National Volunteer Week: Meet Ange
Ange’s story so far
Ange has been involved with TLC for Kids for over a decade, not as a volunteer, but as a mother. Ange’s daughter, Priscilla, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at just a few months old. Priscilla coped relatively well with the illness until she reached hormonal age (common among girls with Cystic Fibrosis), at which point her health took a downwards turn. Throughout these years, TLC for Kids appeared in Priscilla’s life a number of times – organising a fun and distracting box of crafts to cheer her up, an iPad engraved with her name, and even meeting with Enrique Iglesias.
Priscilla was vibrant and energetic at her 18th birthday. By her 19th birthday, she had to use tubes to breathe. Tragically, after complications from a lung transplant, Priscilla didn’t live to see her 20th birthday.
For Ange, the shock and grief was unbearable in that first year after losing her daughter, and became worse with time. Ange describes how she blocked people out, not wanting to leave the house. On a particularly challenging day, while weighing up where to go in life, a face popped into Ange’s mind – Ana Darras, TLC for Kids’ executive manager, who had helped organise support for Priscilla. A few phone calls later, Ange had applied to volunteer at TLC for Kids.
Ange’s Volunteer Work
Now, Ange works two days a week at TLC for Kids, and appreciates the feeling of comfort, confidence and healing the environment brings. An incredibly strong mother, Ange had spent the last 25 years of her life caring for and then grieving her beloved daughter. As such, she didn’t have the same work skills and experience that other people have, and still struggles emotionally with the loss of Priscilla. She speaks warmly of her work here at TLC for Kids, and how it has helped her cope:
“This is helping me heal, to get to where I need to go.”
As part of both Mother’s Day and National Volunteer Week, we sat down with Ange to talk about her story, and about volunteering here.
A photo of Priscilla meeting Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova that still hangs in Ange’s house
What made you become a volunteer for TLC for Kids?
At times, I didn’t know how to get out of bed, I blocked everybody out. I was having an especially bad episode in the car one day, and Ana’s face popped into my mind. I think I had known deep down that TLC was where I was meant to be.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
Coming in to TLC for Kids feels like family. I see Leanna [Priscilla’s best friend, and another volunteer at TLC for Kids]. I see Shane [our Fundraising & Events Assistant], who was part of the Cystic Fibrosis hospital family. I see Denisia [our Admin Support & Rapids Coordinator], who nursed Priscilla since she was 6 months old. And I see Tim and Ana, who put a smile on Priscilla’s face.
Everyone is very understanding. If I’m having a bad day, they understand that I can’t come in. But most days, it gives me a reason to get out of bed and get ready. I don’t see it as volunteering, I see it as work. I’ve learned how to use the computer, to do data entry. It makes me feel good, I feel praised. It’s nice when someone tells you you’re doing a good job. Mostly, I just love that feeling of family.
If someone was considering volunteering what would you tell them?
Do it. People need to give back more. The more you give, the better. TLC for Kids helps all kids – no child is left out. And I can tell you that feeling, the feeling of seeing a smile on your child’s face….it’s priceless. So please help out.
We are sending all our love and gratitude to Ange this Mother’s Day. Thank you for all that you do.
Interested in getting involved?
