ODYSSEY HEALTHCARE

VOLUNTEER CENTRAL V O L U M E 3 I S S U E 5

A P R I L 2 0 0 9 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Article:

‘Intro to Theta

Healing’ see

page 3

Article:

Growing as a

Hospice

Volunteer

see page 2

Volunteer of

the month:

Melissa

Huffmaster

see page 2   Joy is hidden in compassion. The word compassion literally means "to suffer with." It seems quite unlikely that suffering with another person would bring joy. Yet being with a person in pain, offering simple presence to someone in despair, sharing with a friend times of confusion and uncertainty ... such experiences can bring us deep joy.     Not happiness, not excitement, not great satisfaction, but the quiet joy of being there for someone else and living in deep solidarity with our brothers and sisters in this human family. Often this is a solidarity in weakness, in brokenness, in woundedness, but it leads us to the center of joy, which is sharing our humanity with others.  

S o l i d a r i t y in

By Henri Nouwen 

P A G E 2

“In times like

these, it helps to

recall that there

have always

been times like

these. ”

-Paul Harvey

V O L U N T E E R

 Be Present.  Volunteers should be aware that the encounter with death and dying may evoke strong feelings in the patient, family members, and the volunteer. We can easily become uncomfortable during this waiting period, wishing we could do something to somehow “fix” things or supply some answers. 

The final days of the patient’s life can be challenging to you as a volunteer. You are called upon to witness this sacred transition. During the final waiting period, no matter how long it lasts, the patient needs time to engage in self‐searching and reflection about life and relationships.  

Many individuals reminisce. They want to know how they will be remembered, and to be assured that their lives have made a difference. It is during this sacred waiting time that a volunteer may be called upon to deal with a patient’s questions, anxiety, doubts‐responding not with answers but with sacred listening and an acceptance that can assist a person in achieving lasting peace. 

The one who is dying leads the way. The greatest challenge for a hospice volunteer is being confident that our presence makes a real difference for the person who is dying. We will find reassurance of the meaning of our role if we look deep inside ourselves, asking the questions: What is this death doing to me? Who I am to this pa‐tient? What feelings does this death and dying give birth to within me? 

The journey towards death is very personal for each person who enters hospice. The unique blend of culture, family history, religious tradition, personality, and physical and spiritual characteristics that make us who were are also shapes who we will be in death. 

The one who is dying must lead the way. As volunteers, we do well to keep this truth ever in the forefront of our minds: The volunteers a companion on the journey, not a leader: a listener, not a fixer. We have no control over the timing of events, nor are we responsible for outcomes. We are companions, not controllers, on the jour‐ney. 

Excerpt taken from CareGuides for the Care Team, 2007 

Growing a s a H o s p i c e V o l u n t e e r

Volunteer of the Month

Melissa Huffmaster

What's your position/ what type of volunteering do you do? I am an administrative asso-ciate for the Lower Colorado River Authority. Other than being a companion and support for my Odyssey Patient, I am also a very active volunteer for the Special Olympics and several other United Way activities. Both Odyssey and the Special Olympics are near and dear to my heart.

How has volunteering impacted you? It's amazing how volunteering has impacted me. I enjoy every moment of my time that I am volunteering and giving back to the commu-nity. It has changed my life in so many positive ways and each and every person I come into contact with touches my heart as I hope I do theirs.

What's the best thing/part about being a volunteer? I feel like I am finally giving back something, sometimes it feels like all we do is take, but volunteering and spending your time helping other people makes you really feel like you are sincerely giving back, making a difference in someone's life. I am so glad to be a part of Odyssey and hope to be that companion and support system for as many as I can.

What's something interesting about you not everyone would know? I love to sing, I am a huge Karaoke fan! And I enjoy my two seven month old Toy Fox Terriers, Nala Faith and Scraps.

