Fayette County news. (Thomaston, GA) 2009-current, March 01, 2023, Image 3
Wednesday, March 1,2023 Fayette County News A3 Jenkins Receives ‘Advanced Practice Provider of The Year’ Award Leah Banks Investigative Reporter leah@fayette-news.net FAYETTE — In a county that thrives on public health and information that allows citizens to remain well-in formed and safe, it comes as no surprise that Fayette Piedmont has proven itself to be a prime staple for pro viding healthcare within the community. Recently, one of Pied mont’s own and Fayette County resident Brandy Jen kins was voted by her peers to receive the “Advanced Practice Provider of The Year” award for Piedmont QuickCare. Her passions motivated her at a young age to pursue nursing and healthcare as a profession, with her driving force being the birth of her brother and caring for pa tients and their families, ac cording to Piedmont officials. “I have been motivated to be a nurse my whole life. When I was four years old, we were at the hospital after my brother was born and I said, ‘I want to be a nurse.’ My passion is caring for my patients and their families,” Jenkins said. “I feel ex tremely blessed by each and every patient that I have en countered over the last 21 years.” Jenkins has been practic ing as a family nurse prac titioner for 11 years with Piedmont Fayette but has been certified for longer. She worked as a neurologic in tensive care unit nurse at Emory for six years, then graduated with her degree in advanced practice nursing. After earning that degree, Jenkins went on to practice as a certified nurse midwife for four years in Fayette County. While she has been prac ticing and helping in her community for the last 21 years, Jenkins does not shy away from her passion for helping others. As a nurse, Jenkins ex plained how she has inter acted and helped people from all walks of life while also keeping in mind her own views of the world in which she lives. Between ev eryday patients and the COVID-19 pandemic, the world began to shift for her in not only patient care, but also in her personal life. “I am a pretty open- minded person in general, but my profession has al lowed me to open my heart to each individual patient, regardless of their needs. Nursing has also allowed me to connect with so many dif ferent people of all walks of life, both near and far,” Jen kins said. “Working through our recent pandemic really put things in perspective and made me really appreciate the compassion that I have for my patients, my willing ness to listen and under stand my patients, and the knowledge that I have to offer my patients and their families.” Jenkins said she has had her own trials to overcome that shifted her focus and allow her to see the world through a fragile and deli cate lens. With the loss of her son, Brady, she took some time away from her passion to look at life from not only an individual perspective, but also one that involved family, children, and the continued preservation of life. “Brady's passing really put things into perspective for me. I suddenly realized how fragile life can be and how important spending quality time with your family is,” Jenkins said. “This is when I began my journey practicing as a family nurse practitioner, which allowed me the time to appreciate and enjoy time with my hus band and daughter Taylor (Brady's twin sister). I will Inman Antique Expo Returns March 4-5 The second annual Inman Antique Expo is coming to Minter’s Farm in south Fayette County March 4-5. The event, held in the same location as the an nual Inman Farm Heritage Days in September, will in clude the 13th annual Inman Antique Truck Show, previously held on Father’s Day weekend. The show, which fea tures antique cars, trucks, tractors, and equipment, plus numerous other dem onstrations of old-time equipment, is sponsored this year by Clayton County and Henry County Farm Bureaus. Stephanie Minter Ada- mek, who promotes the Inman shows along with her parents Rick and Joanne Minter, said sup port from local Farm Bu reau organizations makes it possible for visitors to see a great event without having to pay admission. “We are excited to have the farm folks in Clayton and Henry counties step up in a big way to help put on this event,” Adamek said. “Since the beginning, we have used our shows to promote agriculture, past and present.” Adamek says she hopes people gain a greater ap preciation for how agricul ture has evolved and con tinues to play a major part in lives of Georgians. “Agriculture is Geor gia’s biggest industry, and even though our counties have become more urban, it’s still important for people here to understand the role agriculture plays in our daily lives,” Adamek said. One new addition to permanent exhibits at the showgrounds on Hill’s Bridge Road is a replica of an old-time engine shop where a farmer would have taken his tractor or truck for major repairs. Joe Mangham, a member