Hospitals make me sad, which explains why I will be volunteering there

December 10, 2011 - Mindful Living - Tagged: being a friend, caregiving, caring for patients, helping people, hospital, Ottawa, volunteer work, working with patients - 5 comments

Editorial Note: The following views have nothing at all to do with either the official staff or volunteers of The Ottawa Hospital, but rather are entirely One Female Canuck’s. Because it is only the later who is dumb.

I love my day job, and for the most part, I admire almost everyone with whom I work. That aside, not all of it is what one could call “soul fulfilling.” Because of this, I have at times become extremely disillusioned, until I can once again lull myself into a state of numb and forge ahead pretending otherwise.

I have some time off this coming month and thought: what better way to spend it than with people who are sick and scared and might be alone?

To begin with, the holidays are a c/ntpunt for many people anyway, and when you add illness and hospitals to this mix, it can be devastating. Even though I have a stupid social schedule, Friday and Saturday night outings are not a must for me. I don’t need to spend Christmas eve with my family, and I am not so much of a party-goer ~~which is amazing because I am so pretty~~ that I have to celebrate the new year anywhere but with a good book.

So, I decided to volunteer at one of the hospitals, and to work with the patients.

I had requested work with either oncology or special needs babies, but they prefer that anyone volunteering with these patients be someone who has proven their worth and volunteered for a while. Which makes complete sense, because these areas are extremely demanding; so with them, inshAllah, I will be volunteering in due time.

At the moment, I will be volunteering with the regular patients. I will be reading them books, and maybe playing games with whomever is interested. I will be chatting with them, making sure they’re comfortable, and just generally: being an attentive new friend.

Honestly? I’m so excited, I could come out of my skin.

Because I am good at helping people. And I think that maybe my gift is — maybe maybe maybe — it is to be kind. And I think people who are alone, and scared and who are sad, they could use kindness. So. I am excited. Like, I haven’t been this excited about anything since I can’t remember when. And I just really hope I do a good job and make people feel like they’re not alone and that there’s one more person who cares about them.

Yay for volunteers!

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Photo from CareGiversFrienc(dot)net.

5 thoughts on “Hospitals make me sad, which explains why I will be volunteering there”

Morag (@heymomo) December 10, 2011 at 4:25 pm

Thank you.
Volunteers don’t volunteer for the thanks, but they certainly deserve it. My mum was in a nursing home for the last several years of her life, and the volunteers were amazing. They made me feel a zillion times better that my mum was there.
I suspect that you’ll be an awesome attentive new friend. It may not be easy but I’ve learned you get so much back in return, that it’s totally and completely worth it.
So thanks.
p.s. I love that you’ve categorized this post as “Rules for this Life”

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T December 10, 2011 at 4:34 pm

You are one amazingly giving person. Proud to call you friend. 🙂

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Carrie December 10, 2011 at 5:28 pm

Your spirit of giving deserves applause. I work for our local hospital’s foundation where we are responsible for raising the funds to purchase new and replacement healthcare equipment. That being said I am all too aware of the stress and strains put upon healthcare professionals…they are over worked, under equipped and while in my experience (having just this week suddenly suffered the loss of my father) have nothing but kind words for the care and compassion shown by the medical staff. Unfortunately there are not enough minutes in the day for them to provide the extra attentiveness to patients particularly during this season. Thank you for being the exceptional person you are and for sharing that with others. Assalamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

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Rebecca December 13, 2011 at 12:14 am

you are awesome!

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One Female Canuck December 14, 2011 at 2:39 pm

Hey, Momo. This is absolutely the correct category — volunteering should be a rule for life. I think they should make this sort of thing compulsory for high school students, as a necessary sitch before they can graduate.

Thank you for sharing your story and your kind words.

TTTTTT!!!!!!! HI HI HI HI!!!!!!!! I believe this is your first time posting. SO HIIIII!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you. And right back at you very hard 🙂

Carrie — W’Alaikum Al-Salaam, my friend. I am so sorry to read about your father. I hope that you are surrounded by loved ones…no doubt that he is resting in peace. I am so sorry. (And yes on all other points you made.) Sending you much warmth.

love to all,
m

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