Employee of the Month : Lori Eitelbach, RN/Case Man-ager

P A G E 3

V O L U M E 3 I S S U E 5

can be peaceful and triumphant, no matter the outcome.” said Rondeau. Her first-hand knowledge of positive-thinking urged her to see beyond conventional medical treatment for the treatment of her own children. “Both of my twin boys were diagnosed as being on the spectrum of Autism. I already believed in positive thinking, in God, in the spiritual side of things, but their diagnosis urged me to look even farther into what creates our state of well-being. What I have discovered has inspired me to help others to see more than what meets the eye.” Rondeau inspires people in whatever stage of life they are in to stay positive. Whether it’s to kick-start a new job, a health treatment or to help them connect with a more peaceful existence while in a fragile state of poor-health, Rondeau encourages them to see the larger picture of themselves. “Remembering that we are all meant to be in a place of good-health and happiness, that it’s okay to be happy and to be well, sometimes that’s a huge help in itself in the healing process,” Rondeau explains. “We are all in places of change, life is never constant, so how do we deal with the stress of its many shifts? Its ebb and flow can drain us of our energy, and how we deal with our perception of change, whether good or bad, is key to a happy well-being. Finding out how to cope and to turn our beliefs of despair into hope and joy is essential.” ThetaHealing removes root belief systems while the brain is in a completely relaxed state of being, while it emotes theta brainwaves, hence its name. In this relaxed state, negative emotional beliefs and mental/ physical discomfort are eased and often eradicated immediately. “The theta state of being is what we step into when we are in prayer or

meditation. It is a non-invasive form of communication with the Creator of All that is, that allows roadblocks to be moved, problems to be solved, and healing to take place. With an open mind and heart, ThetaHealing can truly connect people with their highest potential for life. At the very least, I’ve seen ThetaHealing give people great feelings of peace and help them to relax. But I’ve seen so much more, I’ve witnessed people in complete anxiety, depression and despair turn their lives around in a fairly short amount of time. I had one client who had chronic and sudden panic attacks that paralyzed her with fear on a daily basis. Within 45 days of our first session together, she enrolled in a fabulous University to complete her Master’s degree in Psychology, and she has virtually no signs of anxiety at all in her life.” Whether the help that is needed is of a physical, mental, or emotional nature, or merely wanted for life-empowerment, Rondeau believes that if you believe in positive change, you can turn your life around for your highest good and potential. “Believing that healing can take place is half the battle. Just believing, even when you can’t see how, when or why, that is when miracles can happen.” To find out more about ThetaHealing please visit www.thetahealing.com.

     Dahlia Kelly Rondeau is a certified ThetaHealing practitioner, who works with people to relieve emotional and physical pain, stress, and anxiety, creating total well-being. By working with the modality of ThetaHealing,™ founded by Vianna Stibal of Idaho Falls , Idaho , Rondeau is able to get to the core root of negative belief and feeling patterns, exchanging them for more beneficial ones, like joy, peace and unconditional love. ThetaHealing,™ is of a spiritual nature, that’s non-invasive and works effectively with current systems of medical treatment . Why alternative healing and why ThetaHealing? Rondeau’s quest to understand alternative forms of healing began after her aging father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a rare form of cancer that begins in blood plasma. She saw the pain and despair first-hand while she went through his agonizing journey from diagnosis to death at age 70; a seven-year-event. “My father’s original prognosis was grim, he was given only a few months to live, but his indomitable spirit and belief in God gave him a will to live that defied many of his caretakers. I truly believe that the spirit and energy of a person can push them through; their will to live, to give up, to pass, or to be completely healed. The journey

In t ro toIntro toIntro to ThetaHeal ing ThetaHeal ing ThetaHeal ing for the Odyssey Family of Volunteers

4201 W. Parmer Lane

Bldg. C, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78727

Phone: 512-310-0214

Fax: 512-310-9328

E-mail: amasey@odsyhealth.com

Odyssey Healthcare

Making moments count.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? Please Contact Angela Masey

@ (512) 310-0214 or amasey@odsyhealth.com.

Carlos Martin del Campo 4/3 Echo Beyer 4/10 ‘Bud’ Irving Duffy 4/16

April Birthdays

We’re on the Web! odsyhealth.com

April 25th – Volunteer Apprecia-tion Picnic @ the Odyssey Office in celebration of National Volunteer Week April 20th-24th.

Relay for Life Team is forming, please contact Angela if you would like to join this year’s team or would like more info.

May 5th Memorial Service (in memory of the patients we have lost this year). You may attend or volun-teer to help set up or help out during the service.

AnnouncementsAnnouncementsAnnouncements

Tip of the Month

“Always send

back

the white & ye

llow

copies of your

volun-

teer note.”