Volunteering #3

As I walked through the backdoor of the hospital, I eagerly antipicated the next three hours with the friendly group I met prior. I checked in, dropped off my belongings, and went right to the imaging and x-ray department. This time, thankfully, I wasn't lost. Maybe the 100 hours from volunteering at Tufts helped me adapt to find new locations in medical facilities. I walked in the same room as I did before, met with the scanning machines all neatly set up. However, I was suprised to see one lady, who I have never seen before. Within minutes, we became friends.

She was instantly compatible because of her talkative nature and her connection with the nurses. She was extremely close with the techinician I met on my first shift, so we all had a fun time. We talked about football and the the new lady's obsession with Tom Brady and Brett Favre as well as things to do over summer. She even showed me couple of the generated images from the machines that revealed the angioagram nerves. I followed her around to even the hidden places that only employees could enter, like the secret water dispenser only accessible to employees.

My conversations were not just with the employees, however. I talked with the patients I escorted, one even tellign me about his job at a a high-tech company. Through my constant back-and-forth of scanning sheets of paper and taking patients to one of the two scanning rooms, I had the freedom to learn more about the patients and employees. I would write many more stories from the amiable patients, but due to HIPPA restrictions, I have to keep my mouth shut. Some told me stories where I empathized with them and consoled them.

I was kept busy today with the paperwork scanning and escorting, but it brought joy to me. Something about hearing stories from patients and meeting nurses who I never seen before brings so much happiness to me. I'm looking forward to next Tuesday- hopefully I can talk to more volunteers now.