Grand View Nurse Helping Those Devastated by Mother Nature

Western North Carolina holds a special place in Peg Bono’s heart. A nurse in Grand View’s Emergency Department, Peg attended college at the University of North Carolina. As she watched news reports of the devastation from hurricane Helene in late September she says, “I felt a pull to do something”.

Along with a friend, Peg volunteered with an organization to help residents of Swannanoa, a community near Asheville. Seven weeks after the river ravaged their town, most residents were still struggling with the most basic necessities – electricity, running water, and food.

“People’s homes were flooded or washed away in a matter of minutes… and worse, were the stories of families who were swept down the river as a result of the 21 inches of rain,” adds Peg.

“We brought as many supplies as we could pack, and once we arrived, spent time stacking wood, clearing mud and listening to residents,” says Peg of her work. “Their stories were heartbreaking, but despite the enormity of their challenges, they were kind and gracious”.

Peg’s new year’s resolution is to return to North Carolina in 2025 to volunteer and offer additional assistance wherever it is needed.

Peg’s history at Grand View spans years. A nurse at the hospital in the 90’s, she returned to Grand View nearly two years ago. “It’s like family here,” she says.

“The values of the people who work here matter,” says Kara Branca, Director of Emergency Medicine at Grand View. “Training is important in an emergency department, but compassion comes from within and can make an indelible mark on the experience of our patients. People like Peg are what makes Grand View such a special place,” she adds.