DiaLog: On Being a Volunteer

From OncoLog, February 2004, Vol. 49, No. 2

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On Being a Volunteer

Karen Brugnoli
Anderson Network volunteer

I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the duodenum in the summer of 1999 and underwent a Whipple procedure at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. As I was recovering from my surgery, a volunteer entered my room and asked if I was feeling up to a conversation. I quickly said no, and she told me that she was a 20-year breast cancer survivor and could certainly understand where I was at that moment, and then she left. Even in my drugged state, her words “20-year survivor” played over and over in my mind as a delightful vision. To this day, I do not know who she was, but she made a huge impact on me.

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”

– Sir James Barrie

Today, I am a four-year survivor and a volunteer at M. D. Anderson. Where else in this world could I make faces light up by simply walking into a room and saying, “I was in one of these beds four years ago”? The most frequent response I get is, “You look good!” These patients are receiving the same inspiration that I did four years ago from that unnamed volunteer and from the Anderson Network volunteers who coached me through my experience by phone and in person.

In a world in which many of us feel that we can be easily replaced in our day jobs, this position of survivor/volunteer is one that I am uniquely qualified to fill. When people ask me why I volunteer, I am likely to tell them that I am “turning lemons into lemonade.” I am hoping to make a difference as so many have done for me these past few years. As an added benefit, I also am reminded weekly of how blessed I am to continue to experience a full and healthy life.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

– Winston Churchill

I have been delighted by the professionalism of the Anderson Volunteer Services organization: they are dedicated to making sure that every patient has the experience of being in a caring place each and every day and night. The doctors and nurses at M. D. Anderson also volunteer their care and concern every day. There was my surgeon, who returned my call to his pager while taking his daughters to a record store on a Saturday; my radiation oncology nurse, who offered me her home phone number to call if I needed her after hours (and I really did); and many others who took just a moment to give a smile or an understanding response to a question. They all made a big difference during this ordeal of mine.

My efforts as a volunteer are dedicated to all of you who have made such a difference in my life!

For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call askMDAnderson at (877) MDA-6789.

Other articles in OncoLog, February 2004 issue:

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