Mary Kennedy Keiley, a retired nurse and teacher from Newfoundland, was recently awarded the Confederation Medal for her exceptional volunteer work, which included washing the hair of bedridden patients at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital for over two decades.
Her dedication to helping patients began in the 1960s during a tuberculosis treatment at a sanatorium, where she was forbidden from washing her hair. After retiring in 1994, she began volunteering every Saturday, bringing shampoo and a washing tray to assist patients who couldn’t care for themselves.
“I just loved going in there,” Kennedy Keiley, 89, said. “Seeing them before and then after, it was so worthwhile.”
Kennedy Keiley’s volunteer efforts began with just her and fellow retired nurse Joanne Noonan Hogan, eventually washing the hair of over 8,000 patients. The process required careful attention, as they gently washed patients’ hair while ensuring their comfort and safety.
Her work was done through the hospital’s auxiliary group, which also runs the gift shop. Though she stopped during the pandemic, her initiative inspired the creation of an official volunteer hair-washing program.
While Kennedy Keiley was humbled by the recognition, she hopes her story encourages other retired professionals to volunteer. “It makes such a difference to patient care,” she said. “They loved it.”
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