Veteran gets behind-the-scenes look at Marshalltown Speedway
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — IVH resident Ronald Dailey got to meet drivers at Marshalltown Speedway thanks to staff at Iowa River Hospice. From left to right, Brandon Freeburg, hospice aide Olivia Parks and Dailey shaking hands with Joel Huggins.
Veteran Ronald Dailey pictured here chatting with racer Ben George.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — IVH resident Ronald Dailey got to meet drivers at Marshalltown Speedway thanks to staff at Iowa River Hospice. From left to right, Brandon Freeburg, hospice aide Olivia Parks and Dailey shaking hands with Joel Huggins.
Veteran Ronald Dailey pictured here chatting with racer Ben George.
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Teamwork makes the dream work.
That was the motto of a group of volunteers who worked to fulfill the wish of Iowa Veterans Home resident Ronald Dailey. The veteran attended races at Marshalltown Speedway the night of September 1, also gaining access to the pits and meeting some of the drivers.
When McKenna Huseboe, Dailey's primary nurse through Iowa River Hospice, learned of his love of racing, she worked to get him to one with help from the Make a Dream Come True program. The request got the ball rolling in a matter of days.
"It's wonderful that when I ask somebody in the community (for assistance), they always say yes," said Pamela Wells with Iowa River Hospice. "I haven't had to use any Iowa River Hospice funding to make these dreams come true since I started working here. As a team, we make it happen. Medicare pays for some things, but a lot of (requests) aren't covered."
Dailey was taken out to the speedway for a night of fun. Race promoter Jerry Vansickel donated the tickets for Dailey and nursing staff/driver to attend.
Danette Damman, an outpatient nurse, also with Iowa River Hospice, accompanied him.
"I was going to the races anyway. My son-in-law, Jake Nelson, has a hobby stock car," Damman said. "The bus dropped Ron off at the pits where we first met at Jake's trailer, then we drove around to the others."
Dailey got to also meet Joel Rust, Austin Kaplan, Joel Higgins, Brandon Freeburg, Ben George, Adam Baker and Andy Peck.
"I approached them about meeting Ron, telling them about our program. He met drivers from California, Nebraska, Arizona and Iowa. The drivers were very receptive to him," she added.
It was the first time Dailey had ever been to the Marshalltown Speedway, although he's a long-time fan of the sport.
"I enjoyed everything about it. I had a good view," Dailey said of the evening.
Dailey, who is originally from Packwood, spent 20 years in the Army and served in Vietnam. An avid outdoorsmen, he has enjoyed hunting, fishing and swimming. When his health began to decline, he moved to IVH where he tools around in a wheelchair. He said he's very happy where he lives and is impressed with his care team.
"When I was in the army, I used to go to the big races, like in Daytona down south when I was stationed down there," he said. "Around here, I go to the smaller races. I like the speed and them trying to outrace each other."
Dailey left the races, tired, a bit dirty, and with a smile on his face.
"He smiled the whole night," Damman said.
Wells said any patient in their care could approach a team member -- nurse, aide, social worker, etc. -- with a request. While some patients live on-site, many remain in their homes or other care centers and have nurses come to them.
"One gentleman always wanted to go to Europe, so one of our social workers made him a book of pictures and she superimposed him in the book. He just wept when we gave it to him," Wells said.
Local restaurants have donated meals. Other patients have requested the chance to attend Iowa Cubs baseball games and tour local businesses.
It all adds up to enriching the lives of those dealing with a terminal illness.
"It brought tears to my eyes. And I want to thank every one of them," Dailey said.
Iowa River Hospice is located at 502 Plaza Heights Rd. It may be reached at 641-753-7704.