Tyler

By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer

While the remaining Beaumont-area evacuees long to be home, many say they are appreciative to have been in a city that warmly welcomed them.

Local medical facilities shared in that care for those fleeing the storms. Hospice of East Texas was one that actively reached out to southeast Texas facilities to offer help. They contracted with other hospices to accommodate or oversee the care of patients.

Families of those patients not only deal with the uncertainty of returning to a habitable home, but the transport of a terminally ill loved one compounds the emotional pain.

Anne Babb and Barbara Speed traveled to Tyler with their mother, hospice patient Carleen Hamerly. Hamerly transferred to Tyler from Vidor before Ike hit the coast with 23 other area patients.

"It was a lot to have this thrust upon us," Babb said.

Hamerly said the staff there made her comfortable and eased any worries she had. She especially liked that a chaplain was there to pray with her.

"I've never been told 'I love you' and 'You're so sweet' as much as I have in this place here," she said.

Babb and Speed both said their homes did not receive extensive damage during the hurricane.

"Not only were we blessed in our travel up here, but with our family, everyone's home is fine," Speed said.

Uncertain when they can return home, they say they are happy they were brought to Tyler and view the city as a home away from home.

"A representative from each department has been in this room," Speed said. "It was amazing to see something go on like that here. I feel like we have a new extended family here."

Staff members at the hospice said Gustav was like a trial run, and they were better prepared when Ike hit. The facility cares for 250 to 265 patients at a given time, whether it is an inpatient or outpatient setting.

"We were able to assist 12 hospices in Texas and Louisiana," said Kim Reimann, director of inpatient care. "This was the second evacuation for some patients."

When the last Gustav patient went back home, they were again receiving patients ahead of Ike just three days later.

Tyler resident Karen Ross's 92-year-old mother, Roxy Thornell, evacuated to Tyler from Nederland during Gustav. She passed away on Sept. 13 while at the hospice's HomePlace -- an inpatient facility designed to provide patients and family with around-the-clock medical care in a comfortable home setting.

A fragile Alzheimer's patient, Mrs. Thornell was well taken care of in East Texas during her last days, Mrs. Ross said.

"I insisted that my mother be brought here well before she was evacuated from Gustav," Mrs. Ross said. "They arranged to pick her up in a van Sunday (Sept. 7) morning. From then on she was taken care of. She was very peaceful here."

Mrs. Ross said funeral arrangements were delayed, since the funeral home in Mrs. Thornell's hometown is without power. Yet, the support of her family, friends who evacuated from southeast Texas and the hospice has helped her handle the overwhelming burden of the situation.

"Between the HomePlace and knowing God was with me, I was really able to hang on," Mrs. Ross said. "Without that I couldn't have made it."

Hospice of East Texas received 23 patients during Gustav and 11 during Ike, including a child, officials said. Ross said the staff passionately worked around the clock to ensure families were taken care of.

"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't our heart's desire," said Kristy Morriss, director of outpatient care.

Staff and residents of two nursing homes housed at Tyler Junior College also made the best of the situation, thanks to the help of student volunteers. There were 131 nursing home residents staying at the Ornelas Health and Physical Education Center. On Friday, 79 of them went home.

Residents participated in activities including a live jazz band performance in front of the center.

TJC employee Kimberly Sulser and EMT student Andy Smith said they were both proud of how young people came together to give to others.

On Sept. 11, four buses pulled up to the college gym with evacuees and volunteers scrambled to unloaded patients and their belongings in less than two hours.

About 170 students volunteered on the first day, including 30 band students, and 80 nursing students have been volunteering daily.

"It's amazing to see our students rally for the cause, even non-nursing students," Sulser said.

Lavon Fowler, regional director for the two nursing homes, said social workers and the medical director were onsite to help ease the concerns of staff members and residents. Some staff members received word that their home sustained damage, including flooding.

"There was a lot of anxiety built up the night of the storm, but once the storm passed the anxiety level passed," Fowler said. "Overall, the staff is pretty upbeat. They are very dedicated to their residents and you can see it."

Sandra Hamilton, a nurse aide and van driver remained resilient after experiencing a great loss of her own. Her father was a nursing home patient who was evacuated to Tyler twice. He passed away Sept. 13. at Hospice of East Texas.

Hamilton also had the support of co-workers and friends at the hospice to help her through a difficult time. She said the support encouraged her to give of her time more.

"Everybody's been so wonderful," she said. "I'm sad, but I'm glad he's in a better place."

CLOSE FAMILY: Ann Babb (left) and Barbara Speed stay with their mother, Carleen Hamerly at the Hospice of East Texas in Tyler on Saturday. Hamerly was evacuated from Vidor, taken to Wells and then to Tyler because of Hurricane Ike.
(Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)