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Lourdes Hospice Volume X Issue 6 September 2012

VOLUNTEER NEWS

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Over the years the hospice mission has attracted many special volunteers. One of these is Pauline Uti Mazrui. Born in Nigeria, Pauline came to this country in 1990 to pursue her Masters degree in special education. She and her husband have two sons, both in college, and have recently adopted a little girl. Also a member of her family is a twelve-year-old boy, the son of her husband’s second son by a previous marriage. The boy’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago. Pauline visited her in California several times, and was there when a doctor recommended hospice. Pauline felt the staff were very caring people who did not view their work as a chore. She determined to find a local hospice to join when she returned home, and two weeks later found the notice in the Press about an upcoming training class. Pauline has made visits to homes, hospitals, and nursing homes, and has also

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volunteered for Sacred Watch. What she enjoys most is hand aromatherapy and the connection with the patient. Her first assignment

was with a woman who loved to play rummy. The volunteer

coordinator, Mary, had to teach her the rules as she had never played before. And the patient’s daughter had to occasionally remind her mother to be nice as her visitor was a novice at the game. Another patient in a nursing home gave her lessons in growing flowers; lessons, Pauling admits, that did not take root in her own garden. And Pauline also remembers a family she became close to. The patient could not communicate with words, but the daughter always informed Pauline that there were smiles when she visited. Pauline still stays in touch with the family and is often invited to their get-togethers. Bettye once asked

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her to visit a man whose wife was having surgery. Pauline gave him the comfort of hand aromatherapy and then went to the hospital to visit the wife. She learned that the patient had died shortly after her visit. The wife found great comfort from that visit, telling Pauline “He sent you to come and be here with me”. Pauline loves to cook, and although she says she is not very good at it, she loves to sing as well. Her home and especially her kitchen are always open to

her friends. She describes herself as adventurous,

loving to travel and to try new things. She returns to Nigeria often, alternating those visits with trips to Kenya, her husband’s birthplace. She often travels with her husband, and India, Egypt, Malaysia and South Africa are among the many places she has seen. Being surrounded by extended family was a vital part of her childhood, and she fondly recounts memories of those days. She

Pauline Uti Mazrui

What she enjoys most is hand aromatherapy and the connection with the patient.

“He sent you to come and be here with me.”

Continued on page 7

Lourdes Hospice September 2012

Volunteer Happenings

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Save the Dates:

September 20th – Volunteer Retreat – Sky Lake Retreat Center - 8:30-3pm Our day will begin at 8:30 with a Continental breakfast at Founder’s Lodge. Lunch at noon. Some free time until 2pm and then the Healing Circle to end our day. Our Speaker is Kathy Sheehan. Kathy is a Social Worker at BOCES with a background in Guidance. She will be speaking on boundaries with interaction, scenarios, and some laughter. Kathy is also speaking at our Staff Retreat as well. Look forward to seeing you there.

Please RSVP by September 10th at the latest. If you are interested in carpooling, please let the office know when you call.

Directions: From NY RT 17 East Exit 80 (Damascus Exit) Turn left at stop sign Go under Rt 17 to stop sign. Turn right. Proceed up the hill 2.2 miles to Sky Lake sign and stone gate. Turn left on to camp road and follow signs for Founder’s Lodge. From NY RT 17 West Exit 81 (E. Bosket Rd) Follow signs to Sky Lake’s stone gate. Turn right on to camp road and follow signs for Founder’s Lodge.

September 20 and 27 – 4-5:30pm Living with Alzheimer’s In- service – A two part series presented by the Alzheimer’s Association Vestal Public Library 320 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal Reservations required: Please call 785-7852 x 125

Dear Volunteers, Thoughts from Bettye I was so proud of the volunteer participation in Camp Hope. I’ve heard wonderful stories and always want to hear more. I admire those volunteers that choose to work with children that have experienced death of a loved one. I believe it’s important to help children understand the mix of emotions that occur when they lose someone close to them. And, it’s hard for them to understand what ‘death’ really means. Sharing memories through the scrapbooking time is very healing. Hospice Volunteers are a major part of the camp experience. Thank you! And, a special thanks to all of you for all that you do for our patients and their families.

Thank you, Bet tye

Dear Bettye, A special request of you. Please express a sincere thank you to all the volunteers for the great job they do for the Lourdes Hospice Program. While reading the August 27th newspaper article on Camp Hope tears came to my eyes. Tears because the annual program is so important for our young ones who have suffered a loss but also tears because where would the program be without our volunteers! Camp Hope is only one example of the outstanding job the volunteers do – so much is done behind the scenes and we never give them enough thanks or praise. So, I ask that you to do it for us. On behalf of the Hospice Advisory Board, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Karen McMahon, Chair Hospice Advisory Board


Reminder: Please remember that when you visit in the Nursing Homes or homes, please sign the attendance sheets. In the Nursing Homes, in the patient’s chart under the ‘Hospice’ section, you will find the attendance sheet. In the homes, if you don’t see the Hospice folder, please ask the patient/family member and sign the sheet.

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Camp Hope was a real success this year! We had 37 children and 35 wonderful dedicated volunteers. The volunteers worked three full days and enjoyed every minute. On the first day, the children were divided into groups and each group or team, as they are called, made a team flag. They went off to healing circles for one and a half hours each morning and afternoon and worked with the social workers to get skills to help them deal with their grief. Cortese Restaurant supplied lunch the first day, and the whole camp loved it! The wonderful kitchen

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volunteers baked cookies every day for the children who felt all the love in those cookies. The kitchen helpers each morning also made sure that breakfast was ready for the newly arrived children. The surprise of the ice cream truck, playing its music brought the children screaming and running to greet it. It was a lot of fun. In the afternoon there was scrapbooking, kickball, and swimming. There was a special event every day with the zoomobile, Yoga instruction, MMA exhibition, bounce house and of course, John Simon. A pizza party and a cookout added to the fun. Hopefully

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camp was very helpful and healing to the children. They loved talking and getting to know all the campers realizing that they had a common bond with each other. The children were great and we thanked their parents for sharing their children with us. We look forward to next year and want to thank our many sponsors. Without their support, camp would not have happened. A special thanks to Bill Schneider our photographer who took pictures at Camp, and then made a slide show for the children to see and enjoy. Great job, Bill!


