Angel in the "Driver's Seat"

When Hope Hospice Nurse Sharon Hoermann was leaving her patient’s house one afternoon, she asked him, as she asks all her patients, if there was anything she could do or get for him.  With a sly smile, he replied, “a ride in a Porsche.”  Nurse Hoermann says that her patients’ answers to this question vary widely from, “I’m fine; I don’t need anything right now,” to requests for sticks of gum or a particular kind of candy to bigger, “bucket list” requests. 

The community members who facilitate the fulfillment of these bigger requests are truly angels.  Harry Knight is one such Angel.  When he learned of this patient’s request, he immediately said he wanted to help.  It didn’t matter to him how much time it took or what would be involved, but he knew he wanted to make this man’s wish come true.  The disease affecting this particular patient causes him to have progressively limited mobility.  Harry’s generosity with his time and resources allowed this man to feel agile and mobile once again.  With the wind in their hair, smiles on their faces, and the patient’s family following right along in a larger convertible, memories were made.  Just as Vincent Turner touched the lives beyond the patient he helped, Harry Knight made a lasting impression on both this patient and the patient’s family.

Harry received this honor at an intimate lunch with his wife, Ann, daughter and son-in-law Mac and Susan Landrum, and neighbor and co-conspirator Jerry Ford.  Hope Hospice Executive Director Shelton Bratcher, Development Coordinator Leslie Ferguson and Nurse Sharon Hoermann were also in attendance. 

As he humbly and graciously accepted the award, Mr. Knight said, “I didn’t do anything great; it’s what anyone would have done.”  It is exactly this sentiment that makes Harry Knight an Angel of Hope.  The truth is that not everyone would take the time to help a stranger, but we honor those who do because they make this world a better place.