Linda Rhods: My Hero
Running through the sprinkler and shouting as the cold water pierced my skin was a usual occurrence at my grandmother’s home as a young child. Today as I stroll through her front door, I waft in the aroma of the freshly baked cookies waiting for me to indulge myself in. So many instances can bring back so many memories that I have with my grandmother. Linda Rhods is not only my grandmother, but she is my hero. As a young child, her life was quite tragic. Her mother passed away at a young age from cancer. She was about five at the time, so her older siblings did a lot of the parenting in that household. Her father stayed working from the time the rooster crowed at dawn until the dew began to set into the ground. Her life from the very beginning
was all but simple. Whether it was volunteering to pour punch in church on Sunday morning or make meals for the families in need, she was always there to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. She continues with the gestures of kindness to this day. Anywhere help is needed, you can be sure that she will be one of the first ones to jump on top of it.
This is why a career in the medical field seemed like an obvious answer to her passion and selflessness that she obtained. She worked as a Physical Therapy Assistant for many years at Hegg Memorial Health Center in Rock Valley, Iowa. As she worked, she chatted away with patients and co-workers. Assisting in any way possibly was a daily occurrence for her. Punching into the time clock at 8 a.m. and not clocking out until 5:30 p.m. happened every day. Past patients come up to on the street to this day and start up those cheerful conversations that were left unfinished when the appointment ended.
Selflessness is something that many people connect to a hero, and that is something that connects my grandmother to the title of a hero. Her numerous acts of selflessness stick out like a sore thumb to me today. Heroes don’t have to be wearing a flowy cape like superman or an army uniform like a soldier. My hero wears every day clothes that would be seen on your average women in the supermarket. Many may not see why a grandmother would be a hero, but in my eyes, she is the most underestimated hero of them all.
was all but simple. Whether it was volunteering to pour punch in church on Sunday morning or make meals for the families in need, she was always there to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. She continues with the gestures of kindness to this day. Anywhere help is needed, you can be sure that she will be one of the first ones to jump on top of it.
This is why a career in the medical field seemed like an obvious answer to her passion and selflessness that she obtained. She worked as a Physical Therapy Assistant for many years at Hegg Memorial Health Center in Rock Valley, Iowa. As she worked, she chatted away with patients and co-workers. Assisting in any way possibly was a daily occurrence for her. Punching into the time clock at 8 a.m. and not clocking out until 5:30 p.m. happened every day. Past patients come up to on the street to this day and start up those cheerful conversations that were left unfinished when the appointment ended.
Selflessness is something that many people connect to a hero, and that is something that connects my grandmother to the title of a hero. Her numerous acts of selflessness stick out like a sore thumb to me today. Heroes don’t have to be wearing a flowy cape like superman or an army uniform like a soldier. My hero wears every day clothes that would be seen on your average women in the supermarket. Many may not see why a grandmother would be a hero, but in my eyes, she is the most underestimated hero of them all.