Angela Maccarrone
Freshman at Gonzaga University
Spokane, Washington
I’ve volunteered at Seattle Children’s
since they would let me at age 16 – but I’ve been a patient in the muscular
dystrophy clinic most of my life.
Sometimes friends ask me, “Don’t
you want to stay as far away from
that place as possible?” I have to
laugh because it’s just the opposite.
As hard as some of my experiences
have been – lung failure from
pneumonia in sixth grade and surgery
to fuse my spine with a metal rod in
seventh grade – my doctors, nurses
and therapists made them bearable
with their compassion and
encouragement. They were always
pulling for me.
I like making deliveries to a child’s
room the best. I know just how those
kids feel – they miss their own bed, their room, their pets, their friends and
their mom’s cooking! A teddy bear or
balloon can make their day.
Lots of people I volunteer with have
contributed more time and energy to
Children’s than my whole age! Behind
the simple tasks that we do – cleaning
medical equipment, filing, putting
together crayon packs for the kids – I
see their commitment and I’m inspired
by their passion to give back.
Volunteering helps me reflect on
my journey with muscular dystrophy. I
can’t play sports or even walk very well,
but at Children’s I’m reminded that my
disability doesn’t define me. There’s
always a place for me here.
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