Baraboo (May 21, 2008) -------- “Drug and alcohol addiction steals your soul and consumes your life,” said Christina Wilke, a counselor with St. Clare Hospital’s drug and alcohol treatment program, in her award winning essay.   “When patients come to St. Clare Center, they are often in the worst shape of their lives.  At the St. Clare Center, we teach them and their loved ones that addiction is a disease just like diabetes or heart disease.  We teach them the tools to enter recovery and live happy, joyous and free!”

Wilke joined 75 other health care employees from across the state at the 2008 Wisconsin Health Care Employee Pride Program recognition dinner at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells earlier this month.

The program, sponsored by the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) is designed to celebrate the health care workforce and recognize their “truly amazing” contributions to the health of their communities, according to WHA President Steve Brenton. 

“People who work in hospitals are among Wisconsin’s most dedicated and valuable employees.  It takes special people to care for others and our communities are richer, safer and healthier places to live because of these professionals,” Brenton said.  “Whether they are on the front lines, or supporting those who deliver patient care, every health care employee helps improve the health status in the community where they live and work.”

Employees were asked to describe what led them to choose an occupation in health, and why they decided to work in a hospital.  Hundreds of health care employees submitted essays.  A committee at each health care facility selected the winning essay, and that person was honored at the recognition banquet May 1.

The recognition program is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Society of Healthcare human Resources Administration, and the Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Executives.

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Here is Wilke’s essay. . . . .

WHY I WORK IN HEATHCARE

Do you know what it is like to be in the pit of hell? Where your life has hit rock bottom and at times you don’t even want to go on living? Drug and alcohol addiction steals your soul and consumes your life. It becomes an obsession; you try not to think about it but you know that you can’t live with it and you can’t live without it.  I know because I have been there. When I found there was another way to live, I knew it was my purpose in life to help others discover that “YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE THAT WAY IF YOU DON’T WANT TO!”

I am the inpatient clinical substance abuse counselor at the St. Clare Center. To me, coming to work everyday is not coming to “work.” I am coming to do what I was meant to do with my life. I have a purpose in life, a passion, and a reason to live; much different from the time when I questioned why I even wanted to live.

When patients come to St. Clare Center, they are often in the worst shape of their life. Many have lost everything-their sanity, their jobs, their self-respect, their family, their dignity. They are looked down upon and often asked by others, “Why can’t you just quit?”

At the St. Clare Center we teach them and their loved ones that addiction is a disease just like diabetes or heart disease; that they are not bad people or stupid or crazy. In addition to reducing their shame and the stigma of addiction, we teach them the tools to enter recovery and live happy, joyous and free!

I love working in the healthcare industry because seeing people regain hope, spirit and strength means more to me than any paycheck.

Christina Wilke, left, a counselor with St. Clare Hospital's drug and alcohol treatment program, was among 75 health care employees recognized at a state-wide event earlier this month.  She was accompanied to the reception and dinner by treatment program director Judy Hannaford.