We’re thrilled to honor Chau Dang as our latest koi shining star. Chau was recommended by her Clinic Director, Jeannie Seals of the Button Family Practice in Canon City, Colorado.

Here is what Jeannie had to say about Chau:

“I am a director for a rural health clinic in Canon City, Colorado. I have a young lady who has worked for us for almost two years and she is my hero. She is my right hand employee and is one of the most thoughtful and considerate persons I think I have ever worked with in my 30+ years in healthcare. Her mood is the same, day in, day out—always kind and always there to help when someone needs a hand, regardless of her work load. There is not a week goes by that she does not buy me daisies (my favorite flowers). She goes out of her way to be a servant to the staff and to our patients. She is our billing coordinator and she works so well helping our patients understand their statements and billing concerns.

There is not a day goes by that she does not bring a smile to my face; even on my roughest days, she seems to be able to get me back focused and help me not get caught up with the caught-up-ness of my stressful days that come with being the clinic director.

Her name is Chau Dang.”

Congratulations, Chau, for being a true shining star! In recognition of her all-around awesomeness, we sent Chau a free koi outfit and Jeannie received a pair of koi pants for nominating her.

Congrats to Chau Dang, our most recent koi shining star!

We’re happy to honor Coetta Kitt Reitsma as our latest koi shining star. Kitt was recommended by her co-worker Angelia Barbour of Danville, Virginia.

Here is what Angelia had to say about Kitt:

“I would like to nominate Coetta (Kitt) Reitsma to be a Shining Star. Kitt goes beyond the call of duty as a co-worker and friend. She is a receptionist at the office where we work in Danville, VA. She works really hard doing her job and when others are out of the office, she picks up and also does their job. She is very dedicated. She goes beyond the call of what is ever asked. She is always at work early and stays late whenever needed. If you ask her to help out in any situation, she will do the best of her ability to help. Kitt doesn’t even ask a lot from others. She is always giving!! Her heart, her time, and positive attitude and that goes a long way when you are at a job.”

Congratulations, Kitt, for being a true shining star! In recognition of her awesomeness, we will be sending Kitt a free koi outfit and Angelia will receive a pair of koi pants for nominating her.

Congratulations to Coetta Kitt Reitsma, our latest koi shining star!

We’re thrilled to honor CNA Ethan Robins as our newest koi shining star! Ethan was recommended by his colleague Ruth Droullard of Lynden, Washington.

Here is what Ruth had to say about Ethan:

“Ethan Robins shines in his work at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham. He is a CNA with high hopes of attending UW’s P.A. program next year. He is dedicated and warm, compassionate and full of joy. He works quickly and efficiently—helping hardened, recovering drug addicts and assisting tiny, sickly old women with the same cheerful, joyful smile.

His eyes twinkle when he greets his patients. He works hard to, as he puts it, “fill their waning ‘joy buckets’ with a sparkle of joy in the midst of their sickness.” It is his goal to be the same as a PA as he is as a CNA—full of life, strong, able to impart encouragement and peace, tender and understanding—with all his patients and their families.

As a float CNA, he moves around the hospital a good bit and finds himself in varying situations. Friday night, he worked tirelessly in ER with a trauma patient—running the quick errands that needed to be run for two ER doctors and a PA. He returned with the equipment they asked for with a quick smile and a strong, “What else can I do for you?” with ever return for over 3 hours. Monday night found Ethan in the Rehab Unit sitting with a 60 year old man who had fallen off a ladder and sustained a head injury. He listened to the man’s rambling; answered his repetitive questions; guided him back to bed; and helped him fall asleep finally by singing to him after the patient’s 6 hours of wakeful, irritated restlessness. His comment at the end of his shift? “I’m so glad I could help him quiet himself and fall asleep.”

It is a joy to work with Ethan. I’m 25 years older than he is and have been in healthcare longer… but I often think, “I sure would like to be like him when I grow up!”

Congratulations, Ethan, for going beyond the call of duty and being a true shining star. In recognition of his all-around awesomeness, we will be sending Ethan a free koi outfit and Ruth will receive a pair of koi pants for nominating him.

Congratulations to Ethan Robins, our latest koi shining star! 

We’re excited to recognize CNA Lisa Clemente as a koi shining star! Lisa was nominated by her colleague Perihan Branche.

Here is what Perihan wrote in to us about Lisa:

“I work in a rehab facility for anything from aneurisms to traumatic brain injuries and anything in-between. There is a CNA who works with me whose family is going through so much. Yet Lisa always comes to work in a good mood no matter what is going on at home and does a wonderful job! She also goes to school part-time trying to attain her RN degree. She has 2 wonderful children.

She ALWAYS goes above and beyond no matter what obstacles she may be facing at home. She can be depended on to take EXCELLENT care of all the patients. I have seen her sitting on the side of a patient bed, reading to the patient who couldn’t read any more due to her eyesight.

When she is working, she often recognizes signs and symptoms that something may be wrong with a patient. She recently recognized a patient was beginning to have a stroke and let me know. The patient was sent out to the hospital and is doing much better now.

Lisa’s husband was recently laid off and they have only her income and this has not affected her attitude at work. She is always smiling and makes the patients smile as well.

She “always, always” goes above and beyond where her patients and co-workers are concerned. If anybody deserves this, she surely does. She is always smiling and in a good frame of mind no matter the struggles in her life at this time.”

Congratulations, Lisa, for being a true shining star to everyone around you. In recognition of her general awesomeness, we will be sending Lisa a free koi outfit and Perihan will receive a pair of koi pants for nominating her.

Congratulations to Lisa Clemente, our newest koi shining star!

Our hearts and prayers are with all who have been affected by the recent Japan earthquake and tsunami. We urge our friends and customers to help the relief efforts by donating to one of the organizations listed below, if you can.

In addition, purchases you make at our online koi store will also aid the earthquake disaster relief efforts. koi will be donating 50% of the proceeds (excluding tax and shipping) from each koi online store purchase made in March and April 2011 to the Red Cross for earthquake disaster relief. We’ve recently marked down many of the items in our online koi store so not only can you get a great deal, you can help a good cause at the same time.

Here are some easy ways to donate:

Red Cross

american.redcross.org

Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Salvation Army

donate.salvationarmyusa.org

Text “japan” or “quake” to 80888 to make a $10 donation.

Convoy of Hope

donate.convoyofhope.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=419