CCH January 2018 Volunteer Spotlight: Wendy Gauntner

Meet Wendy Gauntner, a valuable volunteer with Campbell County Health in Gillette, Wyoming!

Wendy has a long history of giving to others, from volunteering in a nursing home while in junior high to delivering mail to residents at Pioneer Manor. Her natural ease and curiosity make easy for her to talk to others, a quality that is much appreciated by Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Tina Dickey.

“Wendy spends most of her time as a Hospice Volunteer doing patient support,” said Tina. “She is very committed to doing everything in her power to be there for our patients. She has done everything from purchasing birthday cards for the patient to give to loved ones, to sitting with a patient and praying with them as they took their last breaths. This is what makes her an amazing person and volunteer.”

In addition to being a hospice volunteer, Wendy also volunteers as an associate chaplain and an abider. CCH Chaplain Coordinator Donny Edwards steered her toward hospital chaplaincy, and Wendy rounds in the hospital every six to eight weeks, seeing inpatients in the Campbell County Memorial Hospital Medical/Surgical Unit and the Intensive Care Unit. She wasn’t sure initially that she could do it, but her first experience with a young trauma patient in the ICU was a profound one. Wendy says she considers volunteering to be one of the most selfish things someone can do because it gives her the chance to be part of something bigger.

She recently read an article citing research that volunteering is linked to improvements in factors like depressive symptoms, purpose in life and feelings of optimism.

Wendy and her husband Dave have a 15-year old son, Lee who was adopted from South Korea when he was 19 months old. As a native of Canada, Wendy jokes that their home is like the United Nations. Wendy’s hobbies include teaching Zumba and yoga, any kind of outdoor activities and sports and reading.

Wendy embodies the spirit of volunteerism—giving their time for the opportunity to help others. Thanks Wendy, for all you do!

Always looking for more volunteers to assist in a variety of ways, CCH is hosting a Hospice volunteer training March 19, 22, 26 and 29 that includes four hours of training each day. Those interested in volunteering must apply and complete a background check, fingerprinting and an interview prior to the training. Hospice volunteer applications can be downloaded at www.cchwyo.org/volunteer. For more information, contact CCH Volunteer Services Coordinator Chris Buxton at 688-1536 or email crystal.buxton@cchwyo.org. The application deadline is February 16, 2018.