It is with great joy that the NGHNA and SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society announces Wendy Coward, from Agape Hospice, as the recipient of the Hospice Caregiver Award. The award, along with a $100 gift card, was presented to Wendy by Dan Thompson of SouthCare at the quarterly NGHNA dinner on February 10th.

Wendy was nominated by Kris Tatum, Ann Schneider and Susan Major, all of whom are hospice nurses at Agape Hospice, they each described her with these words…

She has been doing this for 10 years and is still just as committed as a new person to her patients and families. She even brought me under her wing and has been an incredible example. I have watched her over and over go beyond her duties.

Wendy is a multi-talented, multi-tasking, compassionate and knowledgeable RN who always goes the extra mile for her patients and her co-workers. While working, she obtained her bachelors’ degree in nursing. She is enthusiastic, caring, a great worker and team player.

Wendy is the true definition of a nurse and a friend! She has the best heart of anyone I know-she is caring and kind even when it is very hard to be. She always puts her patients first and is willing to help others even when she is busy with her own patients.

Wendy began working as a hospice nurse twelve years ago. She says she gets to meet all sorts of different and unique people while visiting her patients in their homes. She considers it a privilege to be able to do what she does. Wendy shared a touching story about one of the first patients she had as a hospice nurse. The patient was a thirty-eight year old mother of three ranging in age from elementary school to high school. The youngest son was a huge Peyton Manning fan and all he would talk about was football and his favorite quarterback. His mother wanted him to see his favorite player before she passed away but the family did not have the financial means. So Wendy went to work to see if she could get tickets for the upcoming game against the Falcons. She was able to not only get tickets for the dad and their three children but they enjoyed the game from a suite at the stadium, they were able to meet Peyton Manning and he autographed a football for them.