From a Patient's Perspective

There's Value in Volunteering!!!

Good morning!  It is Saturday, April 20th.  It's a lovely Spring day here in the Midwest.  Look mom, no tornadoes (yet!)

A couple of weeks ago, I talked a little bit about the wonderful Admitting Clerk at the Hospital we were at a few years ago.  Today, there are a group of people from this same facility I'd like to honor - the awesome volunteers!
I was not the patient - therefore, I was the one who observed all of the little "extras" that went on at the facility.  What an eye-opener!

My husband and I choose to go South for our vacation destination for one simple reason - Southern Hospitality!  The South earns a blue ribbon in my book and if there was a Doctorate available, they would get that from me too.  The folks there have a genuine gift for displaying "down-home charm".  Frankly, I always wondered if it was just "put-on" as part of their "show".  After we spent a week in a hospital down South, I was convinced, these folks are not "put on" - they are the real deal.  They really care.

The volunteers at the hospital went above and beyond the call of duty.  A few times during our stay I saw them make my husband smile.  That was priceless considering the circumstance. 

I first noticed the volunteers when I was waiting for the six-hour surgery to be completed.  A lady wearing a little blue jacket adorned with all sorts of pins and an identification badge came into the waiting room.  She was carrying a rather large basket.  It struck me as cute, as the woman must have been a grandmother.  She looked happy and upbeat as she meticulously arranged the contents of the basket on a tray.  They were cookies!!!  

My curiosity got the better of me and I had to go check them out and start a conversation with her.  She was more than happy to take a little time to talk with me.  She told me that every morning she brings in a large basket of homemade cookies for the families of those going in for surgery.  I could tell immediately that she understood the significance of the task she performed, and how far-reaching it was. 

She said, "Folks who are waiting for someone they love to come out of surgery need a little taste of home, not some packaged cookies from the grocery store!"

What a sense of purpose.  Such a seemingly small thing to do - but wow, what an impact it made on those in that waiting room!  I got the sense that she poured her all into what she did.  She obviously loved and cared for others.  This was her mission and her way of showing love and concern for the families.  

Later in the week, another lady wearing a little blue jacket came into the hospital room carrying a guitar.  "Is there a song you would like to hear?", she asked.  We requested a couple of hymns and as she played we sang.  We had a conversation about music and she joked that what she did would be much more difficult if she had to push a piano around with her instead of carrying a guitar!  Again, the love was felt. 

The healing properties of love outweigh any other medicine known to man.

All of these "little things" added up to one very successful outcome!  Healing through positive feedback and prayer - and love.  Just love.

Since we were there for such a long while, I began to quickly pick up on who was who.  I silently watched the interaction between the staff and the volunteers.  There was a mutual respect that I had never seen anywhere else.  The doctors, nurses, volunteers and other staff - they had a common goal and worked together to meet it.  Their main objective is to help the patient heal and make the family as comfortable as possible.

Their secret weapon to make that happen was...  love!!!

Everyone at the hospital was wonderful, but the volunteers in blue jackets were my favorite!  They made the entire experience bearable for my husband and I. 

After my husband's (5) bypass surgery the surgeon took me aside and said, "I don't want you to ever cry in front of him.  Don't show any sort of negative emotion because that will affect his recovery.  If you have to cry - leave and cry alone.  We don't want anything but positive energy around him.  Do you understand?"

"Yes - yes, I do", I replied.  And so it is.  There is no negative energy flowing from me - ever!  We take this journey one positive day at a time. 

I don't cry as much as I did in the beginning.  I am an expert at crying - during a workout when tears are masked by sweat.  In the shower when tears can be immediately washed away with water.  In bed I can soak the pillow.

It's been 4 years.  One positive stepping stone at a time, we keep walking.

Thank you to the ladies in the blue jackets - you made everything better!

I wish you joy for your journey today...  and love.  Just love.

Today is VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION DAY!!!!!!!!!!  Enjoy your day!


 

 

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