Great Stories
Montana Campus Corps:
College Students Meeting Critical Community Needs
THE BENEFICIARY by Rebecca Groose-jones

As a Team Leader I was privileged to meet, get to know and support a myriad of dedicated Campus Corps members who were serving in a variety of disciplines. Having such a large team, I found it impossible to do site visits for every member but I always made a point of taking the time necessary to visit with those that came into the office, to see how their volunteer hours were impacting them. My own Great Story, however, was a juxtaposition of roles that provided me a network of support in a time of personal crisis. It was a “site visit” I’ll never forget.

I had the great pleasure of working with a team of radiologic technology students who, aside from being A+ human beings, are all down to earth, friendly and always a pleasure to be around. I felt a particular affinity to this group of students and enjoyed every moment I got to spend with them. On February 11th, in the middle of the night, an unexpected event threw me into a situation, where my own team members, were providing support to me. I was the beneficiary of their volunteerism, of their kindness, of their compassion.

My beautiful and ever so wonderful Mother, at 90 years old, had moved into our home with my 11 year old daughter and myself. I had moved her into my master bedroom and my daughter Dorothy and myself moved into the basement bedroom directly below her. Fortunately Dorothy was staying at her other grandmothers that night, and was not there to hear the frighteningly loud thud that rang out above my bed. In a flash, I was awake and flying up the stairs. Sadly I found my wonderful Mother lying on the floor in front of her bed. She’d fallen and had hit her head. Hard. By the time I arrived in her room, the lump on her forehead was already huge and grotesquely swollen. Within minutes of my call the paramedics were there, transporting her to the hospital.

Anyone who has had a loved one in an accident and is left navigating the medical system in a hospital can understand the confusion, lack of sleep, fear and dread that family members experience. Because of her lack of balance and significant dementia, the Doctors wanted Mom to stay in for a few days for a detailed and careful evaluation. This was going to be a long night with even longer days ahead of us.

Feeling alone, with no one to provide support to me, I sat beside her bed as the light of day began to fill her room. Slowly she wakened, confused and frightened. It was all I could do to keep from breaking down in tears in front of her…but somehow I managed and we both came to a place of acceptance about where we were in that moment. Later, as I worried about what news the day would bring, I took a deep breath as, after a courtesy knock, her hospital room door slowly opened wide. And there he was. Josiah. Ever smiling Josiah, the radiologic tech student who ALWAYS made me smile and laugh! He was there to escort my Mom down to Radiology.

Josiah’s presence brought a huge sense of relief to me…and of course an even larger smile than usual. His familiar face and kind words were so medicinal and it was incredibly comforting to have my pal and colleague there. I knew he’d be supportive, moreover, I knew he would treat my Mom like the “Royal Queen” I believe her to be. My sweet Mom literally ate up Josiah’s attention and jovial disposition and he had her smiling in no time flat. The walk down to radiology felt like a breath of fresh air after a dark, frightening and sleepless night.

Once Mom and I entered the x-ray room….I was reminded…via several other beautifully smiling faces, that of course…the whole radiologic tech team would be there. Michael, Kristen, Alicia, Shawn, Summer…the entire gang. The A+ team that always made me smile, always so down to earth. There they were, full of grace, compassion, skill and their ever-present smiles. While the team expertly cajoled and pampered my Mom as they prepped her, Michael graciously guided me through the real time x-ray process we were watching. His careful explanation brought understanding and clarity about a swallowing disorder that my Mom had been so greatly struggling with.

Throughout Mom’s stay at the hospital, we bumped into Campus Corps team members here and there. Not just the radiologic team. When I went to check at the nurses desk to see if I could get something for my Mom, there was Theresa, another Campus Corps team member doing a portion of her internship at the hospital. From that time forward, when I filled out member reports asking about “beneficiaries”, I always smiled. My new understanding of what that word really meant was profound. I am indeed the recipient of the real life benefits…meted out by the unsung Campus Corps heroes. I am… “The Beneficiary.”


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