In the last few years, we’ve enhanced our services by bringing in some new professionals, including a respiratory therapist, Terri Flannery, CRT. That’s Terri with her buddy, Nate.

A number of young people who live at St. Mary’s Home and The Albero House are breathing easier because of Terri — and because of the generosity of our friends at the Millers Foundation, formerly the Miller Oil Foundation.

A $5,740 grant from the foundation made it possible for us to buy VitalCough System by Hill-Rom that stimulates coughing to keep the lungs clear.

The machine gives kids a good, deep breath to get air in the lower portion of the lungs. That “really helps clear those airways,” Terri explained to Foundation board members JoAnne Miller and Mark Pryor when they visited the Home and met Eric, one of the children benefitting from the grant.

The Foundation is the charitable arm of Miller’s, formerly Miller Oil Company. Lindsay Pryor, another member of the Foundation’s board, also is part of St. Mary’s Embrace Cabinet, a volunteer leadership group that guides us in fundraising, marketing and other areas.