Volunteer Spotlight
Marcy McCain
"Following my retirement in 2020 after 43 years of service with a single employer, my personal history and a long-time friendship led me to begin volunteering at the Ballard House earlier this year. My mother was a 20-year cancer survivor, and I am a 14-year survivor. Both of us were very fortunate that we were able to stay in our own homes and take all of our treatments in the city in which we were living at the time. During our journeys, we each had the incredible support of family, friends, and co-workers.
In October 2022, my mother’s fellow kindergarten teacher and best friend received a bone marrow transplant at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. As part of her post-operative care, she was required to remain in Baltimore for at least two months for daily follow-up tests at the hospital and to have a full-time caretaker with her. She and her family were not made aware of these requirements until a few days before she was scheduled to transition from in-hospital to out-patient care. I was honored to be asked by her family to be that caretaker for the duration of her stay in Baltimore. For the next 6 weeks, we stayed in a Marriott Residence Inn located a few blocks from the hospital. Along with providing food, laundry services and emotional support, I made sure that she was able to keep all of her appointments and that she was taking all of her medications at the proper times and in the correct dosages.
My experience in Baltimore reinforced my thoughts that emotional support for patients undergoing treatment is important, but I also realized that patients who have to travel outside of their home area to receive treatment face a large financial burden with costs for travel, housing and food. I decided that I wanted to try to provide some of the same support that I received during my cancer journey to others undergoing treatments. After exploring a few options in the Texas Medical Center, I learned about The Ballard House and determined that it provides the volunteer opportunity for which I was searching (with the added benefit that is located approximately 5 miles from my home). I was extremely pleased to learn that The Ballard House provides its services at no cost to the guests.
My volunteer role is as a floater, which means that I do a little bit of everything. I get a lot of satisfaction from ensuring that various areas are fully stocked and organized with appropriate supplies, and that the public areas of the house are clean and comfortable for the guests who call the Ballard House their temporary home away from home. I respect the privacy of the guests and their caregivers, but I enjoy building relationships and talking with anyone who wants or needs to talk."
-Marcy
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