Volunteers Recruit Volunteers Linda Bush and Doris Roth assisted Hospice newest marketing person, Beth Hickey, in a Health Fair in Owego. As you can see, they certainly fit in with the theme, “Sail Away to the Island of Health”. Linda and Doris spread the good word about Hospice by passing out brochures, talking about the wonderful work that Hospice gives our patients and families and, of course, recruiting volunteers. Thank you Linda and Doris, or, as I call them the “Dynamic Duo”.

Jessica’s Story One of our weekend RNs visited a patient whose family member wanted to “give back” to Hospice by making pillowcases. I, of course, was overjoyed as a fresh pillowcase is always welcomed to someone spending a lot of time in bed as our patients often do. The RN said that the family member would call me. Some time passed and our patient died. A few weeks ago I received a call from the family member and asked if she might drop off some pillowcases. Of course I said, “Yes” and we made an appointment. Imagine my surprise, when the family member turned out to be a very mature 13 year old named Jessica! Her Great Grandmother was the patient and taught her how to sew. She had pillowcases in beautiful colors for women and men with her label, “Hidden Hearts” attached. And, inside the pillowcases was this message: “Everyone in the world has times of trouble in which we have no hope for tomorrow. We feel like we are alone. Well, I want you to use this pillowcase to remind yourself that you are far from alone and there are “Hidden Hearts” all around you who love and care about you. Whether it is your family, your friend or even a stranger they are there for you. So, when you lay on this pillowcase at night and you say your prayers remember to thank God for your “Hidden Hearts”. Hope you enjoy your pillowcase.” Jessica Founder of Hidden Hearts of Hope I’m sure you are as touched as I was and continue to be whenever I think of Jessica. This story has to be told. She was so unassuming, humble and down-‐‑to-‐‑earth, I feel as if she just believes this is what she should do in memory of her Great Grandmother. So, perhaps when you hear stories of today’s youth…think of Jessica and tell her story.

Reminders: Health Screens: Thank you so much for making your appointments for your health screens in a timely matter. It is so important for us to keep those within the year. Attendance Sheets: Please remember the attendance sheets in the home. Ask the family or patient for the ‘Hospice folder” and find the attendance sheet. In the Nursing Home, ask for or locate the patient’s chart and located in the back of the chart is the Hospice section and sign the attendance sheet. And, remember, only BLACK INK!!! Flu Shots: Information about Flu Shots will be coming soon. I will send out an email. If you don’t have a computer, please call the office and I will be glad to send out a hard copy to you.


What did the Hospice Volunteers do in June? Task Hours

Admission Packets 7 Bereavement Calls 65 Bereavement Mailings, Off., Funeral 90 Delivery of Medication 25 Miscellaneous 10 Office (Volunteer & Main) 140 Sewing Gowns 46 Support to Home Care Patients 95 Support to Hospital Patients 16 Support to Nursing Home Patients 103 Spiritual Care 14 Telephone 4 Total 613 Value $10,038 Mileage 2,708 Awesome!!!

September

Marian Summers 9/3 Linda Mohr 9/4 Jennifer Hatala 9/5 Pat Vaughan 9/7 John Giammichele 9/8 Annie Johnson 9/8 Julie O’Brien 9/9 April Tleon 9/12 Duncan Finlayson 9/13 Ruth Giammichele 9/18 C J Helmer 9/18 Suzanne Geoghegan 9/20 June Wootton 9/22 Anne Iles 9/24 Portia Johnson 9/24 Joan Kline 9/28 Doris Osteen 9/29

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learned a great deal about caring and compassion from her mother and grandmother. Their words of wisdom still guide her and influence her approach to patients and their families. Her household consists of several generations – from an 80-year-old to an eight-year-old adopted daughter and a twelve-year-old grandson. Among African women of Binghamton and Vestal Pauline is a leader. The younger women affectionately call her ‘the big mama’. The African women have a local association meeting periodically in Pauline’s home. The meetings rotate in other homes as well. They are a mutual-help society. Pauline says that being a hospice volunteer has changed her philosophy. She knows now how important it is to tell people how you feel about them while they are still alive, instead of saving those words for a eulogy. Even in the little things, telling people that they are appreciated matters. Hospice is grateful to Pauline for sharing her warm, caring spirit with the patients and families she enriches with her presence.

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Did you know?...I did!!!

Strong Volunteer Programs Yield Better Quality Scores… Research demonstrates that higher utilization of volunteers leads to higher family satisfaction scores.

Continued from page 1 Pauline Uti Matzrui

Volunteer News

Lourdes Hospice Volunteer Office

4102 Old Vestal Road Vestal, NY 13850

Phone: 607-‐‑584-‐‑9159 Fax: 607-‐‑798-‐‑5345

Email: [email protected]

Volunteer News

A monthly publication by and for Lourdes Hospice Volunteers

Newsletter Committee

Gail Goldberg Bettye Canestaro Maureen Darling

Bill Schneider, Photographs

The next newsletter will be published in October.

Please submit all articles and items of interest By September 15.

volunteernews - lourdes hospital · volunteernews ! 1 over the years the hospice mission has...

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