VOLUNTEERnews May2020A Newsletter for the Shepherd Auxiliary & Volunteers

Volunteer Spotlight: David Carter Although David Carter is only in his 30s, within the last six years, he has logged in over 250 patient visits while volun-teering in Shepherd Center’s Peer Support Program for those with spinal cord injuries. “A husband, student, committed volunteer and world-class athlete, David represents success in adapting (with maximum independence) to life’s abrupt changes after sustaining a spi-nal cord injury,” shares David’s supervisor and Peer Support Manager, Pete Anziano. Not only has David been outstanding in his adaptation to challenging circumstances, he has gone on to help others do the same. Raised in Dallas, Georgia, David is a fraternal twin and also has an older sister. David recalls from his childhood that they had no home computer, and that was fine with him because he loved any activity that took him outside. He and his broth-er were always outdoors riding bikes, playing in the creek and skateboarding. As teens, they added riding their friends’ four wheelers and motorcycles. With Lake Allatoona just a short drive away, the whole family would go and enjoy fishing, swimming, and water skiing. A physically active life out in nature was his pleasure! After graduation from Paulding County High School, David spent seven years following in his dad’s footsteps by work-ing at Georgia Power. When he was 22, he bought his own motorcycle. Then in August 2010, he lost control while riding the motorcycle. His body went through a large wooden street sign, which caused massive internal injuries and damage to his spinal cord at T7. After weeks at Grady Memorial Hospital fighting infection and other complications, he was also diagnosed with a brain injury before being transferred to Shepherd Center for several months of rehabilitation. David clearly remembers Pete Anziano, who also has paraplegia, and connecting with him during the month David spent in the SCI day program. Pete’s wisdom on a practical level was invaluable. Pete had been problem solving each day since his own injury years before and had a wealth of experience to draw on in answering David’s questions and supporting him. About a year after his injury, David starting commuting to Shepherd Center’s ProMotion Gym to work out and uplift others in his circumstances. Soon Lisa Ruger, aquatics coordinator at Shepherd, introduced David to Bill Furbish who recruited him to join Shepherd Center’s water skiing team. David has excelled while enjoying one his fa-vorite outdoor passions again! Later, David met his future wife Brittany Westmoreland at Adventure Skills Workshop (while she volunteered there), married and worked diligently toward a degree he will complete very soon - a bachelor’s in business administration. Through it all, David maintains his commitment to give back. “Shepherd Center is such a wonderful place to be a part of,” he shares, “and there’s always such passion floating through the center, from doctors to therapists to volunteers. A professor taught me that you don’t know what you don’t know that you don’t know. I’ve learned to put my pride to the side and try to help Shepherd patients realize life has obstacles, and to help them to figure it out.” Pete shares, “Meeting David is emboldening to the hope within our families that their lives too can be complete and rich with joy.” We agree with Pete Anziano, and would add, all the lives of Shepherd staff and other volunteers touched by David Carter have been enriched, also! We thank him for being such an outstanding role model and continuing to invest in the lives of so many, year after year!

Above: David Carter enjoys visiting with SCI patients and offering hope and encouragement during their inpatient stay.

from theAUXILIARYPRESIDENT

Dear Auxiliary members, I can’t believe this year has already come to an end. Since we weren’t able to have our Annual Luncheon this year, this is my farewell speech. Though I’m sad not to be serving as your president anymore, I’m passing the “gavel” into the very capable hands of my best friend and Shepherd champion, Kyle Hinson. It has been a pleasure working with my Executive Board (Kyle, Kari Carlos, Ruth Langsfeld, Lori Bowen and Lisa Frooman) and all the members of the regular Auxiliary Board. None of this would have happened without the work that Alex Seblatnigg does. Thank you to each of you. Thank you to all the members who participated in any of our events or brought us new members. And thank you to the administration, especially Sarah Batts, for allowing the Auxiliary to continue our mission. This year was definitely marked with uncharted territory but I have full faith that once we are allowed back at Shepherd, we will be better than ever. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your president. Stay safe, you will all be in my thoughts and prayers.

