April G. Care Companion in Harrisburg, PA 17104

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me professionally and personally. The last place I expected to find myself at at 19 was waking up 4:30 in the morning driving to another city and preparing meals for people to eat at 7 am. But that's where I found myself after a family tragedy derailed my life plan my sophomore year of college. While my friends and former co-workers were entering their back to school eras I was looking through the scrubs at goodwill and testing out my hospital grade non slip sneakers and compression socks. At the time in the beginning I was quite bitter about my new reality working as a server/ dietary aide/PCA at the Rohr assisted living home. My first day on the job I was introduced both to the high volume of need from the residents but also to individuals I would get to know as more than residents. I became well know and the "tiny little bright gal" to the residents who were elderly, mentally handicap or had suffered extreme injury.Spending time in their suites tidying up or assisting with showers and receiving them for their meals, seeing their meltdowns and their best days, was overwhelmed at times. Memories made of setting up the halls for Christmas and wrapping up presents playing as apart of the cast for interactive games our resident health director put together. I also sat and spent many days with residents who were dying or whose families didn't visit them. I brushed and detangled the hair of older women who could no longer speak and only gave me gummy smiles. I reminded them how to tie their shoes and put on a belt and I chased after residents who refused to put on shoes or fix their hair. I sat with families after they learned the fate of their loved ones and for those whose loved ones forgot them, I reminded them daily I loved them. I felt the presence of God and my father more potently when I was assisting those who couldn't care for themselves and I even observed my fellow coworkers abuse their power and show a lack of true compassion. I learned the meaning of service in a setting that was so new to me and it was really hard when I left to go back to school in the middle of the pandemic when our health care system was taking the hardest punches and residents were dying left and right. But I will never forget the experience I had and those I connected with. Up untill their deaths I frequented the houses of my great aunt and my "Gramma" who ran the neighborhood store, bringing food and assisting in the bathroo