Wellspring

In This Issue

• From the Desk of the CEO
• Friday Night Dinners: Food for the Soul Church Outreach Allows Physical Therapist to Nourish the Needy
• Neonatal Resuscitation: Saving Babies Around the World, One Breath at a Time
• Around the World, Two Nurse Practitioners Are Welcomed With Open Arms
• ER Nurse Volunteers in Bolivia
• Racing to Help
• Cardiac Cath Lab Makes History With First Laser Treatments
• Sentenced to Serve, Financial Counselor Becomes Safequest’s Volunteer of the Year
• In Grief, Two Mothers Reach Out to Others
• Children’s Network Leader Helps Families in Need
• Twenty Years with Mark’s Learning Center
• RN Rolls Up Her Sleeves in Nicaragua
• Siblings Support a Medical Clinic in India
• Social Worker Volunteers at Oncology Camp
• Mentor Mom: Passing on Parental Knowledge
• Family Bonds: Fund-raising for Muscular Dystrophy
• Clearing the Air for Kids: Coalition Teaches Families About Asthma
• Fancy Food Show Feeds Solano’s Hungry
• Family Finds Strength Working, Praying Together
• Chief Nursing Officer Takes Her Caring Touch to Kenya
• Classical Music, Close to Home
• Engaging Minds: Certified Activity Director Aids Solano’s Memory-Impaired
• NorthBay Adult Day Center – A Needed Service
• Great Wonders, Great Jubilee: Bill Seiden, Solano Wine & Food Jubilee volunteer
• Guild’s New Leader
• Welcome New Physician
• HERO Fund: Employees Help Patients in Need
• Cancer Survivors Day ‘Celebration of Life’ is June 7
• Golden Honors
• NorthBay Center for Primary Care Now Offers After-Hours Urgent Care
• NorthBay Hospice Makes a Vacaville Man's Dream Come True
• Community Support Strong for 2009 Jubilee
• A Life of Service

Social Worker Volunteers at Oncology Camp

May 18, 2009 · No Comments

VacaValley Hospital Social Worker Lisa Kjer was 17 when her younger brother Jeff was diagnosed with cancer. Attending Okizu Oncology Camp in Novato helped him through his ordeal, and when he recovered, he became a camp counselor. Okizu is a Sioux Indian word meaning unity.

“When a family member has cancer, it changes you as a teen,” Lisa says. “Looking back, in a strange way it was a good thing, because focusing on my brother taught me a lot about compassion and what people go through when they’re sick.”

Lisa joined her brother volunteering with Okizu in 1998 and today it’s a family affair, with their parents also involved in the year-round activities of the organization. She donates her time as a summer camp counselor and at weekend events and camps. It was her volunteer work that inspired her to become a social worker.

“We wanted to give back, to support other families dealing with cancer,” Lisa says. “My time with Okizu has given me a true understanding of what patients deal with in the real world, the isolation of illness and the barriers they face. It’s information I use every day to help my patients at VacaValley Hospital.”

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