With a grateful heart,

AnneAnne Worrellanne.p.worrell@gmail.com

Below: When she’s not busy volunteering at Shepherd and else-where, Anne keeps her hands full managing her family of 5: hus-band Andrew, sons Drew and Pearce, and daughter Rhodes. Thank you Anne for the gift of your time!

Renew online at shepherd.org/auxiliary.

Renewal deadline

extended to May 29!

Shepherd Center President and CEO Sarah Morrison, PT, MBA, MHA, gave a bold and brilliant speech at the TEDx Centennial Park Women event on how humor, hard work and hope inspire new beginnings for patients.

Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wOzFq9pGks

We Are Shepherd: Shepherd Center Honors In-Hospital Volunteers for Volunteer Appreciation Week 2020

Every year for Volunteer Appreciation Week, we have a plethora of engaging and positive activities for our vol-unteers, with our annual dinner being the highlight. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we could not celebrate this year’s Volunteer Appreciation Week as we usually do, but we still found creative ways to acknowledge our tremendous volunteers virtually. We sent daily encouraging emails, mailed volunteer hour pins and certificates to those who reached new hour milestones, sent a beautiful card with the faces of many of our volunteers, cre-ated social media posts recognizing volunteers, shared videos and pictures of staff and volunteers, and ensured we connected with as many of you as possible. The annual week offers a chance to honor in-hospital volunteers who make a difference with our patients, families and staff every day. We can’t wait until we’re able to resume our “normal” schedules and can welcome volunteers back to Shepherd with open arms. Once we’re able to return, each volunteer will receive their annual volunteer week gift, a beautiful blue journal with the Shepherd Center logo on the front. At Shepherd Center, all of our volunteers are a blessing to our patients, their family members and our staff. We truly appreciate all that you do for us each day. Thank you!

Volunteer Milestone Hour Awards 100 Hours: David Carter, Patricia Chang, Roger Greene, Eileen Harrison, Sue Harrison, Brenda Jones, Sherry Lang, Julia Murphy, Patrick Nicholas, Anna Pethel, Chauncey Phillips, Joshua Porter, Natalie Prichard, Johnny Quispe, Dontavious Ridley, Caroline Sturgeon, Odessa Terry, Laura Wright. 250 Hours: Billy Kennedy, Dell Sikes, Jeannie Worlock. 500 Hours: EBeth McMullen. 1,000 Hours: Patty McGill. 1,500 Hours: Chuck Nicolaysen. 2,000 Hours: Joel Feldstein, Mary Kay Howard, Zach Wilson. 3,000 Hours: Carol Olsen. 4,000 Hours: Mitzi Richardson. 5,000 Hours: Bart Marks, Beryl Waters. 5,500 Hours: Bisi Alabi. 8,500 Hours: Lois Puckett. 18,000 Hours: James Curtis.

Years of Volunteer Service Milestone5 Years: Nicholas Protentis, Peter van den Bosch. 10 Years: Chuck Nicolaysen, Frederick Roberts. 15+ Years: Betsy Cozine, James Curtis, Sydell Harris, Kelly Holder, Margaret Hopkins, Mary Kay Howard, Tom Leahy, Bart Marks, Carol Olsen, Mark Pace, Lois Puckett, Hunter Ramseur, Pat Reeve, Mitzi Richardson, Lynne Yancey.

Congratulations Milestone Hour Award Winners!

Sarah Batts, Executive Director, Shepherd Center FoundationAlex Seblatnigg, Director, Volunteer Services & Internal EngagementAlaina Case, Volunteer Services CoordinatorGale Eckstein, Family Support Services CoordinatorNewsletter Co-editors: Alaina Case and Gale Eckstein

Membership in the Shepherd Center Auxiliary, Peach Corps, and Junior Committee is open to all volunteers. Members provide ongoing fundraising and volunteer support to Shepherd Center. For more information on becoming a member of one of these groups, contact Alex Seblatnigg at (404) 350-7315 or visit www.shepherd.org.Shepherd Center’s mission is to help people with a temporary or permanent disability caused by injury or disease rebuild their lives with hope, independence, and dignity, advocating for their full inclusion in all aspects of community life while promoting safety and injury prevention.

spotlight

VOLUNTEERnews

We Love and Miss Our Volunteers!