Stoddard County Ambulance District transports seven for Home for the Holidays project

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The warm wood stove, the twinkling Christmas tree, the smell of home cooking coming from the kitchen: To Betty Larsen, a resident at Golden Living Center in Bloomfield, there's no place like home for the holidays.

Larsen, 80, was one of seven nursing home residents the Stoddard County Ambulance District helped come home for Christmas this year as part of its 26th annual Home for the Holidays project.

Larsen's left side was paralyzed after she suffered a stroke two years ago. Her son bought a van, hoping they could transport her themselves from place to place, but it proved too difficult.

Christmas is the only day each year she gets to come home to the house where she once lived and where her grandson, Jeff Larsen, lives now.

"I've been looking forward to this for a long time," Betty Larsen said. "For a whole year now."

As the ambulance turned down the drive to the Larsen family farm, Jeff Larsen stood on the porch watching and waiting for his grandma to arrive. He helped paramedics take her out of the ambulance and into his house, with an ear-to-ear smile on his face.

Shyann Larsen shows her grandmother, Betty Larsen, her doll and the Kindle she received for Christmas on Sunday morning. The Stoddard County Ambulance Service transported seven people as part of its Home for the Holidays project.

"Just being with the family is the best part," Betty Larsen said.

Her great-grandchildren come to visit her at Golden Living Center every week, but on this day, Nana, as she's known to them, was able to come visit. She smiled as they showed her the toys Santa Claus had brought them.

"The holiday season is a time that families should be together, and we understand that due to physical limitations, this can be impossible for some," said Stoddard County Ambulance District manager David Cooper.

Although Betty Larsen is able to sit in her wheelchair at her grandson's home, some of the patients transported on Christmas Day were moved from a bed at the nursing home into a bed at their family's home, paramedic Jerry Caldwell said. He's been helping to take nursing home patients home for Christmas with Stoddard County Ambulance District since 1997.

Although he'd rather be home with his family on Christmas Day than working, Caldwell said it makes him feel good to know he's helping others be with theirs.

"Without us, it would be really hard for them to get home," Caldwell said.

In addition to Christmas Day, the ambulance district also transports patients on Thanksgiving Day. There is no cost to the nursing home residents or their families.

"It's our gift to the community, and we enjoy providing this service," Cooper said.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

606 West Missouri St., Bloomfield, MO