Helping Hero: Debbie Dickey

Enthusiasm for her job and dedication to her patients are Debbie Dickey’s stock in trade.

A certified nurse’s assistant at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen for 15 years, she has just been named the hospital’s Helping Hero of the Quarter.

Her friendly personality brought her several nominations for the award from patients and family members, such as “Debbie did a wonderful job of taking care of my mother,” and “She added a personal touch to her care which makes us all feel at home,” hospital officials said.

Dickey even sings to her patients and leaves “happy faces” on the bulletin board, her supervisors said.

While Dickey works in the Comprehensive Medical Surgical floor, on the fifth floor of the South Tower, husband David Dickey is a physical therapy technician in the inpatient rehabilitation department, Debbie Dickey said.

A native of Sacramento, Calif., Dickey likes to spend time with her husband, children Penny and Jason and stepson Jack, eight grandchildren and her cats, Smoky and Little Boots, she said.

“My husband and I like to go fishing, camping and hiking,” she said.

She also like movies, especially mysteries, love stories, family movies and comedies, Dickey said.

When she won the Helping Hero of the Quarter, Randy Baker, senior vice president of the Valley Baptist Foundation, presented her with a $100 check and the “Ambassadors of Service” provided balloons and a cake for the Friday party in her honor.

Submit Slice of Life suggestions to Managing Editor Lucio Castillo or City Editor Charlene Vandini at 430-6244 or charlenev@valleystar.com.