Some acts of care leave a permanent mark. Not because they are loud or visible, but because they restore dignity, connection, and peace. Andrea McKenna demonstrated this kind of care while supporting a homeless patient who arrived at Kettering Health Hamilton expecting minor treatment. Instead, the patient received a life-altering diagnosis of terminal cancer. Estranged from her family and facing the end of her life alone, the patient needed far more than medical coordination.

Andrea stepped in with compassion and determination. She reached out to a trusted friend, who helped reconnect the patient with her daughter, sister, and a close friend, bridging years of separation and allowing conversations that brought comfort and healing. Andrea also worked tirelessly to secure hospice placement near the patient’s support system, even though it was over 100 miles away.

In a final tender moment, as the patient worried about how she looked, Andrea met her vulnerability with kindness, reminding her she was beautiful. The patient left hospice with peace and love in her heart.

Andrea’s actions reflect the very heart of the Kettering Health mission. Thank you, Andrea, for offering dignity, advocacy, and humanity when it mattered most. Congratulations on receiving the Living the Mission Award.