Love, Inspiration and Guidance for the Mountain Community
Stories from the Heart

Nancy Nelson
Nancy provides spiritual care, unconditional love, compassionate support, and a listening ear to our patients. “Many people long for someone to truly “hear” and “see” them as they are. Illness and end of life concerns often cause people to reflect on their lives and frequently feel the need to express what they may have long held inside. I share with people that I do not have their answers, but remind them that their answers lie within themselves.”

The Will To Walk
The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other is one of those things that most of us take for granted. It’s not until we are faced with the prospect of losing this ability or having to relearn it that we realize how it important it is to our health, happiness and independence.

Betsy Slager
Inspired by her sister’s hospice care experience, Betsy began volunteering her time. “I had only heard good things about Mount Evans when I came to Evergreen years ago. After being on the “inside” for a while now, I can only say that the devotion to patients, the love and compassion shown to all, and the dedication to great care that each and every one here has is totally inspiring. It is so nice to be a small part of something so wonderful.”

Kristen Bailey
Kristen primarily cares for hospice patients who live in facilities. When she visits, she often brings a bouquet of blooms or a plant to cheer up their room.

Kristy Plenter
Working and serving in her community has always been a priority for Kristy. She waited patiently for a social work position at Mount Evans. When a job in palliative care opened, she spent a year counseling patients coping with illness and supporting them throughout their journey.

May is Better Hearing and Speech month
“Communication is the essence of human life”
-Dr. Janice Light
It’s easy to take basic communication skills for granted. When we can effortlessly communicate, we don’t give much thought to being able to express an idea through clear, articulate, understandable speech. But when we lose the ability to speak clearly and without effort, we instantly become aware of how large a part speech plays in our everyday lives. Losing the ability to speak can leave people feeling isolated and helpless.