Couple is celebrated for dedication to skilled nursing

While we salute the healthcare heroes supporting our communities in Ohio and Michigan, fewer accolades go to their families, who shoulder the burden as well.

Families of healthcare workers in the pandemic are enduring the challenges of worrying about their loved ones, combined with the added logistical challenge of managing the home front for these essential workers.

SKLD Lebanon reached out to families, asking families to write about their healthcare heroes. Following is a submission from Kim and Steve Cline’s daughter, Cam.

During these trying times, healthcare professionals are vital. With COVID-19 running rampant through hospitals, nursing homes, and the rest of society, healthcare professionals have been there all the way through. To preventing the spread, all the way to finding a cure, those who work in healthcare are doing everything they can to protect us.

They can, and are, considered heroes. However, as most people are finding their healthcare heroes now, I found mine 15 years ago. My healthcare heroes are my mother and father. Having obviously known them my whole life, nothing would ever change the fact that they are my heroes.

My mother, Kim Cline, works at SKLD New Lebanon Nursing Home as the activity director. She has always worked in healthcare, and has mostly been in the activities department. After working at SKLD for a multitude of years, my mother has gotten to know every single resident individually and has a special relationship with all of them, as well as her staff. She treats every person with the utmost respect and dignity they deserve. With this bedside manner (and common decency) becoming a dying trend, it is important to appreciate those who keep it going. This translates not just in work, but at home too. Thanks to her teaching me to have empathy for others and morals, I have become a wonderful citizen in society. I learn new things from her everyday and continue to grow.

My father, Steve Cline, who also works at SKLD New Lebanon Nursing Home as maintenance man teaches me things too. My father is on call 24/7 and there is never a time when he hasn’t come in when he gets a call. Sometimes I do not even see him when I wake up or fall asleep because he’s at work. My father is always striving towards the next goal and never stops working. He does this for his family. My father also knows every resident in the building, along with his coworkers. He shows all of them the respect they deserve, and expects the same in return. My father, no matter what occupation he has, always works the hardest he can and will not leave any job unfinished. Although some aspects of his job may not be as glamorous as the others, it is certainly just as important. No job he does goes unfinished, and is taken seriously. Thanks to his dedication and work ethic, my life is impacted dramatically. He always wants me to strive to be MY best self, and challenge others. Because of this, I am doing things that I never thought I would do. For instance, I am enrolled in two College Credit Plus classes (CCP); one is British Literature class and the other is a Composition class. I am also on the volleyball team and marching band.

My mother and father teach me to have empathy, common decency, dedication, and the value of a hard day’s work. For this, my parents will always be my heroes, in and outside of work. Overall, my mother and father both help me and others become better.

After all, is that not what a true hero is?