of Pike County Old Tractor and Equip ment Club, which has been a major participant in the Inman shows for years, will host the new exhibit. Mangham, retired from his job as a machinist at Delta Air Lines, will dem onstrate the inner work ings of engines, how cylinder heads are re worked, and how worn blocks are bored. The engine shop is lo cated near Jim and Sarah Minter Nature Trail, which opened last year and carries visitors on an edu cational tour through the woods of the showgrounds and to the Betsill Family Moonshine Exhibit, one of the more popular attrac tions at Inman shows. The trail ends near a group of exhibits that in cludes the Maxwell Ma chine Shop, the Bristol Sawmill, and the Greuel Cider Shed, as well as a planning mill, shingle mill, and shops for antique clocks and antique guns. Another new exhibit area is Joanne’s Doll House, located next to the Broom Shop in the Gen eral Store building. This room will have many an tique dolls and parapher nalia, as well as showcase the late Mr. John Drake’s miniature houses he created throughout the years. Drake was a long-time supporter of Heritage Days and built the founda tion and chimney for Miss Quinnie’s Cabin, as well as the foundation and chim ney for the syrup kettle. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The Parade of Power will be held on Saturday at noon and several food ven dors, including Chick-fil-A and Big Pig Barbecue, will be present. For more information, visit Mintersfarm.com, fol low Inman Farm Heritage Days on Facebook, or call 770-461-2840. T R VEIN Find relief from: | • Varicose Veins • Spider Veins • Leg Swelling • Tired, Achy Legs • Heaviness or Fatigue • Restless Legs at Night • Itching, burning legs • Leg ulcers 90% of treatments covered by insurance! U F F L E S SPECIALISTS 874 W Lanier Ave 678-833-1444 __F-ayetteville,_GA 30214 trufflesveinspecialists.com Brandy Jenkins, left, and her award plaque, right. Submitted never be the same after Brady's passing; I will always be better because he taught me about life, love, and true grit and determination.” Her faith continues to grow with the loss of Brady and her view of him as her “forever angel” allowed her to press on and embrace each new patient that she encountered with a deeper form of compassion. “My faith grew much stronger because of him. My precious angel was my great est blessing. My practice was forever changed after Brady's passing,” Jenkins said. “I have always been very compassionate, but my yearn to truly love and care for my patients has a new meaning.” Faith and family allow for Jenkins to process Brady’s death and also dive deeper into her family’s values of bringing joy and light, “despite the darkness.” In fact, Jenkins’ family hosts the light display in Tyrone. Within that display is the “Fishing Cousins,” which places a memorial for Brady in the center of the display as he is never forgotten among family and friends. “My parents’ light dis play as a whole, the ‘Fishing Cousins,’ and Brady's Me morial, along with the ‘March of Dimes’ collection site, is a beautiful example and reminder of the beauty in human beings here on Earth,” Jenkins said. “What a beautiful site, a community uniting together and in sup port of my precious child. This is a constant reminder of how truly blessed I am to have been chosen to be Brady's mother. Brady has not only blessed our family, but he has touched so many in our community.” Jenkins looks back on her 21 years in healthcare and reminisces on the joys and pains that come with the profession as a blessing to be able to comfort those who hurt and laugh with those who rejoice, despite the events that may come in their journeys. “My 21 years in nursing have been nothing short of incredible. I have laughed with patients, cried with pa tients, calmed my patients, held them tight as they said their final goodbyes to a loved one, and loved and cared for patients until their final breath. [It is] such a blessing to love what you do, and I have been blessed by each and every patient en counter along my journey and look forward to what the future brings my way,” Jen kins said. Jenkins praises her par ents and family who pro vided her with a solid foundation of “strength, con fidence, determination, and drive to reach for the stars and always strive for not only achieving [her] goals but surpassing them.” While her journey is far from com plete, there are three more pieces of wisdom that she would give her younger self, if she could, to prepare her for what lies ahead. “If I could give my younger self three more words of wisdom, they would be to never let any thing or anyone stand in your way, the sky is the limit, and always know your worth and strive for greatness.” Azalea Estates assisted LIVING TMfe RETIREMENT COMMUNITY 105 AUTUMN GLEN CIRCLE - FAYETTEVILLE - AZALEAESTATES.COM Call to Schedule a Tour Today! 770-461-0039 The trusted source for taking care of your 7K&.