Tomi Meyer, RN of Cecil, was presented the Award of Excellence in nursing from the Ohio Council for Home Care and Hospice at its annual conference in Columbus last week.
Meyer has been a home health and hospice nurse with CHP Home Care & Hospice of Paulding for 10 years. The award of excellence recognizes a licensed professional in home health and hospice who is outstanding in his or her field.
For over a year, Meyer was the primary nurse for Chase Holt, a local 10-year-old boy with a rare genetic disorder who had been battling the disease for four years. Since she had experienced the loss of a young child herself, Meyer was aware of the difficult road ahead for the family and developed an instant connection with the family.
“Tomi was available anytime we needed her and would respond immediately,” said Megan Holt, Chase’s mother. “She made us feel like we were not the only ones going through this and we could not have asked for a better match.”
Meyer was also instrumental in making arrangements, with the help of CHP’s Visiting Nurses Auxiliary, to grant Chase and the Holt family a wish-vacation to Florida; and located a private donor to loan a van big enough for the whole family to travel together.
Not long after the family returned from the trip, the family was faced with decision to place Chase in the Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.
“Tomi’s gentle ability to make the family feel comfortable with our decision was priceless,” said Holt. Meyer took the extra step of following the family to the hospice center and stayed with them until their son was checked in and comfortable.
“The love and dedication that Tomi showed to this family in their time of need is what being an excellent home care nurse is all about,” her award nomination reads.
