{"id":3470,"date":"2020-01-21T19:40:49","date_gmt":"2020-01-22T00:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/?p=3470"},"modified":"2021-09-27T19:47:39","modified_gmt":"2021-09-27T23:47:39","slug":"the-empty-nester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/2020\/01\/21\/the-empty-nester\/","title":{"rendered":"The Empty-Nester"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_722733685\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"row row-collapse\"  id=\"row-1314344756\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-2040313163\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"lead\">After working for Mary Free Bed in pediatrics without kids of my own, I always wished I had held that job as a parent. I would have had a different level of empathy for the children and the families that I served.<\/p>\n<p>I went on a week-long mission trip with my church, serving at Give Kids the World, and a few months later I heard a radio advertisement about Children\u2019s Healing Center. I immediately knew I had to look into this place. As a new empty-nester, looking for volunteer opportunities, this seemed to be a good fit. Being that I am a Therapeutic Recreation Therapist, with a love of children and the vast majority of my professional experience in pediatrics, I started volunteering at the Center in September of 2015.<\/p>\n\t<div id=\"gap-1728869631\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1728869631 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_280344448\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/TJH1900-1200x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/TJH1900-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/TJH1900-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/TJH1900-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/TJH1900-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/TJH1900-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/TJH1900.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_280344448 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1170042409\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1170042409 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>When I had young children, we experienced an unexpected accident that would eventually lead me to the Center. \u00a0Three weeks after my fourth child was born, my 5-year-old son ruptured his pancreas in a biking accident. After eight long weeks of managing his 28-day hospitalization- four days in intensive care and managing his IV feedings and IV medications at home all while parenting a seven and three year old, as well as a newborn- I became much more compassionate for the struggles many families go through around sick and injured children. Mind you, I also had the support of family and many friends with which I never could have imagined that time in my life without their incredible care and empathy for my family. The deepened relationships with family, friends and medical caregivers was definitely a positive that came out of this challenging experience.<\/p>\n\t<div id=\"gap-1258288340\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1258288340 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_2061004038\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_8395-2048x1365-1-1200x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_8395-2048x1365-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_8395-2048x1365-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_8395-2048x1365-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_8395-2048x1365-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_8395-2048x1365-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_8395-2048x1365-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_2061004038 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1308299851\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1308299851 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>Fast forward 23 years, I recently reconnected with my son\u2019s favorite nurse for a cake decorating program here at the Center. This brought back memories of the people who made an impact in my life. She was such an inspiration to me in her ability to care for my son medically, in such a non-threatening, heartfelt, playful way. The empathy and time she spent with me helped to further my passion and how I relate to and support struggling children and families.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThis has helped me define what I truly value in life, being in relationship.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t<div id=\"gap-109128311\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-109128311 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_479432120\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"736\" height=\"631\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screenshot-2020-01-20-at-1.39.07-PM.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screenshot-2020-01-20-at-1.39.07-PM.jpg 736w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screenshot-2020-01-20-at-1.39.07-PM-467x400.jpg 467w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screenshot-2020-01-20-at-1.39.07-PM-510x437.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_479432120 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1234110180\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1234110180 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>Giving back, is where it\u2019s at for me. We don\u2019t always know what impact we will have on others through our ability to be vulnerable and open to connection. It\u2019s taking that risk, that gave me this opportunity to work full time at the Center. It was making some valueable connections with families while volunteering at CHC that lead me to bow out of the interview process for another job and reach out to Amanda, to share my passions for both the Center\u2019s mission and the children and families we serve. My heart is humbled daily as I see the true meaning of connection in the relationships I see being built between children, parents, staff and families. The openness to share and connect is how we build community and support one another.<\/p>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1>Cheryl Raguse<\/h1>\n<h6>Membership Manager<\/h6>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_722733685 {\n  padding-top: 15px;\n  padding-bottom: 15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After working for Mary Free Bed in pediatrics without kids of my own, I always wished I had held that job as a parent. I would have had a different level of empathy for the children and the families that I served.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[71,73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-storybook","category-member-stories"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3470"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3476,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3470\/revisions\/3476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}