Thanks You Healthcare Community

Ceremony on October 3, 2024 in Washington, DC

The healthcare community encompasses physicians, surgeons, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, lab technicians, orderlies, home health aides, hospital custodians, and emergency medical workers, among others. It also includes public health professionals such as epidemiologists, microbiologists, and data analysts. The United States Postal Service has recognized the healthcare community, as these individuals dedicate their lives to protect our health, safety, and well-being, often at great personal risk. The stamp artwork consists of health-related icons spelling out the stacked words “Thank You” against a pristine white background. Running across the lower right edge of the stamp are the words “Healthcare” in gray and “Community” in surgical green. Bryan Duefrene was the art director and stamp designer.

What This Stamp Means to Me?

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Poster presentation to Patients Relations
St. Joseph's University Medical Center

Poster presentation to St. Joseph's University Medical Center

(Click on picture for slideshow)

Poster presentation at Christians Health- Home Care Options at Main Office

This stamp has is a very important meaning to me. You see, over the last seven years, I was the main caregiver for one of my brothers who had multiple disabilities. He passed away on August 6. This stamp represents giving a thank you to all the important healthcare workers who helped my brother through his life, especially the last seven years. During these years, my brother had many healthcare workers representing the following the medical fields: primary doctor, urologist, hospital nurses, visiting nurses, home health aides, neurologists, X-ray specialists, orthopedist, gastroenterologist, and podiatrist.

I must highlight the following healthcare workers who were his home health aides: Edna, Georgina, Maria, Natalie, Marilyn, Yasmiry, and Susana. Georgina was with him for over 25 years. They were all like family members to him. They treated him with so much love and respect. Over the last ten years of his life, his medical condition deteriorated each year and required him to see more medical specialists that included a pulmonologist, nephrologist, and nurse visiting him once a week, and an infectious disease specialist. My brother couldn’t have made it to 77 years without these important healthcare workers.

I knew this stamp was coming since out since 2023, but I had no idea what this stamp would mean to me until my brother passed away. Upon his passing, I knew I had to do something with this stamp to thank his healthcare workers. I created framed posters and certificates thanking many who helped me with my brother’s medical journey.

I presented the framed posters and certificates to each of these agencies and facilities. What a wonderful way for me to acknowledge each of them for the care they gave him. I must also thank family members who are in or have been in the medical field: my late mother Mary, late sister Liz, two nieces Gigi and LeChic, and a sister-in-law Dr. Tonya X. CooK, DMD.

Thank you St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ, Patient Care of Clifton, Christian Health-Home Care Options, Dr. Lashin, Dr. Shrouf for the awesome care you gave my brother. Clarence McKnight