Nurse carries on dad’s legacy in De Smet

Reprising her position on the chapel piano at Good Samaritan Society – De Smet in South Dakota is Darcy Miller, RN.

“When my dad was the administrator here, he was the one that did devotions every day,” Darcy says whereas enjoying some impromptu hymns.

When Darcy was youthful, her musical abilities generally accompanied dad Jerry Keller’s devotions on the long-term care middle.

The chapel right here strikes a chord for a lot of causes. Mainly, she remembers rising up on the location whereas her dad cared for residents over three many years. Jerry has been retired for nearly 20 years.

“Makes me want to cry,” Darcy says feeling nostalgic in regards to the good previous days. “I don’t like change.”

Despite the emotion, it is a big day. Sitting in a pew close by listening to her hymns, as soon as once more, is the now 84-year-old.

Jerry looks like he might step again into his previous position at any second.

“For 30 years. It’s been a blessing to have a great job that you loved,” Jerry says. “The residents were very important to me. I wanted to make sure they got the best of care. I was really fortunate I had great staff.”

‘Called to take care of our neighbors’

Riding her bike to the De Smet nursing dwelling as a child, Darcy would typically discover her dad serving in quite a lot of methods.

“When he was here, if they needed help in the kitchen, he had a hairnet on. If there was something that needed to be cleaned up on the floor, he was on his hands and knees,” Darcy says.

Being the arms and ft of Jesus right here in De Smet is a household custom.

“A few years ago I decided it was time to come back to my roots and work for Good Sam again,” Darcy says.

The nurse joined the group proper across the starting of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What sets Good Sam apart from any other place is that it was founded on Christian principles and it continues today like that. We are called to take care of our neighbors. To be the Good Samaritan. That’s what we do.”

Jerry’s ardour for the folks nonetheless brings on a flood of feelings.

“The mission has been a big part of my life,” Jerry says wiping away tears. “Well, I guess because I’m not in it now and I probably would like to be back in it. I’m getting too old for that.”

Darcy provides, “My dad left a legacy so it’s up to me to take care of the people.”

‘Lord, what would you have me do today?’

The Society can be trying again on its 100-year legacy.

“Wow! I didn’t know Good Sam was celebrating that milestone. I just got to thinking what story would I share? Well, the chapel I guess,” Darcy says.

“The chapel is just part of my story. Yesterday, I celebrated my 25^th wedding anniversary and I got married in the chapel. The chapel is my place.”

With relations residing on the nursing dwelling on the time and pa on the helm, it was an ideal decide.

“It made sense to have the wedding here. So, I stood right here 25 years ago yesterday,” Darcy says. “Things change and we develop. It feels good to worship and reward God and simply be right here.

“Dad even used to have a piece of paper in his car that was a quote from August Hoeger. It said, ‘Lord what would you have me do today?’ That’s what I think, too.”

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Nursing and Nursing Support, Sanford Stories, Senior Services