Volunteer treasures time with patients

Paul Weber spends time at Children's for one reason — the unexplainable feeling he gets from a patient's grin or heartfelt hug.

For nearly 10 years, Weber has devoted approximately 20 hours each week to bringing smiles to faces at the hospital. To date, Weber has served nearly 7,500 hours at Children's.

"One of the memories that I will keep with me forever is one day in the playroom when I spent time with a 6-year-old girl," Weber said. "Her mom asked if she could leave for a few minutes and before long, the little girl was laughing hysterically as we joked around."

"Her mother didn't show up until the end of my time there. She said her daughter had been down lately and she saw how much fun we were having so she didn't want to interrupt us," he said. "The greatest part was when the girl got out of her wheelchair to give me a big hug — an overwhelming moment."

And, Weber's dedication to Children's patients doesn't stop at the hospital doors. He has been volunteering at Camp John Marc, attended by many Children's patients, for eight years.

"I could talk forever about camp," Weber said. "Some of the kids I had in my cabin starting when they were eight years old and they just graduated last year. It's a week-long bonding time."

Weber has spent time in almost every area of the hospital, but it's not the placement that matters to him — what matters most is the people.

"Volunteering comes from the heart and the personal rewards are just tremendous," Weber said. "Although I am thanked many times over for giving time to Children's, I feel I owe them a big thank you for allowing me to experience the self satisfaction I get for knowing I helped someone during their time of need."

Tags: volunteer, Children's Medical Center