Cheryl Lingle set a goal to donate 10,000 hours of service in her lifetime. She’s on track to shatter that record this month.
Lingle uses her background in nursing and passion for hospice care by spending up to 60 hours every month volunteering at Milwaukee-based Horizon Home Care and Hospice Inc. Lingle has a “pay it back, pay it forward” mentality, she said.
“I am passionate about the benefits of hospice care,” Lingle said. “Without it in my life, I feel incomplete. I truly believe no one should die alone.”
Lingle regularly goes above the call of duty as a final hours volunteer.
“With all the initiative Cheryl takes, she certainly defines why volunteers are an essential element to the hospice team,” said Laura Jolidon, admissions nurse at Horizon Home Care and Hospice.
According to Katy Corey, hospice development coordinator at Horizon Home Care and Hospice and Lingle’s nominator for a Health Care Hero Award, Lingle has a passion for making the last days for dying patients better.
Corey recalled one instance where a patient’s dying wish was to see Hawaii, but extensive travel was no longer an option.
“Cheryl took it upon herself to give this patient Hawaii,” Corey said. “She brought in sand for the patient to touch, pineapple to taste, ocean sounds to listen to and exotic flowers to see and smell.”
Lingle has also taken it upon herself to make Swedish pancakes for a family that traveled a long distance to care for their loved one. The family was moved to tears by her support, Corey said.
These examples are typical of the difference Lingle makes in others’ lives.
“They illustrate her commitment to quality end of life care,” Corey said.
