Practioner praised as 'hero'

VERMILION — A local woman recently received a prestigious award for her unwavering commitment to care for women and children living in her community. Lauren Binks, a family nurse practitioner with Peds on Wheels, earned a Hero Award from Road to Hope, a recovery housing program with multiple locations, including in Sandusky and Vermilion. The nonprofit provides an "abstinence-based, 12-step environment within which the addicted person receives support, guidance and faith necessary to become a productive member of society," according to its mission statement. Regarding Binks, who's from Vermilion, she's one of the nonprofit's "true heroes in their mission of saving lives through bringing about recovery," according to an award statement, which placed an emphasis on serving local women and area children. "Thank you for sharing our journey with your continued support." Peds on Wheels, which works in tandem with Road to Hope, also offered up a statement on Binks. "Lauren has spent countless hours ensuring vaccinations and well-child (exams) for children are up to date, education on disease transmission and SIDS prevention and providing women's health prevention and treatment," the statement read. Binks expressed great sincerity when thanking those for this recognition. She offered up the following statement: Collaborating with the residents, children and staff at Road to Hope has been a profoundly humbling experience for me. I began my nursing career in the medical intensive care unit at University Hospitals during the peak of the opioid epidemic, dedicating countless shifts in supporting the patients and families affected by addiction. In 2019, I joined Peds on Wheels as a nurse practitioner, which enabled me to start working with the residents at Road to Hope shortly after the onset of COVID-19. Engaging with adults on their recovery journey has allowed me to make a meaningful impact at a pivotal moment in their lives. Witnessing the transformation and potential of the residents is truly inspiring. Their commitment to their children and their journey toward sobriety can have a challenging path, and facilitating access to healthcare has provided a vital support in their new lives. Road to Hope is a highly structured program that has been instrumental in the recovery of many individuals grappling with addiction. It has been a privilege to work at Peds on Wheels and to collaborate with the dedicated team at Road to Hope.