Road to Recovery Volunteer Blessings

My closest personal experience with cancer came about 4 years ago when I learned that a cousin my age, and who I had grown up with, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was stunned. I couldn't believe this had happened to a loved one I felt close to. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were little girls playing with bugs and filled with laughter while running with other cousins through the country woods where we lived in Georgia?

I immediately called my cousin and told her I'd heard from her mom about the prognosis. "I just want you to know I'm here for you in whatever way you need me," I told her. Living in Georgia at the time, I drove the 40 miles from my home to hers. When she came to the door, we both burst into tears and held one another. Finally we sat down on the sofa and I listened as she talked about her journey ahead. As time passed and she met me at the door wearing a scarf to cover her bare head, we would cry together more, but also talk and laugh about our childhood memories. There we days I'd call and she would be so sick and in tears from treatments. I would drive to her home so we could cry and hug some more. But through it all, she exhibited courage and faith that inspired me. With time and treatments, my cousin won her battle and currently is still in the all clear zone.

In 200 my husband and I moved from Georgia to Panama City Beach, Florida. Both of us retired, I scanned the newspaper and discovered the need for volunteer drivers for the Cancer Society. Know the experience of my cousin and her appreciation for my spending time with her, I signed up for training and subsequently became an official volunteer with Road to Recovery.

I learned that patients who need the services of Road to Recovery are those who are not able to drive because of the effect of treatments on their body and have no available family members to assist. This can be due to other family members' work schedules or the absence of family members from the vicinity.

Mr. Pope, who moved from Georgia, has no family at all here in Panama City Beach. After learning that he had a brain tumor (which followed colon cancer from 6 years ago), I was privileged to drive him to treatments and back home. His gratefulness for my taking time to help him, his positive demeanor, and speaking of how God is good was enough to light up a dark room. He's told me about his three daughters and the granson that he is so proud of who live in Atlanta. He told me that they call numerous times each day and want him to return to Atlanta. But he loves living at the beach where he can take wwalks and enjoy the beauty of sunsets from his deck.

Then there is Michele who was already at stage 4 when she learned of her diagnosis 4 years ago. She exhibits such courage even though recent treatments have left her esophagus, lips, and inside her mouth literally burned. And she can't say thank you enough for the service that Road to Recovery offers her. We've had conversations about our sons and laughed at the similarities. I feel I've made a new friend though our trips together for her treatments.

From the first time I pulled up to a patient's driveway to those after, I have been in awe at the courageous smiles and immense gratitude expressed by each one. I have a wash cloth crocheted and given to me by a patient. I keep it in my car to remember her and why Road to Recovery is so important.

In my 55 years I don't believe I've ever been in the presence of anyone who had shown such gratitude for a service being provided for them than these courageous cancer patients. The smiles and positive outlooks that shine through leave me humbled and acknowledging that my current life issues are really very insignificant in relation to those of my new friends. I've also been privileged to hear about each individual's personal faith and outlook for their journey, which is often uncertain. I'm privileged to offer encouragement and to thank them for blessing my life.

So, HOW can I NOT be a volunteeer driver for Road to Recovery? Oh the many blesings and lessons I would be missing!

(If you would like to become a R to R volunteer, please contact your local Cancer Society.)

booksALIVE Festival Gulf Coast College Feb 2010

Thrilled to be an invited author to the booksALIVE Book Festival by Bay County Public Library & held at Gulf Coast Community College Feb 5 & 6, 2010. For more info see http://www.booksalive.net/tainsh.html

Hopice of the Emerald Coast January 19

Thank you Karen, Emerald Coast Hospice Volunteer coordinator, for inviting me to give you January presentation for your volunteers. What fun I had presenting a program on the history of volunteerism and how volunteering benefits you and me. In a room of 20 wonderful hospice angels I shared my experiences of volunteering in various areas and how we have all been volunteers in one manner or the other since we were kids. Whether helping the teacher clean the chalkboard, helping another student read or in high school, helping with bake sales and school events. As parents we've helped with PTA, Little League, and Sunday School. As older adults we've chosen organizations that mean something near and dear to us that causes us to give of our time, talents, and compassion. I gave a powerpoint presentation with info regarding volunteerism in America and how our health benefits because we choose to be volunteers. I, with my husbands help, created a golden angel with sparkle wings to provide to each hospice volunteer. At the end, I had the group "toot their own horns" (literally) by blowing the party horns I provided them. Happy New Year and thank you for giving to others freely!

Guest Speaker Immanueal Baptist Chruch Jan 12

I want to thank the Immanuel Baptist Church senior adults group for having me as their guest speaker on January 12. I was blessed by the response of others who have suffered the uhtimely death of a dear loved one to my message on the Lord's Prayer. To be told that words in my talk were words someone needed to hear and validated many of their own emotions gave me validation that I was where I was suppose to be on that day at that given time.

A note from Mrs. Greeson: "Deborah your message touched hearts. Our members still speak of you. We look forward to a time when we can invite you back again."