BY KATLAN THOMERSON
Glasgow News 1
Today the T. J. Community Mission Foundation and the Shanti Niketan Hospice Home invited the public to attend a dedication ceremony for the recently finished Manju Garden and Tree of Life Fountain.
Captured is a photo of the program for the Manju Garden and Tree of Life dedication held May 7 at the Shanti Niketan Hospice Home. By Katlan Thomerson/Glasgow News 1
“There’s no better analogy to represent what we do and to represent this place here,” Neil Thornbury, CEO of T.J. Regional Health, said. “Much like a gardener tries to bring nutrients, stimulate growth, and give them everything they need, that’s what our team does here for all of our patients. We try to give them everything that they could possibly have to grow and thrive during the later parts of their lives and for me, that’s what this garden represents.”
Executive Director Randy Burns began the program by thanking everyone for attending and recognized several people who contributed to the project, including Larry T. Glass of Glasgow.
“We’re able to stand on a level surface right here because Larry T was out here with his great big bull dozers about 11 years ago, clearing the land. To know Larry has been one of my highlights during the time that I’ve been in this community and worked as a part of this Foundation. We’re excited to be able to name the Tree of Life fountain in his honor,” Burns said.
CEO Neil Thornbury was the second to speak, first being Executive Director Randy Burns, during the dedication program. By Katlan Thomerson/Glasgow News 1
After Burn’s brief remarks he handed the microphone to Thornberry.
“We’re proud to operate what I know is the best residential hospice home in the state of Kentucky,” Thornberry said. “It would rival any in the south and I can tell you that it is one of the best in the country. The staff that take care of the patients and families who come here, are exactly the same. They are the best in the country and that’s really what makes this place really special. One of the reasons that I vowed to always work for a non-profit is that we take our money, and we reinvest it. We reinvest it in our people, we reinvest in our buildings, we reinvest in our services and there are some services that we know we cannot make a profit out of, but we know that it is the right thing to do for our community. And this is one of those services.”
Next, Dr. Bharat Mody encouraged attendees to take a tour of the hospice home to truly experience Shanti Niketan.
“We named this as a Manju Garden and what that means is beautiful, pleasant, like the morning dew,” Mody said. “If you want to really feel the tranquility that our patients and their family and our dedicated workers feel, you just come out, stand here for a minute, then sit down and wait minute. You will feel the tranquility. That is the function the Shanti Niketan Hospice Home.”
Following Dr. Mody, Burns returned to the podium.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say that if you know Dr. Bharat and Bhrati Mody, you know that the things that are most important to them in their lives are the relationships and people who are in their lives,” Burns said. “The donation that they made to be able to fund the garden here was in memory of some friends of theirs who they’ve been friends with since they’ve lived in Glasgow and are no longer with us. Rue and Nell Houchens, Billy Elmore, Freddie Travis, David and Betty Bailey, and Larry Garmon.”
Karla Gentry was given the microphone by Randy Burns after he recalled the friends Dr. Mody. By Katlan Thomerson/Glasgow News 1
Karla Gentry, Director of Nursing -Hospice at the hospital was the last before a “prayer of blessings” was offered by Mitchell Nance.
“Back in 2015, the board of directors of the T. J. Community Mission Foundation had a vision for a resident hospice home which became a reality in March of 2021. Since our opening, I have observed a dedicated staff work to provide compassion and support to a total of 150 patients,” Gentry said. “In doing this I have witnessed this team fulfill the meaning of the name Shanti Niketan which is to provide a peaceful place for our patients. The Tree of Life is often associated by many with spiritual beliefs. For someone in hospice care in can symbolize their journey from this life to the next, acknowledging the continuity of existence beyond what we have experienced.”
In the end, Burns directed people’s attention to the many blank bricks that make up the ground around the fountain.
“As part of our vision for the fountain, we wanted it to be set on a paver patio because there’s so many people who have been touched by this place or who have been passionate about being a part of making this place a reality and expressed that they would love to be able to do something to maybe honor someone. So, we provided the opportunity for folks to be able to do that through purchasing a paver to be a part of our patio,” Burns said.
Those interested in contributing to the works of the Shanti Niketan Hospice Home have the opportunity to purchase a Tree of Life Garden Pavers. All proceeds for engraved pavers will help support the Shanti Niketan Hospice Home.
