Nursing student rewarded for giving back

Some people in the valley may have forgotten Kathy Emerson and her son Alex Hanson of Columbia Falls, but she has never forgotten the help they received from the community. 

Now a nursing student, Emerson has made her life about giving back.

"You're never above needing help. There can come a time when you need it," she said. "That's why I think it's important to give back."

Their family's struggles were featured in the Inter Lake in 2002 after Alex, then 12, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Even with insurance, the family finances reached the breaking point between uncovered medical costs and sky-high living expenses in Seattle, where Alex was treated.

"Because of the generosity of the people of the Flathead, our bank account kept getting deposits," Emerson said.

Even before Alex's cancer, her family was helped in 1994 by the Shepherd's Hand Clinic in Whitefish. Now she volunteers at the free medical clinic and raises money for cancer through Relay for Life while working at North Valley Hospital and studying to become a registered nurse.

Emerson's story of helping nurse her son through two cancers, added to her volunteer efforts for the community, did not go unnoticed by her instructors at Flathead Valley Community College.

They recognized her outstanding efforts with a nomination for a national Newman Civic Fellows award for motivating others and creating change in her community.

In May, she won that award as one of 135 students honored by the National Campus Compact.

Emerson, 44, was floored by the nomination and award.

"I kind of thought that I ran under the radar." she said. "I work nights at North Valley Hospital. I don't feel like I'm noticed."

Born in Kansas, Emerson grew up mostly in Washington after her parents divorced.

She said nursing never occurred to her as a career option as she progressed through school. She had a vo-tech orientation that took her into studying computers after high school in the early days of mainframes.

"I got straight A's - I was good at it," she said.

Emerson started her career at an insurance company where she took the firm from all-paper to totally computer-based operations. From there, she went to work for a title company for 18 years, starting in information technology but eventually moving into a slot as an escrow officer.

"Then I realized I didn't like computers - I liked people," she said. "Somewhere in there, I became intrigued with nursing."

After her stepfather died of cancer, she started raising money for cancer research in 1997. She became a team member of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

"Once cancer touches your life, you look at it in a different way," she said

Then in 2002, Alex was diagnosed with leukemia.

Referred to Seattle Children's Hospital, Emerson's son fought for his life with numerous treatments and through many complications including a bout with a flesh-eating bacteria in his chest at the site of his chemotherapy port.

After surviving the leukemia, Alex faced a new crisis in 2004 when he came down with a second cancer - malt B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. With his mother's support and an indomitable spirit, Alex battled his second cancer into remission.

"He's a fighter," Emerson said.

During Alex's many treatments, his nurses taught Emerson many of the procedures for his daily care. She found she had a natural ability for nursing.

"Alex became my biggest supporter," she recalled. "He said, ‘You're good at this. You should go back to school.'"

After her first marriage ended, she married Dennis Emerson in 2005. He had children of his own and got along well with Emerson's children: Alex, Jordon and Megann Hanson.

"I feel God sent him to me at a real hard time in my life," she said.

With her husband's support, she enrolled at the community college part time, taking courses to transfer to the four-year registered nursing program.

This fall, Emerson begins classes in Kalispell as a University of Montana, Bozeman, nursing student through a partnership with FVCC.

"They only took eight students for next year," Emerson said. "I'm really excited. I start lower division classes this fall and then start upper division in the spring."

She continues to work at North Valley Hospital as a certified nurse's aide on the medical/surgical floor. Emerson said she would stay an aide forever if she could live on the wage because she enjoys visiting with the patients, especially the ones who come from the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

"I love hearing their stories," she said. "I tell them I'm the social director."

Emerson expects to stay at North Valley Hospital when she qualifies as a nurse because she loves North Valley's mind, body and spirit approach to healing.

"North Valley is a very family environment," she said. "They treat people like they're at home."

Emerson continues her volunteer work with the Shepherd's Hand Clinic and Relay for Life.

Starting last fall, she helped out the clinic by doing chart reviews during the week because she worked Monday nights when the clinic takes place. With adjustments to her schedule for summer, she now works in person.

"I do vitals and take medical backgrounds," Emerson said.

On July 8-9, she and her family will once again raise money for cancer through Relay for Life in Columbia Falls. A former committee member and chairman of the event, she remains as enthusiastic about the upcoming event as she was at her first in 1997.

She encourages everyone to take part.

"When you see the luminarias ... I get chills just thinking about it," Emerson said. "When they light those and the bagpipes play ‘Amazing Grace,' it's awesome."

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com .