HeartShare’s Sharkey II Residence was the recipient of the agency’s Spirit Award.

The award reads “The Spirit Award is presented proudly to the staff of the Sharkey II Residence in recognition of Outstanding Services to the Program’s Individuals.” The award was presented to the program’s employees on Thursday, July 27th.

Sharkey II Residence was acknowledged for its support of Edgardo, who has cerebral palsy and faced another diagnosis further debilitating his muscle coordination. Edgardo typically didn’t use a walker or a wheelchair, so he was not only frustrated, but also feeling isolated, as he could no longer attend his day habilitation program or go home to visit his family.

The staff at Sharkey counseled and supported Edgardo, as well as encouraged him to participate in activities that he always enjoyed, like the agency’s dinner dance. Edgardo no longer was himself and because of the drastic change in his mobility, his doctor recommended surgery. Again, the staff was there with Edgardo every step of the way.

The surgery required six weeks of intensive rehab, but the HeartShare team remained upbeat and hopeful. Edgardo not only returned home at Sharkey II for his welcome home party, but was able to climb up two flights of stairs to get there. Edgardo can’t wait to head to the HeartShare Residential Services Dinner Dance this Fall.

The Spirit Award is given twice annually to a HeartShare Developmental Disabilities Services program in the areas of overall programmatic excellence and dedication to our individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The award is a part of HeartShare’s culture of acknowledging outstanding employees and encouraging their professional growth.