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BETTYE CANTRELL: SOUTHERN HOME CARE SERVICES
In many ways, home health care nurse Bettye Cantrell, RN, is like a mother to young Zaccur Kellam. Born on April 17, 2002, and weighing less than 2 pounds, Zaccur had nine surgeries during his first eight months of life. When Zaccur came home to his family on Dec. 11, 2002, Cantrell was assigned to his case because he still needed around-the-clock care.
"Bettye gave Zaccur the love and care he needed, above and beyond what a normal nurse would. I knew God assigned her for our case," said Zaccur's father, Damien Kellam of McDonough.
Now 4, Zaccur continues to need care, including help with his feeding and breathing tubes and speech and physical therapy. For Cantrell, nursing is more than her job.
"This doesn't seem like work to me," she said. "It's a calling. I love working with the babies."
Cantrell, 64, has spent most of her 40-plus years as a nurse working with babies and children. A graduate of DeKalb Community College and the Grady School of Nursing in the 1960s, she has practiced in Florida, California and Georgia, working in hospitals and in home health care.
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When she moved to Henry County in 2002, she took a job with Southern Home Care Services as a private duty nurse. Zaccur was one of her first cases.
Cantrell, who lives in Stockbridge, has four grown sons and three grandchildren. Although she's close to retirement age, Cantrell isn't really interested in leaving her job.
"I'm going to stay with Zaccur until he's released from Southern Home Care," she said. "To see that little chubby baby grow into a toddler who's so energetic, he's wonderful."
-- Pamela A. Keene
Nominated By: Pastor Damien Kellam
Dear AJC, on April 17, 2002, my son was born at 24 weeks only weighing 1 pound 15 ounces. As a result of his premature birth, he had a series of almost 9 surgeries.
In December, he was released to come home with the aid of a home healthcare nurse. Southern Healthcare assigned Bettye Cantrell, RN, to our case.
She gave Zaccur the love and care he needed above and beyond what a normal nurse would. In 2003, my wife walked out on my son and me and moved to another state.
Through the transition of being a husband and father to now being a full-time African-American single dad who worked, went to school and had to pastor a church, Bettye stepped up to the plate in an unbelievable way. Not only did she continue to provide excellent service for my son, she became a motivating factor for me.
Recently, my son had to encounter reconstructive surgery. Bettye visited the hospital and sat with my son for hours of unpaid time. Because she has cared for my son and has managed to keep a sense of balance in my own home, Ms. Bettye Cantrell, has truly become my unsung hero, and I would like to nominate her for this award.
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