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★ ★ ★ Salute to ★
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★ ★ Volunteers ★ ★

VITAS HEALTHCARE OF PALM BEACH COUNTY VITAS HEALTHCARE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Binjil Mupo Diana Zapata

As a hospice volunteer, Binjil Mupo gives patients some- In September of 2017, when Diana Zapata was told to
thing to look forward to every week. For two years, she evacuate her oceanfront Brickell residence in anticipation
has visited patients in facilities. She plays cards with the of Hurricane Irma’s storm surge, she knew where she
patient she is seeing now. Binjil might ask about the book would be needed most: the VITAS inpatient hospice unit
the patient is reading, or about her week—just the kinds at the University of Miami.
of things friends do. Diana lived in the 12-patient unit for eight days, helping
“She’s extremely happy to see me,” says Binjil, a senior colleagues, tending to patients without local family mem-
at Florida Atlantic University who plans to be a physician. bers and assisting those who weathered the storm at a
“She has no one else to talk to.” loved one’s bedside.
Binjil also gets something from her patients. “Every pre- When she moved from Colombia to Miami several years
med student should learn from these patients. Every physician. Every person!” Binjil ago, Diana was unable to continue her career as a health psychologist. At a friend’s sug-
says. “These people are acutely aware that they are close to death. We can learn from gestion, she began volunteering at VITAS in 2016. Today, she also mentors and trains
them. “Reform is necessary,” she says of our healthcare system. “Change is inevitable.” new volunteers.
Binjil Mupo, VITAS volunteer, is already part of the solution at age 17. “Hospice is a unique situation,” Diana says. “You have to be gentle enough to be in
touch with other peoples’ emotions, but you can’t let it overwhelm you. You have to find
Jaime Alalu, MD that sweet spot. I loved it from the very first moment, and here I am, two years later.”

As a gastroenterologist in Palm Beach County for 40
years, Dr. Jaime Alalu marveled at all that hospice did for BROWARD HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER
patients and families he met. When he retired a year ago,
Dr. Alalu became a VITAS volunteer. He likes to commit to
two patients who live nearby and see each for about an Nancy Weber
hour every week.
He’s a social outlet: One patient’s daughter stopped by Nancy Weber has spent a majority of her life caring for
every day during her lunch hour, but the patient was lone- people in the hospital. At 16 years old she worked as a
ly. It was with her VITAS volunteer that the patient hospital candy striper, and now she volunteers an aver-
enjoyed talking about her family and doing puzzles. age of 20 hours per week as the president of the Broward
He’s an advocate: When a patient’s family was out of Health Medical Center Auxiliary.
town, Jaime noticed her empty refrigerator and went shopping. When her housekeeper “I have been taught to give back and strive to make
stopped coming, he called VITAS and they found her another housekeeper. the world a little better each day,” said Weber, now 71.
As a VITAS volunteer, he says, you get close to the patient and their family. “It’s reward- After 45 years of working as a nurse and manager in
ing to know people need you,” says the retired physician. “If I were in this position, I’d various healthcare settings, Weber retired with her hus-
want someone to visit me.” band and moved to Florida. She began volunteering as a
patient ambassador in the main lobby of Broward Health Medical Center in 2015,
helping patients and visitors find their way through the hospital.
VITAS HEALTHCARE OF BROWARD COUNTY Weber has since worked to strengthen the department by making it more account-
able and now, as Auxiliary president, oversees 120 volunteers. Her most memorable
Julia DeVries experience as a volunteer was working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, holding,
feeding and singing to the infants.
Julia DeVries has been a volunteer with VITAS since “The best part of my job is working with people,” she said. “I enjoy making small
February 2018. She and Zoro, her Pomeranian partner, and simple positive differences in people’s lives. I love seeing the smiles on their
work in VITAS’ Paw Pals® program and share a 2018 faces.”
Patient Care Volunteer award from VITAS. Together,
they’ve dedicated dozens of hours to patients, providing
plenty of companionship, conversation and doggy kisses
to patients near the end of life. BROWARD HEALTH CORAL SPRINGS
DeVries’ favorite part of being a volunteer is bringing joy
and laughter to others. That means different things for
each patient, but for some it’s as simple as petting Zoro Gisele Peterson
continuously over the course of their hour-long visit.
“I love being able to share memories with our patients about their animals that many Gisele Peterson is a volunteer at Broward Health
of them are no longer able to have,” DeVries says. “Zoro is able to help bridge that gap.” Coral Springs. Having volunteered at the hospital for 15
In addition to her work with VITAS, DeVries is employed at her local hospital emer- years, she has seen and done it all. These days, she hap-
gency room and participates in charity walks throughout South Florida. pily restocks and refills supplies and assists with prepar-
ing patients’ rooms.
Peterson, who works in the Same Day Surgical Unit,
Natalie Levine considers herself the “concierge of the unit.” She direct-
ly interacts with patients who are currently being treat-
For the last five years, Natalie Levine has donated her ed, escorts families to surgical waiting areas and the
time to VITAS Healthcare’s Broward County office, prima- cafeteria and waits with family and friends who have
rily assisting with various administrative projects through- loved ones in surgery.
out VITAS’ marketing and admissions departments. No “I volunteer because I find it very rewarding,” said
one-trick pony, however, Levine also makes quilts, pil- Peterson, 79. “It just feels good to help people. The nurses are absolutely wonderful
lows, lap robes and booties for veterans in hospice. to work with.”
Levine’s continuous and selfless contributions have earned Peterson’s favorite part of her work is helping to discharge patients.
her the 2018 Administrative Volunteer award from VITAS “The best part of my job is helping patients feel better on discharge,” she said. “I
in Broward. find that I meet very interesting people and I love giving them a smile and passing
“Natalie’s dedication to making our veterans happy and along some positive energy because it goes a long way. I am so appreciative of my own
comfortable is remarkable,” says Donna Borland, VITAS associate general manager. health that I give it 150 percent when I am here. When I go home, I sit back and feel
While sewing and office work don’t put Natalie in direct contact with patients, the fulfilled. It’s a great day when I volunteer.”
impact of her work is felt by hospice team members and their patients throughout the
company. VITAS accepts and appreciates volunteers with a variety of skill sets and inter-
ests, as each provides a valuable contribution to hospice.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com April 2019 27