Volunteers are vital to the mission of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals through their support of our patients and clinical staff, assisting at Madonna Foundation events or sharing our messages online. Ambassadors can help restore hope and promote independence for individuals on their path to recovery. For some former patients, sharing their time and talents honors the care teams and volunteers, who made a difference during their rehabilitation journey.
Colleen Schmidt has been a runner for 45 years. Several years ago, after a fainting episode, she found herself unable to walk and arrived at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals in Omaha ready to regain her footing. “I don’t know that you can really describe a hospital stay as ‘wonderful’, but every Madonna staff member I interacted with fit that description, from therapists to nurses, to housekeeping.” Madonna’s care teams and world-class rehabilitation gave Colleen the support she needed to get back on track. “Madonna got me back to running after a few months, which is just a miracle. They work miracles!”
Colleen’s experience as a patient and her desire to help out in any way she could opened the door to volunteer opportunities, such as writing Hope Notes for team members. “Madonna’s staff are angels on Earth, and if there’s a way I can ease a burden or support what they do, I want to help.” Her passion for running also led to volunteering for Madonna’s annual Miles for Madonna at Zorinsky Lake, preparing participant grab bags, interacting with other former patients and their families and serving as the Honorary Race Starter in 2024.
As a Miracle Night for Madonna Ambassador volunteer, Dave Woodworth promoted the Technology Showcase paddle raise for the event, which brings leading-edge technology to Lincoln and Omaha each year. While a patient, Dave was known for his hard work and positivity. He had such an impact that his care team nominated him to receive Madonna’s Spirit Award and also encouraged him to become a peer mentor after his discharge. “While I was a patient, a peer mentor came and chatted with me.” he said. “I really appreciated that interaction.” He sees his own journey as a peer mentor as a way to connect. “We all have struggles. Listening to others, getting to know them and sharing our successes feels good. I try to share a bit of a positive outlook on a rather iffy situation, which seems to help me as much as it helps others.” Dave encourages others to consider volunteering, knowing not everyone has the same experience or journey. “If you had help along the way, you’ll get tons from giving back. If you didn’t get help, it’s important to make sure others never do it alone.”