Kindness Spelled ‘K-O-R-T-N-E-Y’

(Note:  This first appeared in our local paper, The Mountaineer)

Canton resident Kortney Messer hasn’t allowed tragedy to steer her from her passion. When her father, Jason Messer, was struck and killed on September 1, 2017 while riding in a wagon train on Labor Day weekend, she faced a choice — to allow loss to deter her from her calling or to press forward and pursue her dreams. She chose to press on.

For the last year, she has worked part time as a caregiver for Dr. Douglas Tilley of Asheville. A retired Presbyterian minister, Dr. Tilley was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) — also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease — in 2010 and now requires round the clock care. Kortney, a certified nursing assistant (CNA), helps Dr. Tilley and his family in a variety of ways — getting him up and dressed, feeding him, administering medications and helping with household chores. Despite his physical challenges, she says Dr. Tilley has a wonderful sense of humor and a positive outlook on life. “Working with Doug is such a blessing to me. He’s so easy to talk to and always loves to joke. He’s taught me to never give up and to always look to God.” 

Dr. Tilley shares his story in a self-published pamphlet entitled “God, Lou (Gehrig) and Me” — saying, “I believe that God is shaping my life in order to refine me and to influence others to look toward Him. As a result of my disease I want [others] to see the beauty of Jesus Christ living in me.” 

Kortney, a 2017 Pisgah graduate, believes God is also shaping her life. After the death of her father, she attended the University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia for one semester but chose to come back home. Currently, she is a student at Southwestern Community College in Sylva, studying radiology. With her degree, she hopes to continue working in the medical field, helping people.

Besides pursuing her degree and working as a CNA, Kortney mentors her younger half-brother Silas Messer, a first grader at Riverbend Elementary — whose mother ironically passed away June 1, 2017, exactly three months prior to the death of his father. She also mentors Allie Miller, a Riverbend third grader. Recently, Allie was invited to meet Dr. Tilley and hear more about how he overcomes, despite his debilitating disease, as well as to observe Kortney at work. Of her friend, Allie says, “She is kind, and she makes me feel good about myself.” 

Kortney’s kindness is further confirmed by one who knows her best — her mother, Melisa Ergle of Canton. “I’ve always said Kortney’s an angel child. She has the biggest, most caring heart.”

For copies of Dr. Douglas Tilley’s inspirational pamphlet “God, Lou and Me,” he can be reached at douglasbtilley@gmail.com.