Volunteer Stories
IHA Volunteer Awards
What an incredible honor to have two of our dedicated volunteers recognized with statewide awards by the Idaho Hospital Association. Longtime volunteer and Gritman board member Janie Nirk and former junior volunteer Defne Yuksel were both honored during the Idaho Hospital Association annual meeting earlier this month. Janie received the 2021 Leader of Volunteer Excellence Award while Defne was honored with the 2021 Junior Volunteer of the Year Award. Gov. Brad Little and Idaho Hospital Association President Brian Whitlock presented the awards. We’re so fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers and our mission of providing extraordinary care wouldn’t be possible without them. Congratulations to Janie and Defne for this well-deserved honor!
Deary Man Keeping "Light A Candle" Program Fires Burning
Each week, Matuska makes his way to the Gritman Foundation’s second-floor Cancer Resource Center and reaches out to patients going through cancer treatment to see if there are services they might need.
he Deary man knows just how important those phone calls can be. Three years ago, Matuska was trying to diagnose a rare form of liposarcoma, traveling between Lewiston and Spokane for tests and eventually a surgery to remove a tumor from his leg. The operation left him homebound for six months. Matuska was given a 50% chance of ever walking again.
Support through the Gritman Foundation’s Light A Candle program—gasoline gift cards he was able to use when friends and family gave him lifts to his many appointments—proved more than valuable during his treatment.
