“Amanda is like the Energizer Bunny. She keeps moving. She never stops when with a client or in life. She is continuing her education, along with working almost full-time hours and raising a family. I am very thankful for such a hard-working and motivated caregiver” Dawn – Project Manager
Tell us a little about you Amanda: I was born in South Bend, and raised in Culver,
Indiana. I’m a single mother with four children. Two of them are step-children, but I
claim them as my own, always. I’m a licensed certified nursing assistant (CNA). I’m a
very outgoing and energetic person. I’m always smiling!
How did you know you wanted to be a certified nursing assistant, and how did that
lead you to work at Firefly? When I was growing up, my grandma lived with us. We took
care of her, but she also had home health care to support her needs. I watched what the
home health care aides did for her and thought, that’s what I want to do someday. I
went to school to become a CNA, and I’m currently going to school to become a
registered nurse. I wanted to do something that I could balance with school and home,
and I found Firefly on Indeed. I’ve worked for Firefly for nearly seven months now.
What types of shifts do you work? I work in the South Bend area and have some clients
in lower Michigan. The shifts themselves vary. Some clients are really easy, they are
looking more for companionship and a little help around the home or with personal
care. Others require a bit more work, such as helping them get dressed, out of bed, and
getting them to physically move for their well-being. Most of the day I get to listen to
their life stories, which I really love.
Can you tell us about one or more of your clients? Sure, one of my most interesting
clients is a WWII veteran. His story is so fascinating. He’s ninety-eight years old and he’s
going to be honored soon for being a hero. He was involved in a battle, and he saved a
little boy. He’s still in contact with the boy, who is now forty-seven years old. Anyway,
there is a quilt of honor that they are going to wrap around him in a ceremony at Notre
Dame. Another client I see, I do exercises with him. Sometimes we take his dog on a
walk. He’s very independent, but I’m there to stand by and assist if he needs help.
When will you receive your RN degree and what do you plan to do then? I’ve been in
the RN program for about two years now, and I have two-and-a-half years to go. I’m
looking forward to the day I get to walk across that stage! Then, when my kids are all off
to college, I plan to be a traveling nurse. I’d like to live and work in Florida, or maybe
somewhere else that is warm.
What are some things you enjoy doing when you aren’t working? I have fond
memories of going to the movies with my grandma, and I enjoy going to the movie theater
still. I enjoy doing things with my kids, but they are getting older now and have busy
lives themselves. My daughter just graduated from high school. Then I have three sons.
One is a junior who is going into the family business—he just passed his CNA exam. Then
one son is sixteen and the other is thirteen. My favorite food is pizza. I’m a vegetarian, so
we eat a lot of Italian food in our house.
