St. Francis hands out Baumstark Award

"Forbidden Fudge" is one of the delicacies by My Daddy's CheesecakeSoutheast Missourian

Lillian Young was awarded the Vernice Baumstark Award at St. Francis Medical Center's recent annual volunteer auxiliary luncheon.

The award was established in 1989 and is presented annually to an auxiliary member who is enthusiastic, innovative, a leader and who has worked tirelessly on auxiliary projects that directly benefit the hospital.

She was employed at St. Francis as a nurse and began volunteering when she retired. She joined the auxiliary in 1976 and has helped in many ways throughout those years, including carrying boxes and bundles from the old hospital to the present one.

Over the years, Young has found many duties as a volunteer at the medical center to keep her busy.

She served as auxiliary president from 1977 to 1979, has chaired the fall festival and helped start the senior health fair.

She also served as district director for the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries.

Young works at the front lobby information desk now, helping visitors and family members at St. Francis.

This past year, she worked 238 hours, bringing her service as a volunteer to a total of 11,813 hours.

A year ago, a St. Francis volunteer was named "Auxilian of the Year" by the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries. Jeff Harms, who has more than 11,000 volunteer hours at St. Francis.

He received his state award during the hospital association's annual convention and trade show.

Harms has served as a volunteer at St. Francis for 10 years. In 1986, Harms broke his neck in five places in a single-car accident, after drinking alcohol. He wasn't wearing his seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. He spent 19 days in a coma.

After five months in the hospital, Harms was transferred to Howard A. Rusk Rehabilitation Center in Columbia where he spent six months in the hospital's brain-injury rehabilitation program.

Today, Harms speaks to junior high and high school students as a representative of the Head and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program.

In sharing his experiences, Harms tells students the importance of using seat belts, not drinking or using drugs while driving and using common sense before indulging in any high-risk behavior.

He has written a book, "Harms Way," describing his experiences.

Harms and his wife, Kim, live in Cape Girardeau and have been married 10 years.