Pay It Forward: Debra Stewart of Montgomery
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Working in healthcare can be a stressful environment for both patients, doctors and staff. But when Debra Stewart of Montgomery is your coworker, it can be a lot easier.
Stewart is our Pay It Forward honoree this week. She is described as an incredibly thoughtful coworker who dedicates her own time and money to build a warm, supportive environment for everyone around her.
“This is my family,” says Stewart. “I spend more waking hours with them than I do with my own family. So it is just showing the love of god. And we love each other, and we are here with each other. Good times, bad times. We are going to take care of each other and that is what it is about.”
We’re told she’s deserving because she does so much for her department — no matter the holiday or special occasion.
‘She tries to make everyone feel special in their own way,” says Keysia Shelton, who nominated Stewart. “She recognizes everybody, whether it is birthdays, doctor days, nurses week, tech week, bosses day. It doesn’t matter. She tries to come up with something to celebrate them and make them feel special.”
“I love how she celebrates everyone’s birthday,” says Christiana Sinyigaya, a co-worker of Stewart. “She literally would get a table clothe and wall hangar, and some many things. And she tries to know about each person. It’s not just ‘hey, its birthday,’ and that’s it. But she actually gets down to the details of what you like, what you don’t like. She is really engaging and more like a mother figure here.”
And that is why Stewart Vance with the Vance Law Firm is surprising her.
Stewart’s mother passed away from colon cancer. Stewart says that loss drew her closer to Jesus and now she is using that experience to help others going through other health related problems.
“If I was in that situation I’d want someone to take time to see me,” says Stewart. “Not just see a patient but to see me. And if I am hurting, I want someone to just stop and say some kindness, or even offer to pray with me. Just let me know its going to get better.”
And you can probably guess how she plans to use that $333.
“Some of it is going on tech week activities. I’m gonna save enough for a massage.”
THANK YOU, DEBRA, FOR ALL YOU DO TO PAY IT FORWARD.
