Man reaches out to wife's caregiver

Norval Madden of Wichita lost his wife to Lou Gehrig's disease. Now, the woman who cared for Melba Madden is sick, too.
BY JOE RODRIGUEZ
The Wichita Eagle


Metric Anderson was diagnosed with ALS in 2006 and took an extended stay in Connecticut to visit family before coming back home to Kansas Monday afternoon. (Photo by Kelly Glasscock)


During the years that Wichitan Melba Madden suffered from ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, a woman named Metric Anderson served as her caregiver.

Madden's husband, Norval Madden, said Anderson was strong, effective and compassionate in her caring for his wife, who died in 2002.

"She did a fantastic job," Norval Madden said.

So when he recently learned that Anderson, who had left Wichita more than a year ago, had been diagnosed with the same disease, he was shocked. When he learned that finances were limiting Anderson's return to Wichita to be with her family, there wasn't a doubt about what he was going to do.

He paid for her trip home.

On Monday, Anderson -- accompanied by a hospice nurse -- flew from Connecticut into Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, where she was greeted by Madden.

They exchanged hugs and private words before speaking with visitors.

"She was such a vital part" of Melba Madden's care, said Norval Madden, a retired Wichita school administrator. "I knew Melba would be very happy to know that she was coming back," he said.

Anderson, 60, left Wichita for Connecticut for an extended stay with her siblings after she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a terminal disease that affects nerve cells. As a result, the brain can't initiate and control muscle movement, so muscles -- including those necessary to breathe and talk -- progressively weaken.

Anderson now requires a machine most of the day to assist her breathing.

As the effects of the disease rapidly progressed, Anderson was unable to work. She wanted to return to Wichita, where her son and grandchildren live.

Then, Jean Haley, patient services coordinator for the local ALS Association Keith Worthington Chapter, learned of Anderson's situation. Having served as a nurse for Melba Madden, Haley recognized Anderson's name.

"I thought, 'Oh, it can't be the same person,' " said Haley, who was also at the airport on Monday. "But it was."

Haley then called Norval Madden to let him know about what was happening.

"He just graciously picked up the tab for the whole trip," including the hospice nurse's return trip, Haley said.

Anderson said she was overwhelmed by Madden's generosity and was pleased to be home.

"He's a godsend," said Anderson, who will live with family members in Wichita. "He is a good-hearted man."

Madden, who did not want recognition for covering Anderson's travel costs, said he was glad to see Anderson and that he and his family planned to spend a lot of time with her.

"We just feel a great debt of gratitude," he said, "because (Anderson) was such an integral part in the care of my wife."

Reach Joe Rodriguez at 316-268-6644 or jrodriguez@wichitaeagle.com.

http://www.kansas.com/news/local/story/409694.html