Houston nurse named Regional Caregiver of the Year by Maxim Healthcare Group

WASILLA— Houston resident Sarah Endy was recently recognized by Maxim Healthcare Group for her work going above and beyond for her clients and her overall workmanship, receiving the Regional Caregiver of the Year award for Alaska.

Endy is a registered nurse who’s been a member of Maxim since 2014, according to a recent press release. Maxim is a national provider of home healthcare, companion and behavioral care, healthcare staffing, and workforce solutions.

Endy was honored for her strong work ethic, mentorship to fellow nurses, and tireless dedication to her patients, particularly for her ceaseless efforts providing vital support and life-enriching care of a five-month-old named Edgar.

Edgar is a patient diagnosed with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a condition in which the diaphragm does not fully form, causing abdominal organs to push up into the chest cavity. He uses a ventilator with a tracheostomy tube that required frequent suctioning to keep his airway clear and a gastrostomy tube for feeding.

Endy was assigned to work with Edgar over four years ago and commutes over 100 miles per day from her Valley home to Anchorage to ensure his around-the-clock care.

According to the press release, Edgar’s family stated that Endy has a “heart of gold” and she’s “always shown that people matter to her.”

They recalled a particular incident when Edgar’s trach became blocked putting him at severe risk of choking, but thanks to Endy’s quick instincts and medical training, she was able to complete a trach change, clearing Edgar’s airway and allowing him to breathe again.

Edgar is now a thriving four-year-old who will soon be graduating from Maxim’s services. Endy said that departing from Edgar will be “bittersweet.”

“It feels great to know that Edgar has gone from a fragile baby to a strong little guy,” Endy stated in the press release.

Edgar’s family expressed immense gratitude for Endy’s care, and indicated that she exceeds expectations with her attention to detail, instinctive action, and dedication to his overall happiness and care. They said they’re at ease knowing Edgar is in her care.

According to the press release, Endy is often a go-to training source for new nurses due to her experience as an emergency room and home care nurse, combined with her natural caregiving instincts. She focuses on vital skills such as proper ventilator care and special support for pediatric patients.

Maxim’s Caregiver of the Year Award program has been celebrating nurses and home healthcare aides for their key roles in delivering quality, patient-centered care to some of the nation’s most medically fragile and chronically ill patients for 10 years.

A panel of judges selected Endy and three other regional winners from hundreds of nominations across the country. She will be presented with the award during a ceremony on February 1, 2022, where the company will also announce the national winner who will receive Maxim’s John “Doc” Langley National Caregiver of the Year Award.

For more information, visit maximhealthcare.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com