Hope Featured Person

"Carolyn adds a spiritual dimension to the clinic whenever she's around."

Those were the heartfelt words of Mary Dekker, Wayne Medical Clinic Coordinator. That is a lot of responsibility for one woman but Carolyn Kimbrough, volunteer RN at HOPE's Wayne Medical Clinic seems to accept the responsibility with open arms.

Carolyn, an RN who retired from Sinai Grace Hospital in 2004, has been volunteering at the Wayne Hope Clinic for 3 years. She is extremely passionate about the work she does at HOPE and says that even though she loved nursing at Sinai, her days at HOPE are different. "I just love being at HOPE. The people I work with are there because they want to be there not because they are expected to be there. The Lord has put me at HOPE and it is an honor for me to serve at this beautiful place."

Carolyn's service at HOPE began at an unexpected meeting with Mary Dekker. The two women were attending a Circle of Care meeting at Annapolis Hospital. Circle of Care is an organization that brings together healthcare professionals and churches in greater Wayne County. The function of the organization is to create ways to care for individuals without health insurance. Mary spoke to the groups about the services provided at HOPE and Carolyn knew that was where she belonged. "God sent me there that day to listen to Mary speak." She started volunteering at HOPE soon after and said she's been filled with a sense of happiness ever since.

Carolyn is a firm believer in education and does more than provide basic nursing services for the people that come to HOPE. Her patients come away with the information they need to get well now and to stay healthy in the future. Her natural ability to educate makes Carolyn a valued member of the Wayne Clinic's volunteer community according to Mary. Carolyn excelled as the leader for last year's temporary training program for residents from St. Mary's Hospital.

When asked about the changes she's seen at HOPE over the last three years, she says that the patient's demographics have been the greatest difference. "It used to be that HOPE served those that had fallen through the cracks of everyday life; they were a unique segment of the population. Now I see people with families who only a short time ago had good jobs with health insurance. That's all gone now and they look to us for help. I'll give them whatever they need; medical help or someone to pray with; I'll do it all. I just want them to know that we are here for them. I want them to leave HOPE with a sense of pride."

Carolyn says she has always been a volunteer at heart. In addition to her service at HOPE, she is a parish nurse at The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour in Westland and volunteers at senior housing in her community once a week. Her love of education led her to the University of Phoenix where she teaches part-time.

Carolyn and her husband Melvin have been married for 53 years. She and Melvin have a son and two daughters and enjoy spending time with their 5 grandchildren and 5 great- grandchildren.

I asked Carolyn how long she plans to continue her mission at HOPE. With a smile in her voice, her immediate response was "as long as I can walk, I"ll be there." If you are visiting HOPE's Wayne Clinic, please take the time to say hello to Carolyn. She will make you smile.