One Family’s Heartwarming Habit

Bethy, Jim and Kamden are familiar faces at Ocean University Medical Center. Jim has been accompanying his daughter since 2020, and she has spent Wednesdays delivering mail around the hospitals for nearly 20 years.

In spite of all they have given to Ocean, they insist it’s them who should be giving thanks.

A Weekly Calling

Bethy loved to volunteer, but with cerebral palsy, it can be difficult to find opportunities for her that she’s able to handle on her own. After she graduated from the School for the Deaf, her mom, Sue, thought she would try their local hospital. Today, it’s hard for the family or the team to imagine life without the other.

“While I am supporting her with the use of a gait belt, she can push the mail cart and work on her balance. It’s a little physical therapy, and she gets to meet people,” Jim explains. “When I first started going with her, she was showing me the route, and I was following her around.”

The most important part of that route may be the oncology department. Beth carries a communication card that allows her to connect with people who can’t sign with her.

“The ladies at the oncology desk really go out of their way to talk with Beth,” Jim says. They connect every week. “It's a really nice interaction for her. And they’ll give her little presents for the holidays, things like that.”

A Temporary Pause

When the pandemic hit, Bethy’s long-time tradition was disrupted. During lockdown, staying at home was difficult for her.

“During COVID, Bethy really missed volunteering,” Sue says. “She didn’t really understand why we were hunkering down.”

As restrictions were lifted, Sue called Ocean University Medical Center and asked if Bethy could come back. The answer was clear: The hospital had missed her just as much.

“She was the first volunteer to come back,” Sue says.

An Act of Kindness

Now, Bethy is back in her routine, with Jim along for the ride. Both of her parents encourage everyone who can to follow her example.

“There’s a vice president [at Ocean] named Ken Souchek, and he always says thank you. And I always say thank you all for letting Beth volunteer, because she really likes coming here,” Jim says.

The best part of volunteering, he adds, is “Two things: getting Bethy out to meet other people, and providing a service and giving back a little bit as much as we can.”

“It’s the highlight of her week,” says Sue. “She loves giving back to the community.”