The Pink Ladies

It is in giving that we receive. Twenty-five years ago, I took the elevator to the 3rd floor of CHRISTUS Schumpert Medical Center and found my way to the newborn nursery. It was my first day as a volunteer candy striper, and I couldn’t have been more excited. Nursery nurses Angela and Janet took me under their wing every Wednesday afternoon for the next four years and allowed me to spend time with the tiniest of all patients. Those newborn babies needed quite a bit of attention! What started out as my need for service hours turned into a love of health care and a passion for volunteering. I have vivid memories of opting for scrubs instead of the traditional pink and white uniform and playing a role on the nursery care team. I helped bathe and feed the babies, I stocked the supply cabinets and changed the bassinets. I was able to see how giving of my time and energy was giving back to someone else. Since that time, all of my jobs and volunteering efforts have been in a hospital setting. By volunteering as a teenager, it gave me the opportunity to help people and provide care in a way that was fitting for me. I was also very connected even as a teenager to the faith-based care and the CHRISTUS mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

I couldn’t have imagined that one day I would be working for CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier as the Executive Director of Oncology – I really felt like I was coming back home. When I started at the CHRISTUS Cancer Treatment Center, I immediately saw the impact the volunteers had on the patients and associates. These men and women give their time to serve our ministry and mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. I had a glimpse of that passion as a teenager, and now I see the impact as I work alongside the volunteers every day caring for our patients.

The volunteers who serve at the CHRISTUS Cancer Treatment Center help with healing our patients both spiritually and mentally. They care for our patients by providing milkshakes, warm blankets and fresh flowers. They refill coffee stations and candy bowls. They round with magazine carts and pet therapy dogs. More than providing these little luxuries, the volunteers help our patients feel like themselves throughout the treatment process by holding a patient’s hand during treatment or being a shoulder to cry on or a cheerleader to lift spirits.

Recently, I spent time visiting with a former candy striper and several other CHRISTUS Cancer Treatment Center volunteers. These “pink ladies” all have different stories as to how they arrived at CHRISTUS, but each one has a similar passion—to give back. Bea Minniear, Marjorie Barnes, Dorothy Troudt, Jeanie Permenter, and Tricia Turner visited with me and shared their stories. One researched on the intranet local volunteer opportunities (because she said you can’t find a phone book anymore!). One was recruited by Sister Sharon, director of volunteers, while attending a sunflower festival. And another, has been coming to volunteer every week for the past 26 years. They all love visiting with patients. The opportunity to volunteer at the Cancer Center spoke to many due to the loss of family members to cancer or from their own personal journey with cancer.Each one of these ladies described to me how much they get from the patients. One stated that she will never be able to measure up to our patients because of their fighting spirit and the challenges they face daily. Volunteering fills a spot in the busy lives of these ladies. They are blessed in their lives outside of volunteering and they enjoy being here and spreading joy to all of our patients at CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier.

Whether you’re skilled at data entry, have an interest in organizing, possess an outgoing personality or have a knack for knitting, volunteers at CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier can make a difference. Volunteers serve in a variety of roles in the health system. Volunteers come in all ages, from our 92 year old retiree to the 15- to 18-year-old high school students who serve during the summer as part of our VolunTEENteen Program. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please call 318-681-4280. When I asked the “pink ladies” to sum up their volunteer experience at the CHRISTUS Cancer Treatment Center these are the words I heard: joy, fun, fulfilling, rewarding, smiles and love. My word for them is amazing! Our volunteers throughout the health system are an inspiration to our patients, associates, and community. I am so proud to have served as a volunteer as a teenager, and honored to work with them at my job today.