January 27, 2012 - Baptist Memorial Online

Leader Jan. 27, 2012_ƒLeader_Alt_Cover.qxp 2/10/12 1:53 PM Page 6DenekaSouthaven firefighters donate to Baptist DeSoto Continued from page 1and take me to church on everySunday I was off.”Southaven firefighters donated more than $1,400 to Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto’s mammography unit by selling t-shirts to the community. Accepting thecheck is, left to right, Susan King, BMHC Foundation development officer; DonnaHoppe, manager of Radiology; Robin Simpson, director of Radiology Services; andJami Stafford, mammography technologist. Representing the SouthavenFirefighters Association is left to right, Ken Collins, president; Rodney Turner, vicepresident; Gary S. Hicks, secretary/treasurer; Craig Woodard and Matt Hitt.Baptist sponsors Habitat for Humanity homeand building begins March 9. Theproject culminates during HospitalWeek, May 6-12.The home will bededicated Wednesday, May 9.A steering committee includesHabitat Champions selected fromeach metro entity who will spearheadvolunteer recruitment effortsfor the project, including volunteerkick-off activities and sign upopportunities.Baptist Memorial Health Care is Please view the Habitat forteaming up with Habitat forHumanity link on the systemHumanity of Greater Memphis to MyBaptist page to see the list ofbuild a home for a family in need Habitat Champions.during its centennial celebration.According to Habitat for Humanity, Baptist Habitat Build ScheduleBaptist’s commitment is the largestMarch 9, 10, 17, 31sponsorship by a health careorganization in the Memphis area, April 11, 18, 28and colleagues are invited to be aHome Dedication–May 9part of this historic project.For more information, pleaseIn addition to the $70,000contact the Corporate Communitymonetary contribution, Baptist hasInvolvement department at 901-also committed to recruiting227-3528.approximately 500 colleagues tovolunteer as a part of this communityoutreach project. Colleaguescan volunteer in four-hour shifts“Back then, they didn’t know whatwas wrong until they were in theoperating room,” she said. “By thetime he was in surgery, it was too lateto do anything for him.”As a teenager, Deneka sold ticketsat the Munford Theater, earning $3 aweek, and during the summer, sheworked at a department store inMillington for $5 a week.Her mother encouraged her topursue a career in nursing, and in1943, she entered the nurse trainingprogram at Baptist MemorialHospital in downtown Memphis.“It was a lot different than it isnow,” she said. “The hospital onlyhad 500 beds, and the rooms did nothave restrooms or telephones.Student nurses had to be impeccablydressed, and our uniforms wereinspected every morning at 6:45. Ifthere was something wrong withyour attire, you were sent back toyour room to change.”Nurses were required to sterilizeall medical items, hand sharpenneedles and mix the fluids for IVbags, which could take several hours.The students had to follow strictguidelines while in the nursingprogram. One rule was especiallydifficult for Deneka’s father tofollow.“He was always bringing me foodfrom home, which was against therules,” she said. “I remember onetime he brought me a watermelon.After my roommate and I ate it, sheput the rinds in the trash on everyfloor but ours. We were nevercaught.”When she graduated in 1946,Deneka decided to pursue her certificationin anesthesia.To do so required moving toDetroit for a year.“I was scared to death because Ihad never been outside Memphis,”she said. “I didn’t know anyonethere, but someone did pick me upWhen Deneka returned toMemphis, she began working as ananesthesia nurse at the BaptistMedical Center.She worked with several urologistsduring her time at the MedicalCenter, including Dr. ThomasMoore, who was the original ownerof Graceland.“Dr. Moore actually named itGraceland,” she said. “After hepassed away, his wife sold it to ElvisPresley for $1 million.”Within a few years of her return toMemphis, her neighbor begantrying to arrange a blind date for herwith a naval officer. Deneka turnedher down, so she took it uponherself to arrange a meeting.“I was invited to a party at themilitary base, and my neighborinvited me to go,” she said. “I didn’tknow that Harry was going to bethere, as well. We met, just kind ofclicked and were married the nextyear.”Deneka worked in anesthesiauntil 1981, when her youngest sonswere in school.Wanting to be able to spend timewith them, she left Baptist to staywith them and help her husband runhis store in Millington.However, she could not stay awayfrom health care for long. In 1986,after her youngest son graduatedhigh school, Deneka returned toBaptist, this time as a recovery roomnurse at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton.“I have worked hard all of my life,and I was never sorry that I returnedto work,” she said. “I love nursingmore than anything I have everdone.”Deneka’s supervisor, Debra Kidd,has worked with her for 25 years andsaid Deneka can still “run circles”around younger nurses.Continued on page 6