Category: Compassion Cells

Inspiration comes in all shapes and colors.

Last December, Maushmi came to learn that Southern California volunteer Michele works with an organization that sends anonymous greeting cards to women in third world countries. What a great idea thought Maushmi.

In planning an upcoming Compassion Cell in Houston, Maushmi decided that the kids of Texas Children’s Hospital could use some of that same inspiration. Maushmi mentioned the idea to Michele and weeks later received a package in the mail that contained over one hundred colorful get well cards made by first grade students from Woodland Hills School in California. It turns out that Michele mentioned the idea to her sister, who mentioned the idea to her daughter’s teacher and the teacher decided to get the entire class involved.

The Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston serves children that range in age from newborns to teenagers. On Saturday, May 27th, Maushmi and her team of volunteers went to about 30 different rooms visiting different kids and dropping off anonymous greeting cards.

Maushmi knew this was going to be difficult. It is one thing to be with children, and another thing to try to comfort them in their time of need. Maushmi knew that she had to take on any nervousness she felt head on, especially considering that Michele’s niece and her friends had worked so hard on making the cards in the first place.

Maushmi recalls their visit:

Most of the patients or their parents were amazed that someone would be so thoughtful to make these cards. One patient, only two weeks old, was born with down syndrome. Although we weren’t allowed to visit any infants of that age, the mother of the child whisked us inside. It was a really strange experience. You would expect the mother of the child to be disappointed at the fact that her child was born with this life long disability, but no, this mother couldn’t have been happier. In fact, it seemed as if the debilitating condition of the child wasn’t even on her mind. The mother said she was going to keep the greeting card we gave her until her child grows up to read it. Maybe that’s just the way mothers are. Maybe having a baby is just a beautiful thing in of itself, and irrespective of the child’s condition, there is joy in creating that life.

We had a lot of fun. One patient we visited was from a quadruple set. We gave a card to the sick child, and all of a sudden the other brothers and sisters wanted a card too. Kids do have a way of finding joy no matter the odds. At least five of the kids we visited were recovering from some form of congenital heart defect (such as a heart murmurs) but they were unconditionally happy. They were running around, playing games, and laughing to their hearts content. You couldn’t tell that they had just gone through major heart surgery as recent as a few weeks ago.

The volunteers seem to have been touched not only by the kids they interacted but also by the cards themselves. Below is a list of some of the messages on the cards:

• My name is Briana. I like the color purple. I hope you feel better. I am a first grader. I like playing soccer. — Briana
• My name is Sahil. I am 6 years old. I lost 4 teeth. I like all sports. I like the color blue. — Sahil
• I am visiting my grandma and grandpa. I am going to Big Bear on vacation. The weather is sunny. Do you think the hospital is scary? — Marley
• It is sunny and rainy today. My teacher is nice. I hope you feel better. What do you do in the hospital? How are you feeling? — Claire

Maushmi coordinates community service projects on a regular basis in Houston. If you want to contact her, please email maushmi@bethecause.org.

– Sukh

I had the opportunity to interview Maushmi regarding their latest Community Service Project in Houston. Below is a write-up on “Healing Sounds at the Houston Hospice”.

Every now and then we get the opportunity to bring comfort to others. On May 20th, a few friends got together at the Houston Hospice to play various musical instruments for the terminally ill patients.

This idea started many months ago. Maushmi, who coordinates this project on a monthly basis, was speaking to a nurse and they decided that they wanted to do something nice for the patients. Some of the patients are very sick, some are heavily sedated, and some are even in comas. Engaging in any physical activity was out of the question.

Maushmi discovered some research that mentioned how music can be a therapeutic enhancement to the healing process, soothing and comforting terminally ill patients. She decided to put this theory into action. She contacted a few friends and some co-workers and asked them to put their musical talents to use. Some brought instruments, some just their singing voices, and some only brought their hearts. It seems the love is still the most audible form of music known to exist.

The projects have become meaningful not only for the patients but also for the volunteers. Maushmi, and the rest of the gang in Houston, visit the Houston Hospice now on a monthly basis.

She recalls a story of the very first time they performed at the Hospice. They would go into the rooms of the patients on both floors of the building. Shimi, another volunteer, played the violin for a patient who it turns out did not have long to live. After Shimi’s performance they all proceeded downstairs to play for the residents on the first floor. As they entered the room of the next patient, a nurse approached them. She told the group that the person they had just performed for had just passed away. The man departed literally minutes after hearing the violin performance.

The relatives of the patient happened to be at the Hospice at that time. The daughter/niece of the man that passed away said that the violin performance was the most beautiful gift he could have received before his passing. Maushmi recalls that in that moment, she knew that what they were doing was the right thing.

The more you give, the more you receive. Maushmi who jokes that she has no musical talents gets to coordinate the activities instead. She says that she gets to go to different rooms and asks the patients if they would like to have a volunteer come and play music for them. One time Maushmi recalls that a patient actually asked to have her nails painted. Maushmi obliged. Maushmi mentioned that she feels so much peace from spending time with the patients. “Patients may be asleep but I just sit with them quietly”, says Maushmi.

The visits to the Houston Hospice are always a lot of fun! Sometimes they are also emotional and sad. This time, Maushmi had the opportunity to interact with a very healthy 103 year old patient.

“The nurse told me that she was refusing to eat and drink because she was ready to die. I was kind of sad. I usually never talk to patients about death, but this time I started the conversation by telling her that I was afraid of dying. She just laughed, she said there is nothing to be afraid of and I could tell that she really meant what she was saying.

I think about death a lot. I think I would be okay if I was dying, but wouldn’t know how to handle the death of others, say my family or friends. Volunteering at the hospice gives me a perspective on dying and on how to deal with the death of others.”

Maushmi coordinates community service projects on a regular basis in Houston. If you want to contact her, please email maushmi@bethecause.org.

Sukh