1. For your consideration
Duane Smith
Volunteer, Wesley Medical Center
Many hospital volunteers try to put themselves in patients’ shoes. But Duane Smith, a
regular volunteer at Wesley Medical Center, doesn’t have to try hard.
Instead, he draws from his personal tragedy to provide comfort and company to waiting
and anxious family members.
More than five years ago, when he first began volunteering, Duane’s wife, Pat, was in the
final stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Pat lived in a nursing home, where Duane visited
daily to feed her lunch, clean her teeth and, most importantly, keep her company.
At the time, volunteering was a much-needed bright spot in his day, as Duane coped with
steadily losing his beloved wife.
“I call volunteering Found Time,” he said. “Otherwise, I’d be sitting around, feeling sorry
for Pat or for myself. But that’s no way to live – you’ve got to be making a contribution
to the world.
“Pride lasts longer than pain. That’s what I always tell myself.”
After Pat passed away last February, Duane continued his volunteer work, sitting with the
families of some of Wesley's youngest patients in its Ronald McDonald House family
room.
"If they want to talk, tell me their worries and anxieties, I'm there," he said. "I always tell
them they're in the right place, that their child is in the best hands here at Wesley."
Duane, now 82 years old, spends 10 days a month in the family room – and that's less
than half of his volunteer responsibilities. In total, he volunteers 24 days out of each
month.
Through his work, Duane carries on Pat’s memory. Several years ago, he donated
children’s books once owned by Pat – who ran a preschool in the family’s home – to
Wichita elementary schools. Duane now visits the schools four days every month to read
to preschoolers and first-graders.
Pat’s legacy is also evident in Duane’s connection with the Alzheimer’s Association,
where he uses his experience to help families and caregivers through their challenging
times.
It’s a full plate, but Duane doesn’t let anything slow him down.

2. "During the winter, when the snow and ice were thick on the ground, Duane still showed
up right on time, every day," said Carol Stricker, Wesley's guest services manager. "One
day, I saw his nose scraped and scrunched up. He told me that earlier that day – he
volunteers for Meals on Wheels, too – he’d fallen while delivering food.
“But that didn’t even make him pause. He cleaned up and came right on in for his shift in
the family room.”
Stricker is quick to laud Duane not only for his dedication, but for his quick sense of
humor.
“Every day when he leaves, he says, ‘I’ll see you another day!’” she said. “He says we’re
stuck with him – but we couldn’t be happier about that.”
It’s an arrangement that suits Duane, as well.
“My mantra is, if you’re not good, you’re not done. What you’re doing has got to be
positive. And at the end of the day, if you’ve met the challenge head-on, you’ll feel
good.”