Volunteer Work??

Monday will be #34 and my last radiation. Wow how time fliys when you're having fun!! Anyway, I must say that I was raised in a pretty religous home, then as an adult decided religion was no longer my thing. Not that I became a bad guy or anything, just wasn't as devout as I was as a kid. Probably a pretty typical American adult. Still believed in God, tried to do the right things, just not (pardon the term) "a holy roller". It's funny what brings people back to God. There are many things, and one certainly is for many people what we all are going through. I now pray every morning for members of my family, people I know, and even for all the people hurting on this board.

I was a very fortunate business man. I hade lots of money and at age 47 (4 years ago) a big Fortune 500 compnay offerred me a bunch of more money to buy me out. I couldn't pass it up. So, for the most part, I'm retired. I promised God that when I recover I will do more to help those cancer patients that need help. We've all seen them. Yes, it is easy to write the check to help (and I will). But I want to do more physically. I've never been much of a volunteer guy. Give me some ideas? What should I do? Just walk into a cancer center and say put me to work? I want to use my time in the best possible fashion but there are only so many hours. Looking for suggestions to pick from.

I'm a very blessed man (cancer and all) and need to give back. Help me out people. Shoot me some volunteer ideas.

Thanks,

Rick

On 2/22/2008 rick51 wrote:

Monday will be #34 and my last radiation. Wow how time fliys when you're having fun!! Anyway, I must say that I was raised in a pretty religous home, then as an adult decided religion was no longer my thing. Not that I became a bad guy or anything, just wasn't as devout as I was as a kid. Probably a pretty typical American adult. Still believed in God, tried to do the right things, just not (pardon the term) "a holy roller". It's funny what brings people back to God. There are many things, and one certainly is for many people what we all are going through. I now pray every morning for members of my family, people I know, and even for all the people hurting on this board.

I was a very fortunate business man. I hade lots of money and at age 47 (4 years ago) a big Fortune 500 compnay offerred me a bunch of more money to buy me out. I couldn't pass it up. So, for the most part, I'm retired. I promised God that when I recover I will do more to help those cancer patients that need help. We've all seen them. Yes, it is easy to write the check to help (and I will). But I want to do more physically. I've never been much of a volunteer guy. Give me some ideas? What should I do? Just walk into a cancer center and say put me to work? I want to use my time in the best possible fashion but there are only so many hours. Looking for suggestions to pick from.

I'm a very blessed man (cancer and all) and need to give back. Help me out people. Shoot me some volunteer ideas.

Thanks,

Rick

P.S. I may be a succesful business guy, but I can't spell worth a damn, and I type even worse. Is there any spell checker on this thing? I don't see one. I go back and read my postings and I feel like I'd fail "smarter than a 5th grader".

Rick

Hi Rick,

One of the things we've been thinking of doing is volunteering to drive patients to and from chemo / rad treatments if they can't drive themselves.

My husband has volunteered to be a contact for his doctors for new patients ... so when someone just gets diagnosed, they give his name out and new patients call him as a support person.  

Also, I am thinking of doing some work with hospice.

On 2/22/2008 rick51 wrote:

 

On 2/22/2008 rick51 wrote:

Monday will be #34 and my last radiation. Wow how time fliys when you're having fun!! Anyway, I must say that I was raised in a pretty religous home, then as an adult decided religion was no longer my thing. Not that I became a bad guy or anything, just wasn't as devout as I was as a kid. Probably a pretty typical American adult. Still believed in God, tried to do the right things, just not (pardon the term) "a holy roller". It's funny what brings people back to God. There are many things, and one certainly is for many people what we all are going through. I now pray every morning for members of my family, people I know, and even for all the people hurting on this board.

I was a very fortunate business man. I hade lots of money and at age 47 (4 years ago) a big Fortune 500 compnay offerred me a bunch of more money to buy me out. I couldn't pass it up. So, for the most part, I'm retired. I promised God that when I recover I will do more to help those cancer patients that need help. We've all seen them. Yes, it is easy to write the check to help (and I will). But I want to do more physically. I've never been much of a volunteer guy. Give me some ideas? What should I do? Just walk into a cancer center and say put me to work? I want to use my time in the best possible fashion but there are only so many hours. Looking for suggestions to pick from.

I'm a very blessed man (cancer and all) and need to give back. Help me out people. Shoot me some volunteer ideas.

