{"id":1310443,"date":"2019-05-18T23:32:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-19T05:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sunday-profile-early-life-challenges-helped-kati-ledall-come-full-circle\/"},"modified":"2019-05-18T23:32:00","modified_gmt":"2019-05-19T05:32:00","slug":"sunday-profile-early-life-challenges-helped-kati-ledall-come-full-circle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/sunday-profile-early-life-challenges-helped-kati-ledall-come-full-circle\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday profile: Early life challenges helped Kati Ledall come full circle"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.6255144032922\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-978617-527\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/05\/LedallProfile-GPI-051919-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/05\/LedallProfile-GPI-051919-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent | Kati Ledall hugs Threads of Love volunteer Joan Isenberg during their weekly get together at Valley View Hospital.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Kati Ledall hugs Threads of Love volunteer Joan Isenberg during their weekly get together at Valley View Hospital.<\/strong><br \/>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/05\/LedallProfile-GPI-051919-1.jpg\" alt=\"Kati Ledall hugs Threads of Love volunteer Joan Isenberg during their weekly get together at Valley View Hospital.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/05\/LedallProfile-GPI-051919-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/05\/LedallProfile-GPI-051919-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent | Kati Ledall interacts with Finnegan, who is part of the Heeling Partners therapy dogs while he visits with patients in acute care.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Kati Ledall interacts with Finnegan, who is part of the Heeling Partners therapy dogs while he visits with patients in acute care.<\/strong><br \/>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/05\/LedallProfile-GPI-051919-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Kati Ledall interacts with Finnegan, who is part of the Heeling Partners therapy dogs while he visits with patients in acute care.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/05\/LedallProfile-GPI-051919-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/05\/LedallProfile-GPI-051919-1-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent | Kati Ledall embraces Threads of Love volunteer Judy Elzinga during their weekly get together at Valley View Hospital.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Kati Ledall embraces Threads of Love volunteer Judy Elzinga during their weekly get together at Valley View Hospital.<\/strong><br \/>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/05\/LedallProfile-GPI-051919-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"Kati Ledall embraces Threads of Love volunteer Judy Elzinga during their weekly get together at Valley View Hospital.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/sunday-profile-early-life-challenges-helped-kati-ledall-come-full-circle\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/sunday-profile-early-life-challenges-helped-kati-ledall-come-full-circle\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Kati Ledall knew what her calling was at the age of 9. She was a third grader and undergoing one of the most trying experiences anyone can go through \u2014 cancer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It\u2019s a diagnosis no one wants to hear, followed by procedures daunting to even the toughest of people. Ledall underwent brain surgery at 9, a year of chemotherapy at 12, and another year of chemotherapy at 18.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But, shining brightly through all the darkness and the scary hospital hallways, Ledall remembers one thing; the volunteers and the way her hometown of Eaton, Colorado rallied behind her through such a trying time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cMaking a hospital a less scary place is something that I\u2019m really passionate about,\u201d Ledall said. \u201cI know hospitals really well, and I know that when you see a friendly face how that makes you feel more cared for.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<blockquote readability=\"6\">\n<p>\u201cI feel like coming here is my story coming full circle \u2026 Giving back is really important to me.\u201d\u2014 Kati Ledall<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">This is where Ledall\u2019s life and destiny come to make a full circle. As the lead volunteer coordinator at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, Ledall is able to be that shining light in the middle of a long, tough battle for those who may need it the most.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI feel like coming here is my story coming full circle,\u201d she said. \u201cGiving back is really important to me and being able to do that here at Valley View is just as important.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Ledall oversees more than 100 volunteers and 23 different programs at Valley View. She helped in developing No One Dies Alone, a program in which volunteers are called to sit with patients in their final hours. If a volunteer is not available she fills those shoes and can be found in the patient\u2019s room offering comforting care.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cKati is a positive and energizing force at Valley View,\u201d said Stacey Gavrell the chief community relations officer for the hospital. \u201cIn her work with volunteers, she builds wonderful, individual relationships. Her genuine caring shines through in her interactions with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cA lot of our volunteers have walked in the shoes of our patients, so they\u2019ve been there and they know those feelings,\u201d Ledall said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Ledall goes beyond simple greetings when passing anyone at the hospital. She strives to make connections with every person she meets, whether asking about their family, their pets or simply asking how their day is going.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI come to work every day happy, because I get to spread cheer and hope,\u201d Ledall said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Volunteering didn\u2019t begin for Ledall at Valley View, however. She was also active in a variety of ways during her high school and college days on the Front Range. She spent time supporting people with developmental disabilities and served in the Key Club, Honor Society and Rotary Club.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">During Ledall\u2019s four years at Colorado State University, she lead the Relay for Life charity event in Fort Collins. She helped grow the program from 50 participants to over 650 and raised a quarter of a million dollars for the American Cancer Society.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI started volunteering at the age of 14 with my grandma, great aunt and sister at my local hospital in Greeley,\u201d said Ledall. \u201cVolunteering has always been a family affair for me. I feel that through volunteer coordinating I have found a family of support here in Glenwood, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">ATHENA recipient<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Ledall was recently awarded the ATHENA Young Professional at this year\u2019s Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association luncheon. The award was established to honor emerging women leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI heard about the award the week before and thought to myself, \u2018I\u2019ve got to work harder for that\u2019,\u201d Ledall said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe are thrilled that Kati has been recognized with the ATHENA Young Professional award,\u201d said Gavrell. \u201cShe definitely reflects the attributes of the recipients.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI felt so loved and honored by the Young Athena award, because I know how many wonderful women have received it,\u201d Ledall said. \u201cI don\u2019t do what I do for the recognition, but the ATHENA award was such an honor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Ledall says she aspires to be like other women leaders, such as past ATHENA recipient and cancer support volunteer Nancy Reinisch, who died from cancer earlier this year, as well as long-time volunteer Maudie Weller.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt makes me happy to encourage others and to invest in this community,\u201d said Ledall. \u201cThat will always be a part of who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:cself@postindependent.com\">cself@postindependent.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/sunday-profile-early-life-challenges-helped-kati-ledall-come-full-circle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kati Ledall hugs Threads of Love volunteer Joan Isenberg during their weekly get together at Valley View Hospital.Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent Kati Ledall interacts with Finnegan, who is part of the Heeling Partners therapy dogs while he visits with patients in acute care.Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent Kati Ledall embraces Threads of Love volunteer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1310443","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-17 17:11:12","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1310443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1310443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1310443\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1310443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1310443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1310443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}