Caregiver of the Month
We appreciate our staff!
Honoring team members who contribute a little extra. Every month we like to honor those individuals on our team who contribute a little extra, even beyond the normal exceptional service all our Caregivers provide.
Be sure to return frequently to see who is every month’s new Caregiver of the Month!
October 2026
Congratulations to Lynne Kern, Hiawatha Homecare’s October Caregiver of the Month! 
A smile of recognition. A client finding his voice. A first step all on his own.
“There are countless moments that have made my time with Hiawatha so wonderful for me,” says Lynne, who responded to her recognition with “tears of happiness.”
From seeing her client, who is deaf and blind, recognize her for the first time, to helping him (and eventually hearing him!) find and use his voice, Lynne treasures the milestones they’ve shared.
And while the smiles are a favorite part of her work, some of her proudest memories come after plenty of shared effort:
“It is working so hard with him, encouraging him when he wants to give up,” she says, “and making it to that moment where he succeeded – and took that first footstep all by himself!”
For Lynne, being part of that progress is what makes the work so meaningful.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity Hiawatha has given me to be whomever and whatever my client needs me to be as we both grow,” she shares.
That dedication shines through in her everyday care, too. Hiawatha Case Manager Heather Goodie describes Lynne as a strong advocate who makes sure her client’s needs are addressed.
“Most importantly,” Heather says, “she has built a wonderful connection with him and communicates with him with genuine kindness, patience, and compassion.”
Thank you, Lynne, for your kindness, advocacy, and dependable care. We appreciate you, and your client and his family do too! 
September 2026
Congratulations to Amy Egyhazi, our September Caregiver of the Month! 🎉
Amy has cared for her current client for more than a decade. In that time, she has learned his needs and routines while building a genuine relationship with him and his family.
In their words, “her kindness and professionalism would be tough to beat!”
While that bond makes ordinary days special, it became especially important when her client’s father underwent hip surgery. As he recovered, Amy went above and beyond to make herself available, giving the entire family extra support when they needed it most.
After more than ten years together, Amy wasn’t simply picking up extra hours. She was showing up for people she knew deeply and had grown to genuinely care for.
That kind of connection is Amy’s favorite part of homecare.
“I love getting to know my clients as well as their families and being an advocate for them all,” she shares.
Amy says she’s found that same spirit of care and cooperation within our team.
“I love working for Hiawatha!” she says. “I have never had such wonderful, caring office staff who are always willing to work with me on scheduling to benefit my home life as well as my clients.”
Amy’s story shows the power of homecare relationships built over time. When caregivers, clients, families, and office staff work together, care becomes more personal, trust grows deeper, and everyone feels supported.
Thank you, Amy, for more than ten years of kindness, advocacy, and dependable care. We’re proud to name you our September Caregiver of the Month! 💙
August 2026
We’re pleased to announce our August 2026 Caregiver of the Month: Cherri Lexvold! 🎉
Throughout many years on our team, Cherri has cared for everyone from pediatric clients to adults in their sixties. And when one of our littlest patients was discharged from the hospital last fall, Cherri was there to welcome her home.
As their daughter’s primary weekday nurse, Cherri gives her client’s parents the confidence to go to work knowing she is in caring hands.
“We are so grateful for Cherri,” they share. “We know that our daughter is not only cared for, but cared about. The transition into homecare would have been significantly more difficult without her!”
And that is only one of the many ways she makes their lives easier.
Each day, she guides their daughter through OT and PT exercises that help her grow stronger. At doctor’s appointments, she asks thoughtful questions and makes sure Hiawatha receives every updated order.
But perhaps most importantly?
“She makes our daughter laugh and smile each day!”
For Cherri, those personal connections are what make homecare so meaningful.
“Families welcome us into their homes so they can keep a loved one home with them,” she says. “While in the home, new friendships form. Sometimes that friendship becomes more like family.”
Cherri says those relationships can last long beyond her time in the home. She still keeps in touch with former clients and their families, and some of her proudest moments have been watching pediatric clients have their tracheostomy removed and graduate from her care.
As early as her clinicals, Cherri knew homecare was where she belonged. Since then, she has watched Hiawatha grow and change, but says its dedication to helping clients remain at home has never wavered.
