“If my son had cancer or was diagnosed with diabetes, I’d be doing all the research I can to find out what resources are out there, how I can help him, how I can be supportive of him. I’m not a doctor, but you can still support a loved one going through cancer/chemo – same thing with mental illness … there are ways to support them. Learning about it and asking for help is the first step. We should not ever feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. Your brain can get sick just as easy as any other part of your body … it’s OK to not be OK.”

- Kelly, Transfer Center, St. Charles Bend, explaining the event she's organizing about the stigma around mental illness. Stomp Out Stigma will be held on Sept. 15 at Sky View Middle School

"One of my goals is to have visited as many countries as possible. I’m hoping 10 … and then another goal was to become a U.S. citizen. Big goals…you know, I'm 40 this year so I want to do as much as I possibly can, like make it a real epic year."

- Aaron, supervisor/chef at St. Charles Redmond and a Canadian native who became a U.S. citizen in March

"There are so many variables in patient care. You can’t have everything automatic. We do rely on the caregivers to turn lights off if they aren’t needed. On the floors, at 9 p.m., when visiting hours are over the light levels dim down. It’s bed time and people are winding down ... We have to keep the building pretty well-lit for safety reasons and security. But we do what we can."

- Al, electrical systems coordinator, on how St. Charles works to reduce light pollution

"You know when you walk into something like that it’s, you just have to let everything go, you know, and like you’re receiving and giving at the same time ... I always feel that when I go in - you’re giving something but you’re also receiving something back from them ... So when it comes out, it’s all one beautiful expression of love and caring. That’s what this place is, you know, I want it to be like that forever …"

-Bill, St. Charles Bend EKG Technician, on playing for our patients and their families

"It has truly been my pleasure and honor to serve the team and our patients and Pioneer Memorial Hospital and St. Charles Prineville. I am blessed to now get to serve my greatest accomplishment: my family Jay, Hayden and Morgan....As I'm leaving I'd say, may we always do what is right by our patients - we’ll never be wrong or sorry if we do."

-Deb, St. Charles Prineville, volunteered for the employee buy-out to help our financial situation

"I walk into a patient’s room and they always assume that I’m the nurse. And, if I walk in with a male nurse, they address him. The whole idea of the button was just to wear it to identify that I’m a person that would be interested in discussing how you feel about equality and diversity and how it’s represented in our hospital."

- Kate, Physician Assistant, St. Charles Bend

“Like when I was in the ER, you see people at the worst times in their life … being able to be a glimmer of hope for that and let them know that everything is gonna be OK, as far as OK will be, is just something that I like. It’s just being there and letting them know they’re not alone. I’ve just always liked that. I don’t know. My grandfather always, always spouted, ya know, ‘Service above self. Service above self.’ and I think it just kinda stuck with me.”

- Douglas, St. Charles Bend

“I meet so many people and they tell me their stories. There was a lady whose son got into a car accident and she was told he only had a couple of days to live. She came back in later and said, ‘he got out of it.’ That was amazing.”

-Andrea, Food Services, St. Charles Bend

“Going to people who have had major losses, and embracing them and saying ‘you’re not going to have to go through this alone’ – that seems to be a healing tool for people. It’s like, ‘okay, I have to walk through hell. But if you’re willing to walk through hell with me, I can do it.’ Most people are really good at heart and strong. They have that strength within them. So, it’s not really us. It’s us staying out of the way, but willing to let them know somebody cares enough – even this stranger – to be here for you while you walk through hell.”

- Bill, Chaplain

“I know I’m going to be somebody’s memory. When you come to work, you’re going to be your patient’s memory for the rest of their lives so you have to decide whether you’re going to be a good memory or a bad memory. So when I walk into work every day, I think, ‘What kind of memory am I going to be today?’”

- Dana, Family Birthing Center