This past week, the Shawn Murphy State Farm Agency recognized local pharmacists through a Facebook post, in celebration of National Pharmacy Day, which took place on January 12th.
“Please note that all of us at the Shawn Murphy – State Farm Insurance Agency – Shawn, Debra, Latonya, Kaitlyn, and Alexis – appreciate you, your long hours, and your dedication to serving our people. You are needed and loved!”
Murphy and staff also recognized another pharmacist from South Louisiana as well. Why would an insurance agency from Jonesboro pay homage to a Pharmacist from South Louisiana, and why is this news relating to Jackson Parish?
The reason is that Prejean is the brother-in-law of Shawn Murphy, having married his sister Shana, and son-in-law of Martha Murphy and the late T.D. “Doc” Murphy of Jonesboro.
Murphy not only was paying homage to “kin folk” but also noted that Prejean deserves recognition for his recent act of benevolence and compassion, going above and beyond the call of duty, as reported in a Drugstorenews.com article, which is shown below.
Keith Prejean Gives His Time to a Lonely Patient in Need
The retail pharmacy is full of stories about pharmacists who go the extra mile for their patients. Keith Prejean, a pharmacist at an Albertsons in Lake Charles, La., went about 147 miles—each way—for one of his.
When Prejean learned that the patient had an appointment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and no way to get there, Prejean rented a car and drove him there himself on his day off. (Prejean drives an older truck and had planned on using his wife’s car, but she was going to be out of town that day, and he wanted the patient to be comfortable.)
“I could see he was in a tough spot,” said Prejean. “My sister always says, ‘Keith, you just can’t say no to someone who needs help,’ and that’s something I’ve taken to heart.”
Prejean, who credited his Catholic upbringing with teaching him to be of help to those in need, said he turned down the man’s offer to pay for the ride. The patient, who is elderly and uses a motorized cart to get around, did make him some cheese-wrapped peppers as a gesture of appreciation, however.
The patient has family members in other parts of the country, and his network of friends in the Lake Charles area has either died or moved away, Prejean said.
“Loneliness can affect many people, especially those who live alone,” said Prejean.
Prejean has since taken the man to the hospital a second time, he said, and he has heard from the patient’s sister, who thanked him for helping out.
“This is just something that happened, and I’m thankful I could do it,” said Prejean. “For me, this wasn’t about doing something extraordinary. It was simply the right thing to do.”
Prejean, who has been a pharmacist since 1987 and has been with Albertsons for 23 years, said getting to know his patients is one of the things he enjoys most about being a pharmacist.
“We often chat with customers about everything from their families and friends to their pets; it’s part of what makes the job so rewarding,” he said. “I truly value the opportunity to be helpful, whether it’s discussing potential drug interactions, recommending over-the-counter products, or looking up information to support their health needs.”