Meet a Few of Our Volunteers

Marcella Gillie

Before retiring in 1994, Marcella Gillie worked four decades as a teacher, principal, and college instructor. Whenever she learned of a former student's success, she told her colleagues she "got paid." She wasn't referring to a paycheck, of course, but to the intrinsic rewards of teaching. On such "paydays," she knew she made a difference.

Today, as a volunteer for the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, Mrs. Gillie still gets "paid." Since 2001, the 70-year-old Hyde Park resident and grandmother of two has spent every Monday volunteering with the hospital's Child Life Department. For a few hours, she may rock infants and interact with toddlers in the playroom. Or she may visit with older children and teens, providing a little company and distraction at the bedside.

The fact that Mrs. Gillie taught every grade comes in handy when she is "on the job" at the hospital. She'll sing, tell stories, and play games with kids. "My experience has given me a lot to draw from, so when they don't react to one thing, I'll try another," she says.

Although Mrs. Gillie could have volunteered at dozens of other places, she chose the hospital because her two children were born there. And one of her children, Nick, battled severe childhood allergies and spent weeks at a time in the hospital. Impressed by the care he received, she vowed to return as a volunteer when she retired.

Now, those "paydays" occur each and every Monday. "The rewards come when a child sits up, shows a new interest in a toy, or just smiles. The same is true when you've been able to relieve a parent." It's these benefits of volunteering that Mrs. Gillie finds so valuable.

Patrick Dospoy

The library … the student union … the playroom? Sure, a children's hospital isn't the typical college hangout, but it's become a retreat for Patrick Dospoy. Patrick, a 19-year-old University of Chicago sophomore, finds the best place to escape the rigors of his academic pursuits is the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.

"Volunteering provides a good balance to my life," Patrick says. For four to six hours each week, Patrick helps the child life staff interact and play with the infants and toddlers. He also cooks and plays games like medical bingo with the older kids.

A visit to the hospital to see his grandfather in 2003 sparked the desire to volunteer. But Patrick admits he was a little nervous in the beginning. "Going in, I was shaky," Patrick says. "I really like kids, but I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. But watching the child life staff--and how they are able to calm and comfort a child--had an impact on me. I realized that I could really make a difference."

Although the Child Life staff considers Patrick to be an ideal role model for other volunteers, Patrick is inspired by the young patients he serves each week. "Listening to their attitudes is so encouraging," Patrick says. "They are so much braver than people give them credit for."

Patrick plans to major in human development and continue volunteering at the children's hospital until he graduates. Besides helping him "balance" his studies and other aspects of his life, he likes how volunteering makes him feel. "It feels awesome to know that you are helping a child."