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Recipients of the Community Caregiver Awards

Lois Bailey

James Bender

Marion Chartrand

Geoff Dale

Minnie Dawe

Pat De Buck

Jayne Gravel

Winnie Hendry

Tracy Hiuser

Donna Hiuser Garner

Esther Illes

Hazel Kitching

Tracey Leslie

Margaret MacDonald

Shirley Marks Watts

Tillie Marshall

Anna Mason

Leslie Overholt

Edith Phillips

Esther Raymond

Brenda Richardson

Louise Williams

Donna Wilson

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things
The Woodstock Sentinel-Review

By Heather Rivers - Health Reporter
Thursday October 19, 2006

They are true heroes, caregivers who often give selflessly of themselves and receive little recognition.
“It’s not easy, we know that it can be very difficult work,” said John Oosterink, executive director of the CCAC. “That’s why we’re here. This our way of saying thank you.”
Since 2001 Community Care Access Centre - Oxford has been recognizing those special people in the community who put the needs of others before themselves through the annual Heroes in the Home Awards Ceremony.
“This event is to recognize and honour caregivers - both professional and unpaid - and thank them for what they give to their families and to the community,” Oosterink said. “These individuals have an inner strength and provide care in a compassionate way. Their extraordinary contributions make a vital difference in the lives of others.”
The CCAC recognized 17 health care workers and honoured 23 caregivers with awards, including mother Donna Hiuser Garner and her daughter Tracy Hiuser, who cared for husband, father and stepfather Ross Garner after a brain tumour, previously in remission, reoccurred in January.
Ross’s son Edward also helped care for his father before his death in April at age 63.
For the last five weeks of his life, Ross was bedridden and unable to communicate, requiring 24-hour care.
In the months prior to Ross’s death, Tracy fielded calls and visitors, kept up the home, ran errands and prepared meals.
Donna, a London nurse, took a leave from work to care for her husband to help him die with dignity in his own home.
“We were really blessed to keep Ross at home in his surroundings,” she said, explaining the CCAC made that possible by providing the necessary supplies. “We were grateful and privileged to keep him at home.”At home, Ross was able to be with the things that were important - his family, friends, his music and his constant companion, his dog.
“For him to be in the hospital wouldn’t have been acceptable,” Tracy explained.
Both Donna and Tracy never gave caring for Ross a second thought.
“It’s what you do,” said Donna, who was married to Ross for 20 years. “It’s because you love someone and because the need is there.”
Tracy had been a caregiver to Ross since his first diagnosis in 2004.
“You go numb, you go on auto pilot, it’s instinctual,” she said of the care she provided.
“Ross was a skater, a pilot, he was one of those people who was very vibrant, very inspirational. If anyone’s the hero, it’s Ross.”
Keynote speaker at the event Eleanor L. Wood summed up the spirit of the event with these words:
“It’s wonderful to be here with people who understand what giving is all about,” she said. “Ordinary people doing magnificent and extraordinary things.”

James receiving his award October 18 2006

Letter from Ernie Hardeman Oxford M.P.P.

James' award certificate from the Government of Ontario