In Could, Adriana will rejoice 20 years of volunteering at CHOC, with over 2,700 hours of service since she started at 16. Impressed by her personal restoration from a traumatic mind harm, she now provides again by supporting households, coaching volunteers, and leaving a long-lasting influence on the hospital neighborhood.
Twenty years of volunteering at CHOC
Adriana is celebrating 20 years of volunteering at Youngsters’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) this yr and has no plans to cease anytime quickly.
She started volunteering on the hospital at age 16 and has since logged greater than 2,700 hours of service.
Therapeutic and giving again
Adriana, who sustained a traumatic mind harm on the age of 8, spent a major period of time at her native kids’s hospital relearning primary abilities.
After recovering and returning to Southern California, Adriana underwent bodily and occupational remedy at CHOC.
Adriana additionally underwent orthopedic surgical procedure, carried out by Dr. Afshin Aminian, at CHOC. She mentioned, “The process offered the reduction I wanted to have the ability to stroll extra comfortably and do my on a regular basis life actions with ease.”
She mentioned, “I by no means forgot the medical doctors, nurses, and volunteers who put a lot effort into serving to me get to the place I’m right this moment. They impressed me to present again within the methods I might, and for me, that meant volunteering.”
A proactive strategy
Adriana nonetheless remembers her first day volunteering at CHOC in Could 2005. “I used to be an anxious 16-year-old with solely a imprecise thought of what I wished to do. I simply wished to assist enhance issues and make life simpler for these round me in any manner I might.”
She persistently upheld that proactive mindset as time went on. At all times keen to assist, she incessantly checked in with the nurses to see if there was something she might do or any duties that wanted consideration. Steadily, she wanted much less steering and have become a dependable determine whom others might rely on.
“I discovered myself guiding different volunteers, being looked for recommendation, or being requested to deal with tough duties as a result of I used to be the appropriate particular person for the job,” Adriana mentioned.
Ultimately, Adriana was requested to imagine a lead position in Affected person Hospitality Companies (PHS), which she gladly accepted. This place taught her how one can collaborate with a various group of individuals, from sufferers to volunteers, whereas guaranteeing environment friendly workflow and prioritizing affected person care.
Daisy, a senior useful resource specialist with CHOC’s volunteer packages, mentioned, “When given the chance to turn out to be a lead, Adriana eagerly took on the problem of revamping our Affected person Hospitality Companies position and coaching new volunteers.”
Adriana finds it deeply rewarding to assist hospital employees, permitting them to deal with affected person restoration. She additionally enjoys coaching fellow volunteers and watching lots of them advance of their careers. She’s at all times desirous to lend a serving to hand wherever potential.
A second of connection
One second that deeply resonated with Adriana occurred throughout her volunteer work, when the mom of a affected person seen her limp and inquired about it. After a short dialog, the mom shared that her baby had additionally suffered a traumatic mind harm and was unsure about his restoration. Adriana quickly discovered that his prognosis intently mirrored her personal
The 2 related over their shared experiences. Adriana was capable of supply the mom peace of thoughts. She reassured her that, though her baby’s journey could be lengthy, there was hope that he might nonetheless lead a satisfying and useful life.
Volunteers: The center of assist and compassion
Adriana’s position supplies households with a dependable, comforting presence, providing them the assist they should regain a way of normalcy throughout difficult occasions. Everybody can profit from a serving to hand, and that’s precisely the place volunteers step in to make a profound influence. They tackle the important duties that lighten the load, providing not simply help, however actual reduction.
Discover extra inspiring volunteer tales right here.