WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-Going The Distance For An Education

Going The Distance For An Education

When companies close up shop, it can be devastating to the community and those who lose their jobs.  However, two southwestern Wisconsin women took their job loss as an opportunity to do some good for themselves and others.

If you have a family, you know how hard it can be, first of all, to provide for them and, second of all, to be away from them, especially for extended periods of time.  However, when the Lands End, near Dodgeville, closed, two women made the sacrifice and decided to go back to school to become respiratory caregivers.  In itself, that's not unusual, but the fact that they drove about 200 miles a day to make it all happen is what makes their story unique.

Dawn Johnson and Carrie Stanton are both training to be respiratory therapists. "I always knew I liked the health care field," said Johnson.  However, it was a stressful day in their past that brought these two women together at Western Technical College.  "I lost my job at Lands End, due to outsourcing, and I just wanted to explore a little bit," explained Johnson.

Dawn and Carrie both lost their jobs when the Lands End, near Dodgeville, closed up shop.  Carrie had worked there 15 years and planned on staying there for life.  However, when plans changed, a little help from Southwest Technical and Western helped Carrie decide what to do next.  "The school made the decisions that they were going to help out," said Carrie.

Bob Milisch is their instructor.  He says, "the reason we did it was because we knew places, especially in the southwest part of the state, don't have many therapists down there, but they can't get anybody.  This is getting people from that area to be trained as therapists in that area, so they can go back and meet the needs of that," said Milisch.

However, it has been a sacrifice for both women.  For the last year, they've traveled about 200 miles a day to take classes in La Crosse.  "The travel has been difficult.  It's been difficult on the family.  There are sacrifices you make," explained Carrie.  With about 24-thousand miles under their belt, these women are preparing to graduate at the end of this week.

"It's just been a really good experience," said Dawn.  "It is very nice to know it's all coming to an end," smiled Carrie.

Both, Carrie and Dawn, have families and so they've spent a lot of time away from home.  However, they are very excited to graduate.  Dawn already has a job waiting for her in Madison and Carrie will be looking for a job, once she has her diploma in hand and doesn't have to drive back and forth to La Crosse.  Both of the women trained at Franciscan Skemp in La Crosse.  They will both graduate from Western, this Friday.  Then, they will go on to provide respiratory care to those with heart and lung conditions.