Motivated by her family’s care experience, one volunteer is paying it forward
Kathy Weaver is one of the many generous Bozeman Health Volunteers and donates her time as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Cuddler and an Information Desk Director. Kathy shares her family’s personal experience with Bozeman Health and how it inspired her to pay it forward.
Kathy has called Bozeman her home for the last 25 years. She and her husband, Walt, an Air Force navigator and private pilot, have two daughters. Their first child, Jenny, was born with Chronic Granulomatous Disease, a rare condition where the white blood cells are unable to fend off infections. Although not given a long life expectancy, Jenny lived to be 28 years old.
Jenny spent most of her life in a hospital, including Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center. Kathy recalls how Jenny had a special gift to connect with others, and how the staff at Bozeman Health became like family during her long stays, “staff and volunteers made a big difference to Jenny and our family. It could be a cleaning person, radiology tech, nurse or phlebotomist, who took a couple of minutes to smile and say a few kind words.”
Jenny’s care team even made her a quilt that said, ‘one day at a time’ and was signed by all of them. Kathy shares that even though it’s been 17 years since her daughter passed away, she still sees the team around town and they always have kind words and hugs, “it always feels so special to me that she is still remembered,” says Kathy.
Kathy recollects the care Jenny received from one of her, now retired, Bozeman Health physicians, Dr. Anders Persson, that exceeded all expectations. “When Jen was to return to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for her post-transplant visit, Dr. Persson drove us there in his VW van. She was in a wheelchair, on oxygen, IV pain medicine and hydration pumps, so traveling with her was challenging. He flew back to Bozeman to see his other patients, then returned at the end of the week to drive us home.” Toward the end of Jenny’s life, it was painful for her to move, so Dr. Persson made house calls when she needed to be seen.
Kathy says, “It’s hard to express the gratitude our family has for the care Jenny received.” Jenny’s care team even gave her a send-off celebration when she departed Bozeman Health for the University of Washington Medical Center to receive a stem cell transplant.
Kathy expresses her motivation for volunteering at Bozeman Health, “It feels important to me to pass on the kindness we were shown to others who come to Bozeman Health. I am happiest when I can cuddle babies and listen to the stories of others coming through the doors.”
Kathy is an avid cycler, and for the last 17 years, she has participated in the Children’s Hospital Courage Classic bike ride in Colorado in memory of Jenny.
For those interested in volunteer opportunities at Bozeman Health, visit Volunteer Opportunities | Bozeman Health.
