Many people, like myself, were brought to St. Michael’s Hospital as a patient via their helipad.
After my my motorcycle accident, I was unable to return to my job as a school Teacher. I had several years of retraining and relearning before I could return to this job.
So, I started volunteering in the Neuro-Trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. This is the same ICU where the doctors and Neuro-surgeons had told my parents that I was Brain Dead and that I would never come out of the deep coma that I lay in. These doctors enjoy seeing me as a volunteer and they are very glad that I was given the gift of a “Second Life and Second Chance.”
I still continue to volunteer in the ICU, even after more than 20 years of volunteering. This is a very important job that I enjoy very much.
NOTE: Volunteering or giving to others increases the production of three brain chemicals — dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. These chemicals will improve your mood which explains why you feel good when you give to others. Volunteering also provides a sense of purpose and appreciation.
As a volunteer I get to pass on my message of ‘Hope’ and to encourage the families to ‘Never Give Up.’
Volunteering is a great way for someone to learn new skills and to practice new skills and they might find a new direction for themselves as well. I would encourage other survivors to look into opportunities to participate in volunteer work.
Here are some Great Volunteering Quotations:
*(1)*You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give. (By: Winston Churchill)
*(2)* Volunteering has an excellent return on investment: you receive so much more than you could ever give.
*(3)* Volunteers are not paid not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.
