The smell of hospital cleanser surrounded her as she walked in. The waiting room seats were filled with families - some were crying, tears of joy or sadness, she did not know. Some families were sitting and shaking with anticipation, looking up with hopeful eyes every time someone walked through the door on the other side of the room, finally jumping to their feet when their doctor walked out. They were trying to read the doctor’s face for the slightest note of the status of their son or daughter. As he approached they asked only one question: How are they?

For the past two years senior Sarah Sindelar has been volunteering in the pediatrics unit at The Nebraska Medical Center. She originally got into the program when she participated in another medical program and when volunteers talked to her about working with seriously ill children. As soon as she heard about it she knew it was for her. Originally just doing it for the experience, Sindelar later realized how important this activity was to her and the children she worked with.

“I think that always giving back to your community is important because it gives you a broader aspect of what the world really is like,” counselor Sara Powell said.

As a volunteer at The Nebraska Medical Center, Sindelar went from room to room asking children if they would like a volunteer to play with. If the child did want a volunteer, they went to either the playroom or they stayed in their room and played different games such as video games, dolls or board games.

“My favorite [part] is playing with the little girls and their dolls because they’re all cute about it. It’s always about a prince and princess and how they get married and live happily ever after,” Sindelar said.

Being a volunteer involves dedication and an optimistic outlook on life. Volunteers at The Nebraska Medical Center, like Sindelar, were there because it was their passion. Many children did not know the seriousness of their situation. Other volunteers and Sindelar help to maintain the normality of childhood for the ill children, which made these stress-filled times easier.

“Having volunteers to play with just puts a huge smile on the kids’ faces,” leader of volunteer services at The Nebraska Medical Center Patricia Ostronic said.

Children from all over the country came to The Nebraska Medical Center for many different reasons. Though it may seem like nothing, just having someone to play with or talk to outside of the hospital meant the world to them. Keeping their spirits high and a smile on their face was the ultimate goal of all volunteers.

“When kids recognize me I realize how important I’ve become to them,” Sindelar said. “I just realize how much I really am doing because it doesn’t feel like I’m doing a lot because I’m just playing with them, but I am really making an impact on their lives.”Story By Diana MarcumSpread By Olivia Noble

Student makes an impact on kids lives volunteering at hospital

Extending a hand

Volunteering 149

Teacher Bonding (Top) Instructor Valorie Sailors and instructor CJ Maly are putting together six benches during team building for professional development. “It was a great idea; it let us be able to work together with a purpose,” Sailors said. Photo courtesy of instructor Nicole Burns

Volunteering for a Purpose (Middle) To help better understand inequalities, senior Lexi Orme tutors freshman Elizabeth Gomez. “I enjoy tutoring freshmen because it’s a really good way to help people who really need it,” Orme said. Photo by Frankie Copple

Helping Out (Above) With a huge smile on her face, junior Dakotah Bullie stacks chairs and tears down the set for her Wednesday night youth group Revolution. “My youth group is really awesome and I love being there and I want to do what I can to make it even better,” Bullie said. Photo by Frankie Copple

BELLEVUE EAST HIGH SCHOOLDIANA MARCUMYEARBOOK FEATURE WRITING