During Historic Storm, Lutheran SeniorLife Therapist Refuses to Turn Away

The morning of Monday, January 26, arrived under an unforgiving winter sky. A powerful weekend storm had blanketed Butler County with more than 12 inches of snow, the region’s heaviest single-day snowfall since 2010. Temperatures sat well below freezing, and wind chills threatened to plunge into the negatives. Side roads were undrivable, plows fought to keep major roads passable, and most residents did what the weather demanded of them: stay inside.

Jacque Grguras did not.

A Physical Therapist Assistant on the Lutheran SeniorLife Rehabilitation team, Grguras had a reason to go out. One of her LIFE Butler County participants was unable to make it into the LIFE Center that morning. The storm had made sure of that.

Grguras could have documented the absence and moved on. Instead, she chose to check in personally. The participant was on her caseload, and something about the situation did not sit right.

When Grguras arrived, she learned the participant’s furnace had broken down. The thermostat was set to 85 degrees, but cold air continued to pour from the vents. Inside the apartment, the temperature had dropped to nearly 60 degrees. The participant, worried more about Grguras than herself, initially asked her not to come inside, afraid she would be exposed to the cold.

It would have been easy to respect the request and leave.

Grguras did not.

She went inside because her instincts told her this was not a situation to walk away from. Years of experience had taught her that sometimes care means insisting, even when it is inconvenient.

Later, Lutheran SeniorLife President and CEO David Fenoglietto would say that had Grguras ignored that instinct, the day could have ended much differently. Amy Ferrill-Olson, Director of Rehabilitation Services for LIFE Programs, would say Grguras did not take no for an answer when her gut and her faith told her to keep going.

At that moment, Grguras, standing in a cold apartment, recognized that this was not safe and chose to act.

She immediately reported the broken furnace to building staff. They responded quickly and arranged for a replacement that same day. There was only one obstacle.

The furniture had to be moved. So Grguras moved it.

She shifted heavy pieces so maintenance could reach the unit. She helped the participant change into warmer clothing. She made sure they stayed moving and active, protecting them from the effects of prolonged cold. Grguras remained on site while the furnace was replaced and when the heat finally returned, warm air filled the room, along with a deep sense of relief.

“You always do an amazing job, and I couldn’t be more thankful for everything you do,” said Jean Gartner, LIFE Butler Center Director, after learning what had unfolded.

Amy Stewart, Corporate Director of Rehab, called Grguras’ actions compassionate and caring, noting that the day could have ended very differently for the participant and her family.

Praise followed from leaders across Lutheran SeniorLife, but Grguras deflected it, as people of her character often do.

“I did what so many of us all would have done,” she said. “I work for and am led by some of the very best, caring and compassionate people. You support and encourage us to truly care and provide what the people who count on us need. Every day we all have the opportunity to share God’s love, and I am blessed to work for an organization that promotes such an environment.”

And then, like so many days she has had since April of 2000, she went on to the next thing, believing this was simply the work she is supposed to do.