When tragedy struck, Kara Reyes, DPT, physical therapist, Parkview Health, learned what it means to have your work family show up for you.
In January 2024, Kara’s husband, Robert, was diagnosed with a fast-growing, incurable, stage 4 cancer. She needed time off so that she could be with him while he received care. “My boss was willing to work with me on my schedule and whatever I needed,” Kara said, “and my co-workers offered prayers and support to my family.”
When Kara’s neighbor, a Parkview co-worker, learned about the Reyes family’s situation from Kara’s girls, then ages 5 and 7, he immediately reached out to human resources to donate some of his paid time off (PTO) to Kara. “I came in the next day, and I had an email saying I’d received donated hours,” Kara said, overcome by the kindness. She called her neighbor that night to express her gratitude.
Sadly, Robert was eventually moved into hospice care. Kara took an extended leave from her position to be with him during his final days and in the weeks following his passing.
Now back at work, she feels overwhelmed by the kind gestures her co-workers, some of whom she doesn’t even know personally, showed to her during this difficult journey. “Multiple people helped by offering kindness and generosity, whether they knew me or not. It was a huge lift in a difficult situation. There’s no way I can say how much it meant to me, to my girls and to Robert, that I got to have that time with him.”
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