Ted Warthen Center For The Terminally Ill
The Ted Warthen Center (TWC) is a nonprofit Utah corporation formed to create and maintain a facility for terminally ill guests free of charge. "When we help to make the final days of someones life the best they can be, we change ourselves in the process."
Description:
TWC is patterned after the Human Service Alliance, a similar facility in Winston-Salem, NC whose program was developed keeping in mind the tenets of service espoused by Mother Teresa.
TWC, the first of its kind west of the Mississippi, accommodates up to six guests and six live-in volunteers. Each large guest room has a private, wheelchair accessible, bath and patio. TWC’s guests much appreciate the facility’s spacious yet home-like setting.
History:
Ted Warthen, longtime auto dealer both in St. George, Utah, and Las Vegas, Nevada, had spent a great deal of time in hospitals, beginning at an early age and continuing throughout his life. Well acquainted with doctors, surgeries, homesickness, and pain, he developed a great compassion for the injured and ill, especially those confined to lengthy hospital stays. In his final years, Mr. Warthen longed to build a home for the terminally ill. He wanted it to be free of charge, a home away from home. Mr. Warthen had the funds and the determination to begin such a project. He envisioned it built in the town of St. George, set in beautiful red hills, where he had spent many happy years with his wife and children.
Mr. Warthen asked his daughter, Lauri Sherratt, of Enoch, Utah, to research the hospice idea during her senior year of nursing school. Mrs. Sherratt became very enthusiastic about her father’s vision. To get things moving, she turned her information over to Dr. Phil McMahill, oncologist for Dixie Regional Medical Center, informing him that her father had donations ready to fund such a project. Dr. McMahill set up a meeting for Mr. Warthen and Mrs. Sherratt with hospital administrator Steve Wilson. Hospital staff then conducted a feasibility study on a facility for the dying.
Eunice Borg (Hydeman), a prominent member of the community, had been caring for her cancer-ridden husband. She felt fortunate that she was able to keep him at home. During the last week of Mr. Borg’s life, however, his condition exacerbated to the point that he was moved to the hospital for respite care. It was then that Mrs. Borg realized there was only one hospice room, available for a maximum of five days. She was astounded and asked herself why there wasn’t a place for people to go when they were dying and couldn’t be cared for at home? She believed it was important for others to have the same kind of attentive care she had been able to give her husband. She approached Dr. McMahill, regarding her idea and wanted to do something about it.
Dr. McMahill recognized the similarities in the dreams of these two individuals and brought them together. Unfortunately, Mr. Warthen passed away before seeing his dream fulfilled. Undaunted, Eunice Hydeman and Lauri Sherratt brought to completion this incredible project in 2002.
Contact people:
Address:
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2046 N. Tuweap DriveSt. George, UT 84770(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.tedwarthencenter.com
Directions:
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Going North on Bluff Street, turn left onto Snow Canyon Parkway. Continue north until you come to 2000 North and take a left. Drive a little further past Coral Cliffs Elementary and the center is on the right side of the road. |
| Last updated on February 11, 2009 |
