Kate Kelsall and Valerie Graham (photos courtesy of Deb Peek, University of Colorado Hospital)
We (Kate Kelsall and Valerie Graham) feel honored and humbled to have received Channel 7's "Everyday Hero" awards for our volunteer work as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) patient and family liaisons at the University of Colorado Hospital and co-founders and co-leaders of the DBS support group. At the same time, we both regard the true "Everyday Heroes" in this case to include:
(1) Our husbands and families who have stood by our sides through thick and thin and allow us the opportunity to contribute our time and energy to the Parkinson's and DBS communities;
(2) The remarkable DBS medical team at University of Colorado Hospital with whom we have the great privilege to associate, who work tirelessly to provide first-class care and exhibit seemingly inexhaustible compassion toward their patients; and
(3) Last, but certainly not least, each of the patients and their families that we have had the chance to assist these past two years, who never cease to amaze and inspire us with their unfailing courage, resourcefulness and resiliency in dealing with a chronic, progressive and presently incurable neurological illness.
congrats to you both. You deserve it.
The O'Brien's
Posted by: pat obrien | September 20, 2009 at 08:19 PM
Congrats indeed. I just watched the video on News 7's website. You both should be commended. My wife has had the lead implantations done, and will have the IPS installed next week. It will be activated on Oct 14, our anniversary, so hopefully that's a good sign!
Posted by: CJ | September 29, 2009 at 01:18 PM