TENDER LOVING CARE LOCAL WOMAN AWARDED FOR YEARS SPENT BY SON'S SIDE.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Melinda Glass, who for the past 15 years has been caring for a son who suffers from muscular dystrophy, will be honored Wednesday as the first recipient of a caregiver's award from Burns Pharmacy.

The tribute is the brainchild of Donna Hanson, a registered nurse who felt that people such as Glass, who so unselfishly care for their loved ones, deserved some recognition.

She approached David Hines, owner of Burns Pharmacy, who enthusiastically endorsed her idea. Together, they came up with a plan to recognize a local caregiver every other month, with the recipient receiving a plaque and a basket of goodies from local businesses.

Nomination forms for the award are available at Burns Pharmacy, 866 W. Lancaster Blvd.

``My goal is to bring the role of caregiving out into the public,'' said Hanson, who noted that 15 percent of U.S. adults care for seriously ill and disabled relatives in their homes.

Among those is Glass, whose son, Clifton, suffers from a form of muscular dystrophy that causes his muscles to waste away. Diagnosed at age 3, Clifton was in a wheelchair by age 12 and now at 18 spends most of his time in bed.

Glass, a single mother, said her son maintains a positive attitude and likes to watch television and listen to the radio with her and her mother, Norma Fletcher.

Glass said she loves taking care of her son, but admits that at times it is difficult. ``You have to keep yourself in tip-top shape to take of him,'' she said.

Hanson knows the physical and emotional toll on caregivers, so she volunteers to sit with the sick and disabled so the caregivers can take a little time for themselves.

``It's vital that they get away a little bit and have some time for themselves,'' Hanson said.

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