At OhioHealth at Home in partnership with Compassus, caregiving isn’t just our profession—it’s woven into the very fabric of who we are. For Sandy Thacker, RN, BSN, and Lisa Hedrick, RN, of Marion, OH, it’s also something even more profound: a calling they share not just with their patients, but with each other as mother and daughter.
Working together in home health care, Sandy and Lisa have found a deeper connection—one built not only on family ties, but on a shared passion for compassionate care. Though their roles differ—Sandy as a Home Health RN Case Manager and Lisa as a Clinical Coordinator—their hearts beat in sync when it comes to serving patients and supporting one another.
“Working with my mom is really nice,” Sandy says. “We can communicate so well because of our bond. We’re comfortable being honest about what we need to best take care of our patients.”
Lisa echoes the sentiment, sharing that while they don’t see each other every day, just knowing her daughter is nearby brings a sense of comfort and pride.
Their journey to working side-by-side is a story of inspiration and perseverance. Lisa became a nurse later in life while raising three young children—often studying late into the night and balancing clinicals with motherhood. Sandy, then a junior high schooler, often sat by her mother’s side, quizzing her for exams.
“That’s where my interest in nursing first sparked,” Sandy recalls. “I didn’t question what I wanted to do after that. I knew I was going to be a nurse.”
After Lisa paved the way in home health, Sandy initially shadowed her mother at work. Ironically, Sandy wasn’t sure home health was her path at first. But after gaining experience in other nursing settings, she found her way back—following, in many ways, the footsteps her mother had so thoughtfully laid.
Now, as a mother of two boys herself, Sandy’s appreciation for Lisa runs even deeper.
“I understand now more than ever how much my mom juggled,” Sandy shares. “She’s not only my mom—she’s my inspiration. Watching her care for patients with such compassion taught me to always advocate for my patients first.”
Lisa feels the same, swelling with pride watching Sandy balance motherhood, nursing and all life’s demands with such grace. “She makes her dad and me so proud,” Lisa says. “She’s an amazing
wife, mother and nurse—and she does it all with a loving heart.”
Their favorite shared memories aren’t always on the job, but in the small, beautiful moments their careers have made possible. After each of Sandy’s maternity leaves, mother and daughter returned to the office together to introduce Sandy’s newborns—mom beaming with pride as “Gigi,” a title she wears with joy.
Mother’s Day holds deep meaning for them both. Lisa, who lost her own mother, Sandra, at a young age, chose to name her daughter after her.
“Mother’s Day is bittersweet for me,” Lisa says. “But working with Sandy and seeing her as a mother herself—it’s a full-circle moment. It’s a reminder of the legacy of love and strength that continues through her.”
Their story is more than a tale of shared careers—it’s a testament to the power of family, resilience and the quiet, enduring strength that mothers pass on to their children.
At Compassus, we celebrate caregivers like Sandy and Lisa, who embody compassion not only in their work but in every fiber of their being. Their story reminds us that the heart of care often begins at home—and in their case, it’s a bond that only grows stronger with each patient they serve, each life they touch and each other.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and caregivers who inspire, nurture and heal—today and every day.
