St. Mary’s roots run deep in the Hampton Roads Community. 80 years ago, the Home was started by an order of Catholic nuns in Norfolk, Virginia. Over the years, we’ve been privileged to build relationships with local businesses, providers, schools, and families. But what many don’t realize is that our services extend to the whole Commonwealth.
Family involvement is essential for providing the best care to those we serve. For families who live near the Home, regular visits are a normal part of their routine. But families who live further away find creative ways to maintain those parent-child relationships long-distance.
The Scherzinger family is based out of Northern Virginia. They told us about their decision to move their daughter, Rachel, into the Home almost 20 years ago. They had hoped to care for Rachel in their home, but they found that in-home care was unreliable. As Rachel got older, her needs increased, and her mom, Eileen, said balancing Rachel’s care with the needs of her two sons was challenging. The Scherzinger’s found St. Mary’s Home through the recommendation of family friends, whose daughter was born in the same hospital as Rachel. In 2002, she moved into St. Mary’s Home.
Eileen says that transition was hard for their tight-knit family. But they found creative ways to stay close. In the early 2000’s, shortly after Rachel moved, the Scherzinger’s helped purchase the Home’s first tv and computer which all the families could use to video-call with their loved ones, a huge improvement for those who communicated non-verbally.
Over the years, they proved that distance couldn’t stop them from keeping their family traditions alive. On Friday nights, they would have “family pizza night,” ordering pizza delivery for Rachel and for staff, and would eat together over video call. The Scherzinger’s built a relationship with the direct support professionals and nurses who were present with Rachel during these calls. They now describe their bond as “family.”
Though they felt the loss of Rachel in their home, Eileen says, “When I saw all of the services that were available to her at St. Mary’s, I knew this was the place for her.”
St. Mary’s is committed to reaching beyond Hampton Roads to make families aware of our services. We are grateful to families who tell their story and help spread the word about the amazing work that happens here.