Sayre Saved My Life

Colleen Cornett, building attendant at Baunta Apartments, has been nominated by her peers and selected as an official nominee by the LeadingAge Kentucky state board for the Caring Heart Award.

Giving back and loving people as much as she possibly can is the heart cry of Colleen Cornett.

You see it is in the giving, that she herself was healed.

Two months after her bi- lateral mastectomy due to breast cancer, Colleen’s beloved son Duane was killed in a head on collision. Both she and her husband were devastated. Duane was a very special man who loved to give and care for others.

Drowning in grief Colleen knew she had to get out of the house. Colleen’s aunt used to live at Sayre Christian Village so she thought she would look online to see if they had any openings. As fate would have it, they did, and Colleen was hired on the spot.

Sayre Saved My Life

“God brought me to Sayre to save my life. I thought I was coming here to work to love and take care of seniors, but instead their open and accepting ways healed me…. they healed me.”

Colleen’s co-workers have said of her “that she has listened to stories about pain, poverty, love, life and death and she is present with every single person with whom she spends time.

“Colleen listens with an open mind, willing ears and a compassionate heart” quotes a resident.

Listening Ear & Willing Hands

“I was suffering with loneliness because of the COVID lockdown, and after spending time with Colleen I realized I wasn’t alone after all.”

Colleen has brought groceries for residents who were out of supplies, spent time counseling residents, and doing anything and everything they ask her to do.

One of the male residents was wearing old tattered clothes and Colleen kicked into action and brought that resident some of her husbands’ clothes. Much to Colleen’s delight, the male resident was wearing one of his “new” shirts the next day.

“She is more than family to us.” Says a resident. “Colleen has spent more time listening to me than any of my family members.”

History of Caring For Others

Before starting work at Sayre Christian Village Colleen worked for 21 years at the Highland Regional Medical Center in Prestonsburg, KY. Her job was Receptionist and Office Coordinator for the Mammogram Department. Colleen said that is where she realized her calling was to bring comfort and healing through the power of listening to the patients who were worried as they waited for their turn to be scanned.

By His Example…

“God has given me the gift of loving people unconditionally no matter who they are.”

Colleen knows the dignity and importance of doing the everyday things in life with diligence and love, even when it goes unrecognized. She embodies the sanctity of the ordinary extraordinary things…showing up to work …. caring for her family, being involved in her church and volunteering in her community. Colleen is an inspiration to all of us who work at Sayre, and especially those she serves at the HUD housing apartments for older adults on our Sayre Christian Village campus in Lexington, Kentucky.

Join Our Team

Sayre Christian Village has been giving award-winning service to seniors in the Bluegrass for over 35 years. We are accepting applications for talented and caring team members. We are Fayette County’s only non-profit continuing care retirement community and a great place to work!