Excellence in Skilled Nursing – Whatever It Takes Winners for Dec. 2025

Our Whatever It Takes Champions program honors associates who go beyond their job descriptions in caring for our patients, residents, and families. Here are four recent winners and their inspiring stories. We are proud to have associates like these who define what it means to be Champions of Care!

Tammie Little, Activity Assistant at Life Care Center of Ocala

Tammie is a Whatever It Takes winner because she recently did just that to help a resident say goodbye to her son.

After an unexpected event, the resident’s son ended up on life support, so the resident needed to get to the hospital to see him and say goodbye. Last-minute transportation scheduling can be challenging, but Tammie made sure the resident had no trouble getting to the hospital. Two days in a row, Tammie personally gave the resident a ride so that she could say goodbye to her son.

Christina Hernandez, CNA at Life Care Center of Morehead

Around the holidays in 2025, Christina entered a resident’s room and was surprised to see the resident wearing reindeer antlers. They told her they planned on dressing like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to spread a little holiday cheer at breakfast later that morning. The only problem was that the resident was unable to make a proper red nose to complete their look.

So, Christina went out and bought them the perfect Rudolph nose! The delighted resident popped on the nose and completed their mission to bring joy to their fellow residents.

Trinity Henderson, CNA at Life Care Center of La Center

Trinity’s nomination came from a resident at Life Care Center of La Center. Here is what they had to say about the care they receive from Trinity:

“Trinity has been my nurse aide in the evenings. She has been super nice, patient, attentive to my needs. Very patient with me, makes sure I am warm and taken care of. Anything good you can say, you can say about Trinity.”

Mikal Zschoche, Health Information Manager at Alderwood Manor

Mikal does a lot of good behind the scenes and beyond her job description, but recently she played the role of Santa for many residents at the facility.

Each year, there are new residents who don’t have many friends or relatives, so they may not receive a gift around the holidays. Mikal, who wants all residents to feel seen and appreciated, makes sure that every resident has a personalized, beautifully wrapped gift on Christmas morning.

After receiving her gift this year, one resident said, tear running down her cheek, “I just got here a couple days ago…This is real Christmas magic!”