Thanks,

Rick

P.S. I may be a succesful business guy, but I can't spell worth a damn, and I type even worse. Is there any spell checker on this thing? I don't see one. I go back and read my postings and I feel like I'd fail "smarter than a 5th grader".

Rick

Dear Rick

I think its great that you are in a good financial way and want to share. I also hope you are doing well i had 25  days of radiation and yes it does go fast. As for ideas i think maybe  you should think aboout exactly what it is you are looking to do. I know from my own expeience that when you have cancer money becomes a big concern and adds to the  stress you already have going through cancer  treatment. after researching i have found that therre arent any angencies out there that help with personal finances, i mean such as mtg electric, phone bill exct. Maybe you could start an organization that could help those in need of financial help other than the help thats out there for treatments. I am sure you would receive many responses.If this isnt any good maybe you could sponser a day out for cancer pts and their families . what ever you do i think is great that you went through the hardest thing a person can go through fighting cancer and now you want to give back ,I admire that best of luck to you

Laborerlady

Hi Rick,

That's great that you want to volunteer! There are so many folks with this disease that are facing it alone. Meals, rides, and sometimes just someone to talk to are what I'm finding to be helpful to patients, especially the elderly. You know that when you get diagnosed your head is spinning. It's at that time that you are bombarded with information, schedules, insurance issues, etc... If I hadn't had my wife there to take notes and ask questions I don't know how I would have managed. Someone to act as an advocate or coordinator would also help patients greatly.

When I was diagnosed the good folks where I work took up a collection and bought me a video Ipod. I am a musician so they knew that music would help me get through the ordeal. they had no idea how much it would help me get  through treatment and recovery. Heck it's still helping! I had an idea at the time that a charity called "An Apple A Day" that would raise money to buy Ipods for sick folks (children and adults) would be a good idea. There's a lot of just sitting around when you are having a chemo infusion or kidney dialysis or treatment like that. An Ipod loaded with your favorite genre of music would really make the time go by faster. I tried to reach out to Apple and Sony but never got a response. I'm ashamed to say I abandoned the idea but it's still in my mind to get up and get it done. Anyway, my point is if you just look at what your needs are/where and what helped you through the fire, those same things can help others and sometimes it's not the most obvious.

Good luck and I'm really glad to hear that you've mad it through the wringer.

Joe 

That is so wonderful for you to want to give back.  Good luck with treatment and you've sounded great through out the weeks.

I experienced an incident once at the clinic, I fogot to bring myself some socks and I was freezing, a lady had an extra pair and it just made me cry to have such support during this time from a stranager.  One thing that I did when I got better, was to give the  chemo clinic here in San Antonio, socks for the new persons coming in.  I've been buying slip ons slipper type socks and dropping them off when I can every month.

I crochet also, so on occasion I  make some blankets and take them up to the clinic to use for the patients.

The smallest little thing I can do to help, I do.  It will be very well appreciated by all, and God is encouraging and supporting you through this as well.

 Up is the only way to go!

God Bless, Lots of Love & Warm Hugs

Patricia

Rick, I've also thought of volunteering.  I've got a Web site that gets a lot of traffic and I'm more than happy to answer questions, but I feel I could do more.  At, 47, I'm also semi retired, so I've got lots of free time.  That being said, I just can't bring myself to do it. 

I've inquired a couple of times about helping out at the Cancer center, but when it comes down to it, just driving past the place brings back memories of pain and suffering.  Going back for my rechecks gives me the willies.

I hope that when I reach the two year mark (this September) I'll feel a little better about it and be able to walk in and say "put me to work".

Tom

I hear you Tom. I too wonder if when push comes to shove, can I do it? But I'm sure planning on trying. So many people need it. The first day I went to MD Anderson, there were people there that were there for rechecks and they helped me, showed me around, knew what I was going to go through. I appreciated it very much. I think we all owe it to the "rookies".

I see the pain and confusion on faces and I just want to reach out. My wife is the opposite. She just can't bring herself to seeing people suffering like that. To each their own, I understand.

Now I have to say. I'm making a big assumption here. My last radiation is Monday, then off for a month and the usual check-up. I'm assuming I'm ok. If the news is bad I may be needing alot more help then giving it!! I don't know if I could go on with more treatments at this stage.

God bless

Rick