We are blessed to have a wonderful group of volunteers at Montgomery Hospice and Prince George’s Hospice. We’d like to honor their dedication to our mission by sharing some reflections and memories – from volunteers who have been with us for over 20 years. Thank you to ALL who have helped care for our patients and their families!
Since 1985 - 36 Years
Why did you become a volunteer at Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice?
When my husband and I moved to MD from Columbia, MO in 1984 we attended a reception and a fellow guest asked me what I planned to do in MD. Having designed a solar hospice facility with two students for an environmental psychology course at Stephens College in Columbia, I said I wanted to volunteer with hospice. The next morning, I was invited to address invitations to the First Hospice Ball!
This is the most uplifting work I’ve ever done. Invariably you come away with far more than you take, realizing how privileged and blessed you are.
Since 1995 - 26 Years
Why did you become a volunteer at Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice?
I began patient volunteering here when one of the founding board members asked me to get involved with the organization as a board member. I knew that to bring value to the board, I needed a clear understanding of the care provided to patients, so I also became a volunteer. My board service was rewarding and lasted almost 10 years, but patient volunteering became my guiding star. Working with hospice patients and their families gave me the perspective necessary to raise our children with everything in proper focus-dedicating ourselves to what matters and not sweating the small stuff. My hospice patients and their families have shared with me their faith, their quest to live every moment to the fullest, and a beautiful, lasting respect for the dignity of each and every person.
A favorite memory:
There are so many poignant stories, but let me share a funny one. My husband and I had just gotten home from some fancy event. I was dressed in a flamboyant, ruffly white blouse with long-bell sleeves. My phone rang–it was an Eleventh Hour Volunteer assignment at a nursing home. The patient was a 100-year-old man who was actively dying. I went straight there. As I entered his room, this little slip of a man was lying in his bed, eyes closed, motionless. I worried I was too late. I approached his bedside, took his cold hand in mine, and softly said his name. All of the sudden his eyes flew open, he looked vacantly at me, then squeezed his eyes shut. A smile slowly animated his face. “Thank God,” he muttered, “and I thought I was going to hell.”
Since 1996 - 25 Years
Why did you become a volunteer at Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice?
I chose to volunteer here because of an experience I had in early 1988. A dear friend was diagnosed with a terminal illness and his family asked if I would be interested in joining them in taking care of him. He lived until the day after Thanksgiving 1989. It was a very powerful experience for me and I was deeply touched when his mother approached me later to talk with me.
His mom (who had previously been a nurse) told me I had a gift and that gift was that I was not afraid to be around someone who was dying. She told me I needed to take that gift somewhere where it would be appreciated, and she suggested Hospice. At that time, I knew very little about it so I tucked the thought away. Years later I saw a notification about a training for patient care volunteers that Montgomery Hospice was conducting. I recalled what his mom had said so I signed up for the training.
A key takeaway:
I’ve never questioned the desire to volunteer for patient care at home. Being a nonprofit, I think it attracts a certain type of employee/volunteer that engages in the work for a deeper connection with humanity. It’s been a long journey with wonderful, unique MH employees and other MH volunteers. I feel very blessed interacting with them all.
In addition, I deeply value my bereavement volunteering that allows me to accompany the friends and family of our patients as they live through the first year after the death of their loved one. For them to trust me with the thoughts and feelings that arise from their grief journey is a blessing for me. Where else can I live in grace, giving and receiving what truly connects us with one another?
This work is so humbling, whether it is talking with the patient or having a heartfelt conversation with the caregiver in the kitchen. I always learn something and feel deeply honored they are willing to be open to a stranger coming into their home to be with them, or to a stranger calling them on the phone to inquire as to how are they doing with their grief. This work has made me a better human being, deeply grateful for the life I am living.
Since 1997 - 24 Years
Why did you become a volunteer at Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice?
I chose to volunteer at Hospice after my retirement because I had two family members who had been on Hospice in Connecticut, and I was so impressed with the whole concept of Hospice and how wonderful everyone from the organization was. At that point I decided that after I retired, I would do volunteer work with Hospice.
A key takeaway:
After I had volunteered with Hospice for about ten years, we moved my mother into our house, and she was admitted to Hospice. It was an incredible experience to see how the system really worked. My volunteer work was always in Medical Records, so I had no idea how it really worked in the home. My experiences in Connecticut were very different because the only personnel I ever saw were nurses and aides. That group was just getting started. There was so much help and support from Montgomery Hospice, to say nothing of seeing people I knew from an office environment coming into my home and taking such good care of Mom.
Since 1998 - 23 Years
Why did you become a volunteer at Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice?
After enjoying 26 years of software engineering work, I reached a point where my soul needed to help others. Instead of changing my full-time job I decided to volunteer after hours. I ended up calling Montgomery Hospice because it sounded like the right place to help my soul by supporting people going through their dying process.
A key takeaway:
My greatest takeaway was learning that Montgomery Hospice provides the patient and their family access to a nurse, chaplain, home care specialist, volunteer and different types of therapy treatments. As a volunteer I have taken away what I observed as excellent Nursing Care, a multitude of Therapy Treatments provided to help patients exist with their disease, the extraordinary Volunteer Managers who keep us knowing who, when and how we can help patients, and a Montgomery Hospice Philosophy of putting the patient first, providing us accessibility to ask questions about what we need to know and the interest to educate us on the many aspects of dying to help us in our job.
Since 2000 - 21 Years
Why did you become a volunteer at Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice?
I originally chose Montgomery Hospice because I wanted to help the dying. Little did I know at the time that as a volunteer, you support the families as much as the patient.
A favorite memory:
Hospice called me to go see a patient who had not connected well with her first volunteer because she dressed up too much. I showed up in cutoff jeans and a sloppy shirt. The patient wanted some gardening done. When she saw me, she said to come on back to the garden. She was one of the most unique patients I have had but I enjoyed seeing her for over a year. I still have fond memories of her.
All content provided by Montgomery Hospice and Prince George’s Hospice volunteers, edited for confidentiality.
To learn more about our Volunteer Services Department, visit www.montgomeryhospice.org/volunteer |