“Nursing isn’t just a job; it’s a calling,” Cherri says. “I think that’s especially true for homecare nurses and those who work in nursing homes.”
Thank you, Cherri, for bringing skilled care, steadiness, and smiles to your client’s home. We appreciate you, and they do too! Congrats! 💙
July 2026
We’re pleased to announce our July 2026 Caregiver of the Month: Alicia Winter! 🎉
Great homecare is about more than the tasks completed during a shift. It’s about the trust built over time, the calm brought into a home, and the peace families feel when they know their loved one is truly cared for.
“Alicia consistently demonstrates kindness, patience, and genuine compassion in everything she does,” says her client’s family. “Her calm, reassuring presence has made a meaningful difference not only in our son’s comfort and well-being, but also in our peace of mind.”
That trust is earned night after night, when routines change, when extra support is needed, when the same dependable care shows up, every time.
“We are truly grateful for her dedication and the high level of care she provides each night,” they share. “Getting a good night’s sleep knowing our son is being well cared for is a priceless gift.”
For Alicia, that’s the heart of homecare.
“Being a homecare nurse is more than just a job to me; it’s a calling that I truly love and am passionate about,” she says.
Caring for someone in the comfort of their own home—where they feel safest and most like themselves—is what makes the work so meaningful to her. It’s also why the relationships she builds matter so deeply.
“One of the most beautiful parts of homecare is witnessing the kindness and love within my clients’ family,” says Alicia. “Their appreciation, support, and the way they come together for their loved one continually inspires me.
“It reminds me why I chose this path.”
Thank you, Alicia, for all you do! Congrats on this well-deserved recognition! 💙
June 2026
We’re pleased to announce our June 2026 Caregiver of the Month: Jennifer Lohman! 🎉
Jennifer has been part of Hiawatha for many years, first as a CNA and now as a newly licensed LPN. Along the way, we’ve been so proud to watch her continue growing in the nursing field.
One of Jennifer’s unique gifts is her fluency in ASL, which she has used both as a CNA and interpreter. So when we had the opportunity to match her with a client who communicates through sign language, it felt like a truly special fit.
And her client’s family agrees.
In just two months, they say Jennifer has made a wonderful impression. She is eager to learn, asks thoughtful questions, and brings positive energy into their home. Most importantly, she has built a friendly, trusting relationship with their son.
“Her warm, caring approach has helped him feel comfortable and supported, which means a great deal to us as parents. She takes the time to connect, and her kindness and patience do not go unnoticed––we’re so grateful to have her involved in our son’s care!”
This match is meaningful for Jennifer, too.
“It has been a blessing to be a nurse, use my sign language skills in caring for my client, and be welcomed graciously into my client’s home,” she says. “Hiawatha has supported me through my career change, and I will be forever grateful.”
Thank you, Jennifer, and congrats! We’re grateful for the heart you bring to homecare, and your client and his family are too! 🙌✨
May 2026
We’re pleased to announce our May 2026 Caregiver of the Month: Annette Fennern! 🎉
Annette has been with Hiawatha for her entire nursing career, which began 14 years ago after a nudge from her therapist to go back to school.
Annette was 45, and already had a four-year degree. But she went anyways.
That decision changed everything.
“One of the best decisions I have ever made was going back to school for my RN,” she shares. “Nursing, and specifically working with Hiawatha, my client, and her family, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
Before homecare, Annette worked in a detox setting and knew what crisis looked like in a medical environment.
“I’ve seen the chaos of addiction,” she says. “Homecare gives us so much more. The ability to know our clients inside and out is lifesaving.”
That deep connection is the heart of homecare. Knowing the little things, the daily routines, and building trust with the whole household—which, in Annette’s case, includes a snuggly service dog in training!
“They truly do become family… just like Hiawatha Homecare.”
Annette’s client’s mom, who nominated her, shared:
“Ms. A, as we lovingly call Annette, is a godsend for our family. She is our daughter’s cheerleader, encouraging her to try new things and not take life too seriously. We are so grateful to have her as part of our team!”
Annette hopes to remain with her client until the end of her nursing career. And even then, she wonders:
“Do we as nurses ever really leave the nursing industry?”
Thank you, Annette, for following your second calling into nursing. We’re grateful for you, and your client and her family are too! 🙌✨