A life without limits: President Bush presents award to Life Care volunteer, Debbie Chadwick

President Bush presents Debbie Chadwick with the President’s Volunteer Award.

On Feb. 21, 2007, a breathless crowd on the tarmac of Chattanooga’s Lovell Field Airport awaited the approach of an aircraft. News cameras pointed toward the sky, and reporters jockeyed for the best position to announce the arrival of the President of the United States, George W. Bush. Dignitaries, professionals, media representatives, community members and military personnel all stood excitedly awaiting the first glimpse of Air Force One. Among that crowd was one little lady who might, on any other day, go unnoticed.

But not that day.

Air Force One appeared in the eastern sky and began its smooth descent to Tennessee soil. The excitement in the air manifested itself in applause and cheers. The door of the plane opened, and President Bush appeared at the top of the stairway and began waving to the crowd.

The unassuming little lady in the crowd was ushered forward, waving enthusiastically to the onlookers. The president turned and swiftly strode across the field to greet Debbie Chadwick, a 10-year volunteer at Life Care Center of Missionary Ridge. The nation’s commander-in-chief came to face Debbie, her mother and her sister, Barbara, for more than a tender emotional moment. He was there to present Chadwick with the President’s Volunteer Award, the nation’s highest recognition of extraordinary achievement in volunteerism.

President Bush opened a small case that held the award — a beautiful lapel pin — and presented it to her. Debbie shook the president’s hand, and he in turn gave her a peck on the cheek. She wasted no time in giving him a hug and a kiss in return.

As the crowd clapped, she enthusiastically pointed at her cardigan sweater’s lapel, indicating she wished the president to personally pin on the award. He swiftly obliged. It was learned later that that day was the first time in the more than 550 award presentations of this kind the president had ever pinned the award on for a recipient.

Chadwick’s story, however, is one of overcoming the odds and the gift of a life lived without limits. When she was born, people didn’t give her much of a chance to do anything significant in this world. Why would they? She was born with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra chromosome. The condition is characterized by a combination of major and minor differences in body structure.

A doctor even suggested to her mother, Mary, that she consider placing Debbie in an institution. Mary would have none of that. She - not strangers - would raise and love her daughter. The people who were counting Debbie out were wrong. On that February day, she accomplished what very few individuals in this could ever do. She received acknowledgement from the most powerful man in the world.

Debbie, at 43 years old, according to her mother, “has done more than we ever thought she would.” When asked if Debbie has always had a heart for people, Mary replied, “When she was first in school she was so shy, she would crawl under the desk if anyone came in the room. Two years later, we were trying to think of ways to keep her in her seat!”

It turned out there’s not really a way to keep Debbie in her seat. She volunteers at Life Care Center of Missionary Ridge each Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. During those hours, she works alongside Mae Petty, the activities and volunteer director. Debbie has developed two programs for the residents - HATS (Hugs and Touches) to make them feel loved, and SSAP (Silent, Sightless Angel Program), which encourages blind residents to learn to read Braille books. Debbie will assist blind residents by moving their fingers across Braille letters, enabling them to read for longer periods of time. The SSAP program teaches hearing impaired or deaf residents at the facility to communicate by sign language what they are feeling - physically or emotionally - with the nursing staff at any given time. This communication system has aided the facility in providing targeted, quality care for these residents.

The president’s award for her volunteer service was not Chadwick’s first. In 2005, she won the Volunteer of the Year award from the Tennessee Health Care Association, and last year she received the top volunteer award from the American Health Care Association during its annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

When asked what she enjoys most about volunteering at Missionary Ridge, she replied with a smile, “Hugs for the residents!”

Petty can attest to this. “We are so proud of her,” she said. “When Debbie comes through the door, things change.”

Despite all the accolades and media attention and the kiss on the cheek she received from President Bush, she kept the whole event in perspective. “This won’t change her life one bit,” her mother said. “She’ll go right back to volunteering.”

And that’s exactly what she did.

Watch a video clip of this event here.

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