Meet Denis, Mercy Volunteer
Denis started out as a volunteer on the Mercy Patient-Family Advisory Council after he retired from 38 years at Rockwell Collins. He was impressed by the people he met and felt called to do something more hands-on.
Shortly thereafter, he began as the lead volunteer for the Mercy Ambassadors program. Delivering The Mercy Touch by being a part of the Sisters’ ministry is deeply meaningful to Denis. As a boy, he delivered papers to the sisters at Mount Mercy’s convent and remembers how kind they were, and he now emphasizes joy in working with the nuns.
“I’ve learned so much from them – so much empathy,” he said. “It’s grown on me.”
He remembers meeting Sister Trudy and feeling overcome by comfort through her message of “all I can do is be here for you.”
“That’s what patients want,” Denis explains. “They want someone to talk to, or to complain to, or maybe they just want a blanket. Whatever it may be, the ambassadors deliver The Mercy Touch just by being there. Every room is the same. They’re on different floors and the patients have different needs, but they’re all the same. They just want to be heard, and we’re here to listen.”
Denis describes Mercy as the pulse of the community and is proud to be a part of it.
“I honestly believe that the Mercy Ambassador program found me,” he said. “I knew I needed to give back to the community but was having difficulty finding a direction. My selection to the Patient-Family Advisory Council was the gift I received.”
Denis encourages others to find their passion and use their talents through the Mercy Ambassador program.
“This is a rich experience for the patients and the volunteers,” he said.
Thank you, Denis, for the gift of your time and talents!
