Grateful patients

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Jennifer Sherman, COVID survivor and grateful patient

Jennifer Sherman is vice president of human services at Brunswick Senior Resources, a nonprofit organization that supports local seniors. Sherman’s department focuses on homebound services and other programs, such as Meals on Wheels, and benefits education. But last year, Sherman was the one needing support when both she and her husband contracted COVID-19.

Sherman was admitted to Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center. When messages of love and support came pouring in, nurse Kerri Hardee hung them all over the room.

“People would always come in and say, ‘You’re so loved’ because they would see the flowers and the posters,” Sherman said. “But I think they also felt the presence of the Lord in there because not once did I feel lonely or scared. I felt like I was carried in the arms of Jesus.”

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Allan Cheatham, small business owner and grateful patient

Allan Cheatham, owner of Shallotte Cleaners and Southport Cleaners, believes in taking care of people and giving back to the community where he lives and owns a business. In his four decades in the dry cleaning industry, he has helped countless members of his community salvage and care for important clothing.

Last year, Novant Health team members had a chance to return the favor when Cheatham contracted COVID-19. Cheatham — husband of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center Foundation Development Manager Cynthia Cheatham — knew he had a tendency to develop bronchitis, so he went to the ER at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, where doctors found he had pneumonia. They admitted Cheatham right away.

“They started me on an IV with two different antibiotics. By the next morning, I felt like a new person,” he said. “This was the first time I’d been in the hospital since I was 10 years old, and I can’t say enough about Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center.”

Read Allan’s story