This week was eventful like no other. I usually spend most of my days in the Resource Center, either working on my research or helping volunteers and patients become acquainted with the hospital. Because I’m usually quite sedentary, I decided to wear heels to work one day, with the anticipation that I wouldn’t need to do too much walking and a desire to look more professional. Boy have I learned my lesson. My supervisor was in several meetings that day (because she has so much on her plate and she is an incredible worker) so she left me in charge of introducing the new college volunteers to Winship and bringing them to their respective posts throughout the hospital. It was during this time that I realized how much I have learned about this institution and how far I’ve come since I started. It was so encouraging to have DaVida leave me with such a great responsibility, as well as to have enough confidence in myself to know where each of the various departments are and how to help new volunteers feel at home.
Later that day, I was reminded again of how thankful I am to have been trained by such a great supervisor because we had an unfortunate incident that resulted in a caregiver needing to be rushed to the emergency room. DaVida assisted an individual who was knelt over in the elevator into the resource center and helped them get situated in one of our chairs. The individual seemed to be suffering from severe back pain, but didn’t want to go to the hospital because they didn’t want to leave their family member who was still receiving treatment in infusion. Finally, the family member came up after receiving treatment, but transport was backed up and wouldn’t be able to get to us for some time, so DaVida directed a co-worker and I to bring the injured caregiver to the ER right away. Winship has a tunnel level that connects it to all the surrounding buildings, including the main hospital. My associate and I rushed the individual and their family member to the ER and were able to successfully put them in the right hands. Being in that type of emergency showed me what it means to work together with others to ensure the safety and health of everyone who walks through the doors of Winship.
As I was finishing up my work for the day (and massaging my feet behind the help desk), another caregiver walked into the center. The second she saw our comfortable chairs, free coffee/tea, and relaxing environment, her face lit up. She didn’t know about the resource center beforehand and mentioned that she had been waiting in infusion for the past 3 hours sitting in an uncomfortable chair, waiting for her husband to finish his treatment when she learned about our resource center. She was so happy she couldn’t contain herself. Then, the melodic sounds from the piano in the lobby found themselves drifting into the resource center, and she looked at me with a slight smile and said, “This almost makes you kind of forget about it… Maybe not completely forget about it, but helps you to not be constantly thinkin’ about where you are or why you’re here.
And that is why I am so honored to be interning in the Winship Resource Center. That is what makes wearing the heels to work worth it. I have the privilege of working in an office where we provide a calm, relaxing, quiet environment for people who are experiencing some of the most hectic and frightening times in their lives. In our center, they can find solace and peace, at least for just a moment. And for me, I would walk in heels for the rest of my life if it meant providing someone with a small smile at the end of the day.