Y OUNG V OICES
A12 Hood River News,
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
www.hoodrivernews.com
‘Interacting outdoors helps us appreciate each other and Oregon’
‘FRIENDS IN THE OUTDOORS’
by Rosalie Dillon, age 14
With the theme “My Commu-
nity Makes Me Better,” youths
from around Oregon submitted
photos this winter to the
2015 Oregon Youth Photo Con-
test, and Rosie Dillon of Hood
River is one of the winners.
Rosie, a ninth grader at Hood
River Valley High School, is the
daughter of Dr. Kristen Dillon and
Mayor Paul Blackburn of Hood
River. The contest helped mark
Oregon Public Health Week in
April, and was sponsored by
Northwest Health Foundation and
the Oregon Public Health Divi-
sion.
View all the photos at
www.northwesthealth.org.
Rosie said, “I kind of take pic- preciate each other and Oregon.”
tures whenever I see something I
(While the photo has a certain
think would be good or
precipitous quality,
for Instagram, so usual-
Rosie explained that be-
ly when I’m with friends
cause of cropping, the
at the water.
photo makes it look like
“I was honored,” she
she was higher than she
said. “I looked at the
was.)
other photos and they
A total of 95 entries
were pretty good.”
were received, accord-
Rosie wrote of her
ing to the foundation.
contribution, “I took
The 20 finalists were
this photo when my
picked by a panel of
Rosie Dillon
friends and I were hik-
judg es with back-
ing at Wahtum Lake last
grounds in art, health
summer. When we do things in equity and public health. The
nature, we create community by three winners were picked from
spending time together. Interact- among the finalists by a panel of
ing while outdoors helps us ap- youth judges.
For her 15th birthday, this teen gives to others
By SUSAN FROST
Providence Hood River
Most 15-year-old teenage
girls have a long list of birth-
day wishes; maybe the latest
cell phone or trendy clothing
item. That is not the case for
McKenna West. On her 15th
birthday this year, West
wanted only one thing: to
help ease the pain for pa-
tients
undergoing
chemotherapy.
West has been there. Not
as a patient, but as the
daughter of a mother bat-
tling breast cancer. She saw
it all. She saw her mother
suffer and fight, but ulti-
mately succumb to the dis-
ease.
On her birthday this year,
West brought four baskets of
goodies to the Providence
Hood River infusion center.
“I got the idea right before
Christmas last year,” said
West. “I was looking on Pin-
terest at cool baskets of
items that might help people
feel more comfortable when
they are sitting in an infu-
sion center. I put healthy
snacks, personal care items
that you might find in a spa
and a little note from me. My
hope is the patients will feel
some relief.”
Most kids want to receive
gifts on their birthday, but
this bright-eyed teen wanted
the gift of what it feels like to
share love and hope. “I know
my Mom is proud of me,”
said West. “We used to al-
ways do things together that
benefitted others, like choos-
ing names off a giving tree at
the holidays and buying gifts
for families in need.”
West had many infusion
nurses, pharmacy techs and
other caregivers in tears as
she told them about why she
was bringing in these bas-
kets of hope. “McKenna is
such an inspiration,” said
Mark Stanfield, pharmacist.
“Even with her busy life at
school, playing three sports
and being part of a large
family, McKenna wanted to
remember her Mom and
truly give to others. She pro-
vided special inspiration to
four patients today and
turned much of her own
pain into hope for others.”
Submitted photo
MCKENNA WEST with one of the care baskets she created for infusion patients at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.
W ORKING I T
HRVHS juniors Jonathan Bolanos and Edgar Alvarez shovel grass Wednesday, cleaning up a pathway
at the Seven Oaks Bed and Breakfast on Barker Road in Hood River for the HRVHS Summit Career Cen-
ter’s Community Work Day on April 29. HRVHS junior Uvaldo Bolanos weeds the main garden at Seven
Oaks. HRVHS students spread out around the county to help at businesses and private homes, with all
“salaries” going to local non-profits.
Photos by Patrick Mulvihill