Local Hero Delivers Health Care With A Smile

HERNDON, VA — When we think of essential health-care workers during the current pandemic, we envision doctors and nurses in hospitals or medical clinics treating patients or testing people for COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus.

But there are other health-care professionals that we often forget about, who place themselves in just as great a risk to keep our community safe and healthy. These are the people who provide home health-care to patients in recovery.

One person who has not forgotten the dedication of home health-care workers is Ruth Epprexht of Herndon. She's nominated Nancy Mount, the nurse who helped her when she was recovering from bypass surgery, to be a Patch Local Hero.

Name of the nominee:
Nancy Mount

Name of the person who nominated the hero:
Ruth Epprexht

Is the nominee considered an “essential worker”?:
Yes

What does the nominee do for work?:
Home health care

Why do you believe the nominee should be recognized or honored?
Nancy has been seeing patients during the entire COVID-19 pandemic. Her job requires her to visit patients in their homes, checking on their individual medical problems, keeping the patient from having to be exposed to the virus elsewhere.

What’s one thing you want everyone to know about your hero?
Nancy is dedicated to her profession and is very wise. Every patient she has becomes someone special to her. But visiting them puts her in danger every time she goes into a patient's home. Thankfully, she has avoided being exposed to the virus. She has a beautiful smile that is contagious. Not only is she my friend, but I have had the honor of having her as my nurse recovering from bypass surgery.

Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here.

All photos included in this post are owned by identified third parties who have given Patch the right to use explicitly for the Patch Local Heroes series.

Also see ...

• Herndon's Heroes: Help Patch Recognize Those Making A Difference
• RCC Staff Goes Above And Beyond During Coronavirus: Reston Heroes
• Herndon Mother Cares For Coronavirus Patients: Local Hero