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Nursing student gets $2K grant from Ladies Auxiliary

Danikah Edwards hopes to become an LPN, then possibly an RN
20201218 Heather Wallach Danikah Edwards_WEB
Athabasca Healthcare Centre Ladies Auxiliary secretary Heather Wallach recently presented Danikah Edwards with a cheque for $2,000 that Edwards will use towards taking her Licensed Practical Nurse training.

ATHABASCA - The Athabasca Healthcare Centre Ladies Auxiliary is still working away despite the pandemic, and recently handed out a $2,000 grant to a local woman training to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). 

Twenty-year-old Danikah Edwards was told about the grant from one of the residents at Pleasant Valley Lodge who recognized in her a compassion and a drive to care for others so, when the time came, she applied and was successful, said auxiliary secretary Heather Wallach. 

“She was told about this by one of our affiliates because she does a really wonderful job of working and she's taking her LPN right now so, she was told to apply for it,” Wallach said. “She's a really nice young lady.” 

The grant stipulates the recipient must commit to working in Athabasca for two years after graduation, and the funds must be paid back if the program is not completed. 

“Danikah has agreed to it,” she said. “It’s just unusual for a young lady to want to work in a continuing care situation. Danikah is really great at what she does.” 

Edwards has been working in long term care at the hospital and at Pleasant Valley Lodge (PVL) in home care for over two years and has chosen to become and LPN, starting the program at Northern Lakes College this past September. 

“After being a healthcare aide for two years, I just realized that I like working with people and I wanted to have more education and more knowledge,” Edwards said. “I want to be an LPN for now and possibly in the future move into the RN, but just see how things are going.” 

An excerpt from Edwards’ essay she had to submit as part of the application process explained why she chose to get into healthcare. 

“Throughout my life starting from a very young age, nursing has always been something that has really interested me. When I was a young girl, I had stomach problems which resulted in having to spend several days, nights and even weekends in the Athabasca hospital as well as the Stollery in Edmonton. After meeting several different people who played a big role in my health, I always found that a nurse’s job is what caught my attention. After having many amazing experiences with some of the most kind, loving, and caring nurses, it inspired me to have a career, in hopes to make someone else feel the way I did.” 

She added she saw qualities in nurses reflected in herself as she chose the career path she is on. 

“Nursing to me means many different things. It means showing compassion, being driven, being a critical thinker, and being strong. All in which through the past few years I have come to find in myself.” 

Edwards said she was grateful to the Ladies Auxiliary for the grant and the lady at PVL who told her about it. 

“I would like to thank my one resident at Pleasant Valley and an overall thank you to the auxiliary for giving me the grant,” she said. 

The money for the grant comes from fundraising, whether that is by selling items in the tuck shop, which is now closed due to the pandemic, a casino – which was very reduced this year, Wallach said – and memorial donations. 

“Our shop can't be open,” Wallach said. “We've gone to a couple of Farmers’ Markets and raised some funds there. People are still making donations. But I do want the public to be aware that we haven't gone anywhere, we just can't be where we used to be and that we are providing a service to the community still.” 

All that money not only goes to the grant Edwards received, but also toward a $60,000 ultrasound machine; four thermometers at $575 a piece; replacing hospital beds, furniture and other things Alberta Health Services does not cover. Wallach noted the single largest donation ever received was from an individual who donated $100,000, several years back.

“We're still doing business, just not like we were because we can't get together for meetings; we had to modify how we vote on things,” Wallach said. “And of course, a lot of our folks are fairly senior and don't have any technology so, we can't even do Zoom meetings. But we are trying our best until this whole thing is sorted out and we can get back to regular meetings.” 

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