have been longer.

 

Protect yourself:

– Practice ‘social distancing.’ The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

– Clean your hands frequently with soap and water, scrubbing for 20 seconds.

– If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

– Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

– Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

 

Stay informed:

– Island County Public Health — https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Health/Pages/COVID-19.aspx

– Washington State Department of Health — https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus

– Centers for Disease control — https://www.cdc.gov/

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