Our Voice: We’re thankful for those who help and serve others
The motivation is not for money, not for headlines, but simply for the love of helping and serving others.
Those are the people we’d like to thank.
The ones who choose a career, a volunteer path or an avenue to make another’s journey easier.
Neonatologist
For 27 years Dr. Anthony Hadeed believed his job was not about the money, but about the enjoyment of serving others.
The former Kadlec Neonatal Intensive Care Unit director was able to express those sentiments at his retirement celebration last weekend.
The event brought families and former patients together at the Carousel of Dreams in Kennewick — a perfect place to say thank you to a man who was instrumental in helping thousands of premature babies survive.
Not only did he offer a personal touch during his tenure, putting families at ease through difficult times, he also guided the NICU through a period of transformational growth.
From eight beds when he started, to the 27 the unit has today, it is a place where little ones have a chance at life thanks to Hadeed’s work.
Peace Corps Volunteer
It was enough for Pamela Harvey to generously give her time, to volunteer in Uganda to help children.
The Peace Corps worker had been in the South African country since June and had a lot of goals she wanted to accomplish. One was to help some kids after their youth center closed two years ago. She hoped to pull together grants to fund it.
But the Kennewick native’s dream became a nightmare Sept. 28 when she and another Peace Corps volunteer were attacked while they slept in their Uganda home.
Both women were brutally stabbed and suffered horrific injuries. The attackers escaped with some electronics and were later apprehended, thought the full reason for the attack is unclear.
Both women continue to recover and Harvey may some day reapply to the Peace Corps if she decides to take this dream off hold.
We’re thankful this brave, caring Tri-Citian is alive and healing with the hope to help others still in her heart.
Candlelight Vigil
At Howard Amon Park in Richland, 40 life-size silhouettes represented victims killed as a result of domestic violence in the Tri-Cities since 1998.
The recent candlelight vigil, organized by Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties is held annually during Violence Awareness Month.
The agency suggests the best way to prevent domestic violence is to talk about relationships, to listen without judging and to keep connected.
Although a painful reminder to the families who have suffered a terrible loss, we’re grateful for the spotlight the event places on a national and community problem.
This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 7:18 AM with the headline "Our Voice: We’re thankful for those who help and serve others."