Volunteer’s Work Filled With Tenderness, Memories and Love
When Blanca Marrero, Big Bend Hospice Patient/Family volunteer, started nursing school at FSU in the fall of 2007, Volunteer Coordinator Betty Morales felt sure she would need to give up her volunteering to concentrate solely on her nursing studies. Instead, Blanca continued volunteering, which included visiting patients and families, providing respite care for caregivers, reading to and helping to feed patients, cleaning their homes or just quietly holding their hands. Blanca also trained to become a "vigil" volunteer. These special volunteers are called upon, at all times of day or night, to sit with a patient who may not have any family as they near the very end of life, so they won't be alone. "She has even changed her school schedule to accommodate her volunteering, and driven many times in the middle of the night to reach a patient to sit at their bedside," said Betty Morales. "I wasn't at all surprised when I learned that Blanca had been nominated by her Florida State University nursing class for the Humanitarian of the Year award, and that she had won the award." Blanca was awarded $200.00 from FSU to be given to the charity of her choice--Big Bend Hospice. As part of the award process, Blanca was asked to write a reflection letter about her volunteering experience. Here are some excerpts from that letter.
I enter the room and look at my surroundings: a white room with faded wall paper that's slowly peeling off the wall, no pictures of family on the nightstand, just a simple bed found in the center of the room. There lies a lady with her eyes closed taking shallow breaths. As I stare at her small fragile body, I reach out and touch her hand a jolt of ice shoots through my arm, I shiver, but inside my body is overwhelmed with tranquility, beauty and warmth. Slowly stroking her hair I bend down to whisper, It's okay to be afraid, but I am here with you. To many this scene may seem lonely, but to me it's filled with hope, tenderness, memories and love. With every visit a lasting impression continues to stay with you even when the patient has passed away. To an outsider it may seem that I have only spent two hours with a patient "babysitting," but to me in fact it feels like an endless time spent with a friend. Being a volunteer for Big Bend Hospice has given me the opportunity to be informed of the resources that are available in the community. I share this knowledge with my patients and classmates when it applies to them during my clinical rotations. I sometimes feel that I take life for granted and become easily upset over things that are insignificant. These patients correct my perception of how I see the world. Don't worry about the future all you need to worry about is today. What can you do to make the best out of today? Their strength and unconditional love help shape my way of thinking, and in return I give them my strength and courage during their time of need.
"Blanca is fearless and sincere in the care that she provides, and we are proud and thrilled that her dedication to helping others has been recognized by her peers at Florida State University!" said Betty Morales. "She's amazing."
