Backstory- Every week I volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in downtown. It's usually just a three hour shift or so, and normally you just work the front desk, answer the phone, clean rooms when families are gone, and get to play with the kids a bit, talk to the parents who enjoy having conversations with adults who aren't doctors. It's honestly one of my favorite things about my week.
I was working there last night, and was working with a lady who just started volunteering as well. There's a long term patient who's family stays at the House, and he and his mother came in late last night from treatment. The mother asked us to hold her son, who's 2 years old and was sleepy and exhausted from a long day at the hospital, while she got some groceries and things out of the car and got her younger daughter ready for bed. This isn't an unusual request.
The new woman working with me went on and on about how "gross" this little boy looked after his mom dropped him with us, with tubes and everything sticking out of him, and refused to hold him, so I did. She then went on about how the kids freak her out a bit, and that she's just trying to network to get into Junior League since some members work here, and she didn't think she'd be doing anything hands on.
I took the boy to another room, and read to him until his mom was done with what she had to do, then went back to the front desk and essentially tore this bitch a new asshole for being such a heartless queef demon.
There's really no point to this post, just that all morning I can't help but HATE this woman for shunning these kids and try to use them at the same time for her own gain. I hope she's not working the same shift as me next week.
No, she said that I was overreacting because she wasn't talking about MY kid, and then tried to explain to me that no one does anything for free, there's always a motive and everyone here is just gullible and naive.
Where's the compassion :(http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/theintended/emotion-9.gif[/IMG] ? This position does not sound like a good fit for her. Could she be anymore rude and selfish?
Yeah, she sucks. We had to stay at a RMCD house while my daughter was hospitalized and i don't know what we would have done without it and I hate that someone like your co worker would even be associated with the organization. Ew.
That's just disgusting. I really hope you tell the coordinator what she said. I can understand being intimidated by the tubes and not wanting to hurt the baby, but what she said is just inexcusable.
Oh that makes me so sad. Hopefully she does get moved somewhere else.
It is awesome that you volunteer. My eyes teared up thinking about you reading to that sweet boy after someone just said something so awful about him. You rock.
When I am in PA I volunteer at a similar type place - a children's hospice where all the kids are intubated and very sick. I can never imagine anyone ever saying anything like that around kids. You HAVE to say something. That is horrible!
Post by Captain Serious on Jul 13, 2012 9:11:16 GMT -5
As a person who's had to use the Ronald McDonald House, I can't tell you how disgusted I am about this woman. Being able to go someplace for a few hours of rest and not having to stress about where to stay or anything while M was having his surgery was the biggest godsend, and we only needed it for a short while. I can't imagine how much it means to families that actually need it.
Please do not hold back in your evaluation of this woman. I'd go so far as to recommend she either be removed from the position or have to work a job that does not entail her interacting with any of the families. I also can't beg you enough to reach out to the junior league and let them know what she said. They should know.
Post by firedancer49 on Jul 13, 2012 9:12:55 GMT -5
Whatabitch. That is not the right place for her to be at all.. please please please write a bad review, and even tell the supervisor that you would like to talk to her face to face about it for more detail.
That's just disgusting. I really hope you tell the coordinator what she said. I can understand being intimidated by the tubes and not wanting to hurt the baby, but what she said is just inexcusable.
I understand being intimidated or uncomfortable with the tubes, we do have volunteers here who still get uncomfortable from time to time because they don't want to hurt a child, and they just speak up to another worker and that's that. I don't think there's anything wrong with that and actually think it's a GOOD thing to speak up if you're not sure you can't help a child be comfortable. I was just blown away by her words.
I have a sack of oranges, that's all I'm saying. I might even tell the other Jr. League members about this. Two-years-old is old enough to know that she was talking about him.
If she stays, I'm sure they'll switch her to fundraising or party planning so she's not around the kids and parents anymore.
The fact that she was saying all of this while the child was in the room is what sickens me the most.
This makes me want to cry. Like that little boy, or any sick child, needs to hear they are gross!?!?! WTMF.
I would be requesting that she is no longer allowed to volunteer and I would be sending a copy of my review to the JL membership board. Girl would be shunned by everyone if I had my way. You just don't do that.
Betty- good on you for handling the situation so well. I don't know if I could have remained as calm.
Post by speckledfrog on Jul 13, 2012 9:19:06 GMT -5
That is absolutely appalling. Is there a way to let the supervisor know about her behavior before your review is due? I'd be tempted to contact the Junior League as well.
No, she said that I was overreacting because she wasn't talking about MY kid, and then tried to explain to me that no one does anything for free, there's always a motive and everyone here is just gullible and naive.
That is fucking awful. You know there are still a few good people left in this world with big hearts. Not every one is in to shit to better themselves
That is absolutely appalling. Is there a way to let the supervisor know about her behavior before your review is due? I'd be tempted to contact the Junior League as well.
My review is due by Saturday morning, I just left the coordinator a voicemail saying that I need to speak with her immediately about this woman's atrocious behavior and that I strongly believe she needs to be removed from her volunteer position ASAP.
That is absolutely appalling. Is there a way to let the supervisor know about her behavior before your review is due? I'd be tempted to contact the Junior League as well.
My review is due by Saturday morning, I just left the coordinator a voicemail saying that I need to speak with her immediately about this woman's atrocious behavior and that I strongly believe she needs to be removed from her volunteer position ASAP.