Ellen Farrell: More Than Your Average Nurse

The number of students in Avon with diabetes has increased and nurse Ellen Farrell wanted to do something about it when she came to the district.

“Everyone knows someone with diabetes,” said Farrell, 55, whose father found out he had Type 2 diabetes when he was in his 60s. “We have a lot of kids in Avon with diabetes.”

So she started the Walk to Cure Diabetes fundraiser at Thompson Brook School in 2008, which has been an annual event for four years. Students began raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The course is one lap around Thompson Brook, but several students walk around numerous times to raise awareness about diabetes, averaging a couple miles, Farrell said.

“We had so many diabetics,” Thompson Brook Principal Anne Watson said. “Every year we raise more money.”

Last year, the student body raised $17,000, which was the most raised for the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation in Western New England that year, earning Thompson Brook the Platinum Award from the organization. Farrell said that for this year's October walk, students raised at least $17,640.04 this year and that the total may be closer to $18,000 once some matching donations come in.

Two girls did a bake sale to raise money.

“There are people less fortunate than themselves and it will always make them feel better to help someone else,” Farrell said.

In Thompson Brook alone there are five diabetics, and Farrell estimated that there are at least 20 kids in the Avon Public School system with diabetes.

“We have a ton of interaction,” Farrell said, as the diabetics have to come see her at least twice a day, if not more, to get insulin shots. They also come to Farrell any time they feel low.

Farrell steps beyond her role as nurse and takes it upon herself to visit the fifth and sixth grade classrooms to educate the students about diabetes, healthy living and other related topics. She teaches them that diabetes is not contagious, but that by taking care of themselves, exercising and eating right, they can prevent Type 2 diabetes. Educating the student is her favorite part of the job, she said.

“Unfortunately you can’t prevent Type 1, but you can prevent Type 2,” Farrell said. “People need to walk in someone else’s shoes and see it’s not easy. It never goes away. ... Kids who don’t have diabetes need to be grateful.

Thompson Brook teaches students to CARE, Watson said, which stands for caring, assertive, responsible and empathetic.

“She has a quest to build awareness in kids,” Watson said. "They are definitely empathetic."

Last year, the Avon chapter of the Lions Club honored her for her work at Thompson Brook.

Before working at the upper elementary school, Farrell had a long career in health care in other settings. She worked at Hartford Hospital from 1980-90, during which she was among the first group of nurses to work on the LifeStar helicopters.

“It’s totally different,” Farrell said of her experience with LifeStar. “It’s stressful and exciting at the same time.”

She worked in the emergency room there for ten years and was also on the surgical floor for five. Then she was a case manager at ConnectiCare from 1990 to 2000.

“My biggest job is at home,” said Farrell, whose sons are now 12 and 15 years old.

But ask Farrell about her role in the diabetes research fundraiser and she modestly turns the focus back on the kids. Some of them, she said, have emptied their own piggy banks, even bringing in change, so that they can contribute to the cause.

“I’m so proud of the kids,” Farrell said.  

Watson pointed out that it is unique for a school nurse to also educate children and Farrell said that she has a strong interest in teaching.

“Ellen has changed the face of health awareness at Thompson Brook,” Watson said.

Editor's Note: Do you know of others making a difference and doing good deeds in the Avon community? Let us know at Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com.