Mentoring resources
For Tracy & Beth, my name is Wayne and I am a volunteer caregiver most recently having worked with two ALS clients & their families. I would like to ask a question, and will try and do so with as much sensitivity as possible, as while I do understand what clients and their families experience, it's not something I must face personally.
I have begun working with the ALS Society here in my home province and have learned a great deal about ALS from the two wonderful families I have worked with, but the thing that sticks in my mind has to do with a service I would like to help better establish, at least locally.
MY QUESTION
If shortly after the ALS diagnosis was received, the individual afflicted was notified of someone available (in person), attached to the ALS Society strictly as a 'Caring Friend', who would:
- introduce themselves to you as just that, a new friend,
- would be someone to have tea or coffee with once a month (or however often was comfortable),
- had knowledge of ALS and answers to some of the many questions on one's mind,
- would sit down with relatives and friends to tell them about ALS and what roles they might play that would be most helpful,
- and in effect be an on-going general liaison regards resources, both physical & emotional, and lastly
- be someone that was there for those moments when for THE CLIENT needed to 'smack the world' (foam rubber bats are best for us volunteers :-D) or unload feelings as needed, to someone other than a day to day caregiver !
I could talk a lot more about all of this, but don't want to intrude on what I know are very personal stuggles - it's just that I have come to know what many of these challenges are and my only goal is to be the most effective volunteer and friend I can be, particularly within the ALS community.
Thank you for reading this, and if either of you or any others would prefer to reply personally, I would welcome your thoughts (including other agencies perhaps already providing such services so I can learn from them) to
[email protected] .
NOW, since we all know a good laugh can be as good as an 'apple a day', here ya go:
* * * * * * *
THE BOTTLE OF WINE
For all of us who are married, were married, wish
we were married, or wish we weren't married, this
is something to smile about the next time you see a
bottle of wine:
Sally was driving home from one of her business
trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly
Navajo woman walking on the side of the road.
As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped
the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like
a ride.
With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into
the car.
Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make
a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old
woman just sat silently, looking intently at
everything she saw, studying every little detail,
until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to
Sally.
'What in bag?' asked the old woman.
Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, 'It's
a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband.'
The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or
two.
Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder,
she said:
'Good trade......'
)
