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Volunteer Agnes Bagley, 99, maintains a healthy outlook as she celebrates her birthday at Akron City delivery unit
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal columnist
Published on Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008
Agnes Bagley is indeed a rare bird.
She doesn't fly with the flock.
She's not inclined to hibernate when the weather turns cold.
But more importantly, hers is a song that's one part inspiration and the other part an invitation for the rest of us to look for ways to challenge ourselves.
I caught up with Agnes on the job, as it were, Tuesday — which was also her birthday.
It was an occasion to be sure — observing Agnes doing her thing at Akron City Hospital where she has been a volunteer since 1997. Most of that time in labor and delivery.
Drum roll, please.
Agnes has managed to amass an impressive 3,000 volunteer hours, working one day a week.
Not too shabby for someone who just turned the calendar on 99 years; not to mention having congestive heart failure and diverticulitis.
Agnes, the hospital's oldest, active volunteer, performs a variety of tasks between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays: patient charting, folding laundered towels and assembling ''Daddy Packs'' (sanitized attire for fathers to wear into the operating room for Caesarean-section deliveries).
Dressed in a coral-colored smock with ivory slacks and easy shoes, the irrepressible Agnes proudly donned a tiara this day. The ornate headdress came courtesy of her church family — United Presbyterian Church in Cuyahoga Falls. ''I've been celebrating my birthday since Friday,'' she said, as she looked forward to a whole week's worth of partying on her behalf.
One such soiree was on the agenda Tuesday at the hospital.
''I just love it here,'' said Agnes — seemingly ageless in spite of her neatly coiffed white hair. ''All of these nurses are just wonderful to me.''
''I can be sick on Monday. But on Tuesday, I'm back up high,'' she added, a smile taking over her face.
Barb Scherer, labor and delivery unit manager, called Agnes a real bright spot in the life of the hospital. ''We look forward to Tuesday. We love having her here. She's the light of our day,'' Scherer said.
Agnes, who signed on to volunteer at the urging of neighbor Joyce McFadden, started doing so with her niece Margaret Opphile, who still logs volunteer hours as a messenger.
Agnes doesn't drive, so she catches her weekly ride with Kim Clark, who runs the hospital's gift shop.
Agnes, whose mother lived to be 97, has an apartment at the Silver Lake home of her only daughter, Mary Frances McKinney. She also has three granddaughters: Maggie, Molly and Megan McKinney.
Agnes is widowed and formerly worked for 34 years at a dental practice. ''I started out as the errand girl. But I ended up running the place,'' she said.
Proud of Scotland — the land of her birth, Agnes used to belong to Scottish lodges and be involved in several Scottish circles, including the Daughters of Scotia.
Until recently, she ushered at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall. ''I belonged to a card club for 50 years. I played 500. But all are gone but me,'' Agnes said matter-of-factly.
Even so, Agnes — who refuses to dwell on the negative and the what-used-to-be-but-is-no-more — still puts in one day a month at her church's soup kitchen, as being in service to others is her mantra.
The loquacious Agnes Bagley also is fond of sharing the story of her family's link to the Titanic. They relocated to Ireland when she was still a baby so her father and his cousin could help build the famous ship. ''He was a boilermaker,'' she said.
''I was about 3 or 4 when I toured it.''
By the way, Akron City Hospital's ''Great Scot'' said she won't even entertain the idea of hanging up her smock until she's 100.
Then it may be a couple of years beyond that before she actually does anything about it.
Stay tuned.
Hearts & Halos
JoAnn DiPierro, owner of JoAnn's Professional Touch cleaning service, has issued a special call for help.
''As you know, JPT is Ohio's founding partner of the 'Cleaning for a Reason Foundation,' of which I currently serve as the vice president,'' DiPierro wrote. ''Our mission is to help provide FREE cleaning services to women with cancer.
''For over 18 months now, our company has been fortunate to have a great group of volunteers assist us in the growing demand of services for these women. Last year, JPT assisted 15 women at both offices and gave away over $15,000 worth of services. In the first nine months of 2008, we have serviced 20, with eight new requests in September alone. Without these volunteers, it would be impossible for us to help so many. Unfortunately, many, many women are turned away in the foundation due to the lack of maid services. At times 50 percent are turned down.''
Interested in helping DiPierro's ''Hearts & Halos'' volunteer group help female cancer patients with cleaning chores at home and willing to give two to three hours a month? Please call Kim or Samantha at 330-245-1580.
Help with medical bills
Please keep Elizabeth McCaslin of Hartville in your prayers. She was diagnosed in May with a rare, aggressive and inoperable high-grade sarcoma tumor in her neck, and received four months of treatment at the Cleveland Clinic.
Elizabeth, who wanted to be released to go home to her husband and three children (Cade, 8; Aryn Rose, 5; and Liam, 3), now breathes through a trach and eats through a stomach tube. ''She is not ready to give up. She wants to live so she can be the mother for her children,'' said her brother-in-law Patrick Tipton of Akron.
''The treatment she is now seeking [insulin potentiation therapy] is considered experimental and has not fully gone through clinical trials. As a result, insurance will pay nothing for this treatment.''
So, an Elizabeth McCaslin Benevolent Fund has been set up at Chase Bank (any branch).
Benefit at Bolich
Beautiful bouquets to the Bolich Middle School family in Cuyahoga Falls which is actively and passionately engaged in planning ''Stand Up for Brandon Trowbridge Day: Stand Up Against Cancer'' 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the school.
Here's a little background on this courageous youth as provided on the school's Web site:
''Brandon Trowbridge is an 8th grader at Bolich Middle School who cannot attend school due to his illness with [neuroblastoma] cancer. Brandon is a gifted musician and is greatly missed by his fellow band students. His teachers have always been impressed by his intellectual abilities and his dedication to his school work. Students and teachers also enjoy Brandon's unique sense of humor. Everyone at Bolich looks forward to the day that Brandon is able to return to school.''
To that end, school counselor Linda Ferriera says students, staff and visitors will take time out of their schedule to just remember the 13-year-old. Outside if the weather permits. In the gym and cafeteria if it rains.
Donations are encouraged. Neighboring Cuyahoga Falls business also are urged to put out collection jars for the cause.
For more information, please call Ferriera at the school at 330- 926-3801.
Brandon, the son of Lori Alderman, is undergoing stem-cell treatment at Akron Children's Hospital.
Tyler Mobility Fund
The Tyler Mobility Fund — aimed at getting a wheelchair accessible van for young Tyler Esposito and mentioned in a recent column — is at FirstMerit Bank.
Donation to food bank
Major kudos to the folks at Republic Services Inc. for their generous donation of more than $1,600 to Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to provide 11,200 meals during the holiday season.
In addition, employees at the Countywide Landfill in East Sparta, Massillon Hauling Operation and Akron Recycling Center will be collecting nonperishable food items for the Food Bank this holiday season.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 12:07 PM, 10/01/2008
What a wonderful lady you are Agnes. May you be blessed with many many more years of service to your community.
medina, oh
Posted 01:00 PM, 10/01/2008
McCain/Palin, you can't make this stuff up.
