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July 2024

Alum serving veterans, Alzheimer's patients

Jacqueline Smith has always loved to serve people, starting from her childhood days as the oldest cousin and de facto caregiver for siblings and others growing up. So it only made sense that she pursued a career in nursing just after graduation from Palestine (Texas) High School.

But it was two encounters with family members that led Jacqueline to expand her reach of service by creating two organizations. A 2021 graduate of the San Antonio Campus, Jacqueline founded in 2016 after watching her grandmother pass away from Alzheimer’s Disease.

“I had never had an encounter with Alzheimer’s, even though I’ve been in the medical field for 26

years, so I became an advocate. Now I train memory care professionals and caregivers how to care for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia, how to understand the diseases and things of that nature,” noted Jacqueline, a mom of three boys ages 19, 23 and 26.

Through Enchanted Hearts, she leads seminars for healthcare workers about the two conditions and their behaviors and expectations, including end-of-life care and all the resources available to families including respite care, various providers and personal care facilities. She also does consults with individual families who are navigating this new world.

“Usually when you get that diagnosis, it’s out of the blue; you don’t know a lot about the journey and how to handle it, and you are feeling overwhelmed,” she said. “If you want to keep that person in the home, we come out for a consult and help you modify the home to make it a safe environment. We can help you If you want to place them in a memory care facility or a personal care facility, which is more intimate.”

Jacqueline is also a certified CPR instructor and often gives those classes in schools across San Antonio and to other organizations. Enchanted Hearts also hosts a “Passionate About Purple” Gala in honor of her grandmother to raise funds and awareness for the diseases, represented often with purple ribbons.

A new cause

In 2019, Jacqueline’s uncle reached out from Palestine. A veteran of the Marine Corps, he had encountered health challenges that meant a foot amputation, later increased to a below-knee amputation. As the long-time breadwinner of his family, the loss brought about some PTSD and he was struggling. They called Jacqueline for help.

“It was like pulling teeth to get information. I couldn’t find any good resources for them, and they would have to go to the VA in Waco/Temple but were having no luck,” she said. “I did not want to create another nonprofit because we’re so saturated with them, but like others, you establish something because if you cannot find a resolution to the problem, you create a solution. I interviewed about 85 active-duty, retired or homeless veterans about some things they wished were available now or when they were transitioning from active service, and we based the foundation on those things.”

The was created in December 2019, a 501©3 nonprofit committed to helping active-duty military, veterans and homeless veterans in Bexar County receive vital services as well as support and encouragement.

Jacqueline works to connect veterans with existing services and help them overcome hurdles to the Veterans Administration system that was designed to help them with medical and other needs. She also offers financial literacy classes, mental health outreach, and classes to help those transitioning from military to civilian life so they are prepared for the challenges and are aware of all their benefits.

“When you are in the military, you are told where to go, what to do, what to say and how to say it. When you are transitioning and separating from that life, now you have to think for yourself. Most have a plan but some do not and that’s where they slip through the cracks,” she said. “That’s what we’re trying to prevent and help them, like being mindful of their credit score so they can have a home in this land they’ve been fighting for. I just believe no veteran that fought for this country should be homeless or without resources.”

Overcoming challenges

And she’s seen great success stories. One man was living in a hotel near train tracks, and the whistles and noise were causing PTSD that was severely impacting his mental health. She was able to help get him to VA resources, where he was moved to an apartment. Volunteers donated furniture and even delivered it. The man recovered and was able to work and have a better quality of life.

Jacqueline understands that challenge herself. A certified nurse’s aide (CNA) since age 18 who then

became an LVN, she had worked for a home health agency for several years when an automobile accident in 2021 changed her course. Unable to do the strenuous work anymore, she took that year off in recovery to pursue her bachelor’s degree in business at 51吃瓜网视频, enjoying the experience. She also opted to earn her RN license to give herself opportunities for a higher level of work with less physical demands.

Working as a full-time home health nurse, Jacqueline juggles her various projects and organizations with four main characteristics: being organized, consistent, persistent and dedicated. Having great volunteers helps, especially with the slate of events that the Jacqueline Smith Foundation takes on annually.

Those include a “Dancing With the Vets” fundraising event in February offering resource tables, presentation of the Volunteer Veteran Awards and a night of dancing and enjoyment. In May, their Remembering the Fallen event is held close to Memorial Day, and the Charlie Watkins Memorial Parade in honor of her father happens in late June just before Independence Day. The parade includes floats, classic cars, time to honor veterans and lots of fun, this year in the form of a lip sync battle with judges. They close out the year by providing 400 families with a Thanksgiving meal and 500 children of veterans with toys at Christmas.

All the work is worth it for Jacqueline, though, as her servant’s heart shines through.

“You can make a difference from the nursing aspect and the organizational side,” she said. “When I’m able to come in and educate people or create peace in the middle of the chaos, there’s nothing like it. It’s like an anvil being lifted from their shoulders, and I really enjoy that part. It’s the reward for serving.”

  

Devotional: Trusting God in Decision Making

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

We all face decisions daily, ranging from the mundane to the monumental. Whether it's choosing a career path, making financial choices, or deciding how to respond in a challenging situation, the process can often feel overwhelming. The Bible offers timeless wisdom to guide us through these moments of uncertainty.

1. Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart: At the heart of decision-making is trust. When we place our trust in the Lord, we acknowledge that His wisdom far surpasses our own. Trusting God means surrendering our fears, anxieties, and desires, and believing that He has our best interests at heart. This kind of trust isn’t passive but active, requiring us to seek Him earnestly in prayer and be open to His guidance.

2. Lean Not on Your Own Understanding: Human understanding is limited and often biased by our experiences, emotions, and desires. Leaning on our own understanding can lead us astray, but relying on God’s infinite wisdom provides clarity and direction. It’s essential to remember that God’s perspective is eternal and He sees the bigger picture that we often cannot. This means sometimes His guidance may not make immediate sense to us, but we can be assured it is for our good.

3. Submit to Him in All Your Ways: Submission to God means acknowledging His sovereignty over every aspect of our lives. It involves a willingness to follow His lead, even when it requires sacrifice or change. By submitting to God, we align our desires with His will, ensuring that our decisions honor Him and reflect His purposes. This kind of submission is a daily practice of humility and faith, seeking God’s direction in both small and significant decisions.

4. He Will Make Your Paths Straight: God promises to guide us and make our paths straight when we trust, lean not on our understanding, and submit to Him. This doesn’t mean our journey will be without challenges, but it does mean we will have a clear direction and purpose. God’s guidance leads us to peace and fulfillment, as we walk in alignment with His plans for our lives.

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