SERVICE
On September 4th a group of volunteers from KUMC that included members of our
youth group worked with some other volunteers to build a wheelchair ramp for Barney
Chambley and his wife, Pat. You may have seen the news clip on WCTV or the photos
on the KUMC website or in the e-news. I want to share a little bit of the backstory to
demonstrate the importance of what iServe does and to encourage participation so
more can share in the joy that serving brings.
The referral for the Chambleys came from the Spiritual Care Coordinator from Covenant
Care Hospice. She contacted the KUMC office asking if we could help with a wheelchair
ramp for the Chambleys. Working in conjunction with FL Cares we were able to make
this happen. When I was talking with Mr. Chambly during the day while we were
building the ramp, he told me about how his wife was suffering from Alzheimers and had
been injured in a fall which exacerbated her decline in health. All this left her spending
most of her day in bed, some of her day in a wheelchair and without a way to leave the
house. He could not carry her down the steps or maneuver her wheelchair down the
steps of their mobile home. He has bad knees and does not ambulate well either. She
needed her husband’s help to do most everything and he had to quit his job as a result.
Mr. Chamblee told me how he turned Covenant Care Hospice for some help even
though Mrs. Chambley‘s passing it’s not imminent.
Mr. Chambley went on to tell me that when Hospice got involved, they asked him what
was on his “wish list” for his wife. The only thing he could think of was a ramp so that
she could get out of the house, go for rides in the car and be outdoors, something that
she had always enjoyed but could go longer do without a ramp. As he was telling me
this, I could see how he was choking back the tears, tears of sadness for his wife’s
condition but just as much, tears of joy for the work being done that he and his wife
could enjoy together.
This making Mr. Chambley’s wish for his wife come true would not have happened
without the generous donations from those of you who support iServe and without the
hard work of those volunteering to help folks such as the Chambleys, showing the love
of Christ and being a light in the darkness for those in need. Mr. Chambley could not
have been more thankful for what we were able to provide, nor am I. It’s not every day
you get to make someone’s wish come true.
Come out and join us sometime to serve our community and to be the hands and feet of
Christ, to shine a light. We provide all the tools, can teach you what you need to do and
how to do it safely, and can find something for every skill level to do.
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for
me.” MT 25:40.