Bluebonnet settles into new surrounding
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
Courtesy Photo
Bluebonnet Home Health and Hospice celebrates its first Christmas in the new office in Wellington. Gathered around the Christmas tree, staff counts their blessings. Back, from left, Jessica Hall, Penny Phillips, Virginia Granadoz; front, from left, Traci West and Jennifer Granadoz.
Hall ponders special Christmas blessings
By Bev Odom/The Red River Sun—
WELLINGTON — Although the location changed, the purpose of the business and passion of its staff has not altered. Located on the west side of the Collingsworth County Courthouse Square since 2004, Bluebonnet Home Health & Hospice transitioned to its new office facility at 1613 Amarillo St. in June this year.
A registered nurse (RN), Jessica Hall fills the role of clinical manager, director of nursing and alternate administrator. With multiple sister offices, Penny Phillips of Friona serves as BBHHH administrator and travels among offices.
Traci West and Jennifer Granadoz are licensed vocational nurses (LVN) for clientele while Virginia Granadoz works as office manager and certified nurse aid.
As the staff fulfills its purpose of providing patients with a seamless transition from one phase of life to another, Hall experienced the flip-side of the coin as well as a kidney transplant patient.
“I feel like if God is working in my life, I should share my story,” she said. “What He has done for me is pretty amazing. It’s not always how we picture or plan it, but if you give Him enough time, He works it out.”
In 2005, Hall pursued her LVN license from Vernon College and began her nursing career at Collingsworth General Hospital. She worked for a year in the emergency room and as a floor nurse before becoming a home health nurse. In addition, she worked weekends at Childress Healthcare Center.
Diagnosed with kidney failure due to lupus at the age of 25, Hall received dialysis every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a year.
“In September 2011, God blessed me with a kidney to be able to return to a normal life,” Hall said. “I returned to work at BBHHH but in 2015, I began to reject my kidney.”
Following a few months of hospitalizations and chemotherapy treatments, Hall once again regained her health and remained strong. She pursued her associate degree RN through Clarendon College to obtain her goal of becoming the administrator for BBHHH. Hall graduated in May 2020 but not without additional health challenges.
“During clinical, I didn’t feel the best but I got all that done and graduated by the grace of God,” she said. “Even during school last year, I obtained 24-hour urine samples to monitor my creatinine levels.”
Hall feared that she would have to go through another kidney transplant as her labs once again indicated kidney failure.
“I went to my doctor in Dallas in early July for labs and a biopsy, I was nervous and afraid. I didn’t want my health to interfere with my nursing school. I had been wanting this for so long and had the most awesome instructors.”
Just this last Monday, Dec. 14, Hall traveled to Dallas for a follow-up.
“At this point, I don’t need a transplant! My function is better – I knew I had been eliminating better and I feel better. ‘You are not even close to qualifying for another transplant’ is what the doctor told me!”
So in the meantime, Hall keeps believing in herself and her dream, and acquiring nursing hours to become a home healthcare administrator.
“I believe that the many challenges I faced have attributed to the kind of nurse I am,” she said. “Nursing is a calling. A field in which you must have a servant’s heart, nursing requires so much more than just proving physical care. A good nurse also provides emotional support, a kind heart and a non-judgmental attitude.”
Hall says she is going to keep a flexible plan.
“My life’s goal is to help people get through their worst days, like my many doctors and nurses helped me get through mine. And also, to teach my children that it is not what happens to you, but how you respond to what happens to you.”
Hall and the BBHHH staff offer skilled care through its home health and hospice services.
“With hospital stays becoming shorter and an emphasis on outpatient services, we have built a home health agency that provides a cost effective way to help you or a loved one heal in the privacy and comfort of your home,” added Penny Phillips, current administrator.
Previous to 2004 when BBHHH opened, CGH had been providing home health services to local and area residents since 1984.
“When the need for hospice services arise, our special team is able to create a caring and compassionate environment for the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the patient and their family,” Phillips said.
