Brain & Courtlin's 'Healthcare Heroes'

Week three of honoring healthcare workers here in Eastern Iowa is complete!

In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare workers are on the front lines. In fact, we found out this week that 22 to 23% of the positive coronavirus cases in Iowa are folks in the healthcare field. Their knowledge, dedication, kindness, and selflessness in the midst of all this chaos has not gone unnoticed. That's why we kicked off a new segment called the 'Healthcare Hero of the Day' a few weeks ago.

Each weekday around 6:45 a.m. we honor one of the many amazing healthcare workers here in eastern Iowa, post an honoree on the 98.1 KHAK Facebook page and Brain & Courtlin Facebook page, and mention them on the air throughout the day. It's just one small way we can support and recognize all their hard work.

Here are this week's honorees:

4/6 - Angela Parsons, CNA at Hallmark Care Center in Mount Vernon
- "Angela's been a CNA for over 18 years and she strives to make sure her residents have a loving and caring stay at her facility. She has a beautiful soul and an outstanding work ethic! She’s an amazing person and she strives to make sure her residents get treated like her own family. Being a CNA takes a lot of dedication to work, and she has proven to everyone she is dedicated, even through her own battles. She keeps a smile on her face when everything falls apart. She is a true healthcare worker! And, I will call her my wife in two months! She is also the reason why I do healthcare as a CNA. She inspired me tremendously! I love you, Angela. Just know you bring the best out in people!"
- Nominated by Brianna Nicole Hurtt
4/7 - Shannon Frink, Jones Regional Medical Center
- "Shannon wears many hats here at JRMC. From Infection Prevention to filling in as a nurse, she can always be found helping out around the hospital. Amid this virus, Shannon has had to keep up with the ever-changing information about the virus. She has been an absolute rockstar at handling rumors and straightening out what our staff needs to do to protect themselves. At the end of her worst days, you can always find her drinking her tea and making a joke with a smile on her face. Her hard work can definitely be seen when walking around the hospital."
- Nominated by Bailey Strait
4/8 - Michelle Turner, nurse manager at University of Iowa Health Care Iowa River Landing
- "Michelle showed great leadership even before COVID-19 started. She keeps her team well informed, as well as takes appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the patients and staff here at Iowa River Landing. She always shows up to work with a smile, which leads many others to smile, as well. We thank her for all she does here."
- Nominated by Kayla Waldschmidt
4/9 - Shannon Stone, BSN at Unity Point Pediatric Clinic in Hiawatha
- "Shannon is a sweet, caring person. She is my future daughter-in-law and we couldn't be happier about that. She is always willing to go the extra mile to help someone out. She volunteered to help with drive-thru testing this week, even though the forecast was for rain. The thing I love the most about her is that she loves my son and makes him happier than I've ever seen him. I know that doesn't make her a hero to everyone, but that makes her the greatest of heroes to me."
- Nominated by Audra Holmes
4/10 - Lee Anna Kriegel, public health nurse at Tama County Public Health
- "She is an amazing nurse, loving parent and grandmother, and a friend to all. She put herself through nursing school while raising her first 2 children after their father tragically died. She graciously took in my brother, sister, and me as her own after she married my dad. She currently cares for 2 of her 7 grandchildren full-time, and still grinds every day to take care of her patients. She is my hero."
- Nominated by her daughter Lacie Meier