Patient Stories

Volunteer-Patient Connection Leads to an Impactful Gift

Pete Pantoja loves animals. It’s something that Care Dimensions volunteer Mike Quinn picked up on when they first met.

“Something really connects him to the animal world,” said Mike. “We’ve talked about all the pet birds, cats, and dogs he’s had over the years. Due to his health, he can’t care for pets anymore, but there’s still that desire to have animals in his life.”

As a Care Dimensions hospice volunteer, Mike visits Pete at his home in Haverhill about once a week for an hour or so. His visits are supplemental to the Care Dimensions hospice medical team, which visits more often to ensure Pete is getting the expert care and support he and his family need.

Beyond medical care, the team, alongside dedicated volunteers like Mike, works to enhance each patient's quality of life through friendly visits and special programs tailored to individual needs and interests.

“Mike is a really nice person,” said Pete. “When he’s here, we talk a lot. We talk about the weekend, about fishing.  He’s so polite and so kind.”

Making Real Connections

To Pete and his family, Mike comes off as a “natural” in his volunteer role, making easy connections and developing a real bond. But that wasn’t always the case.

“When I first became a hospice volunteer two and a half years ago, it was really out of my comfort zone,” said Mike, who works as a financial advisor, and was inspired to sign up by a client who talked about his own experience as a hospice volunteer.

“The first patient I saw had Alzheimer’s, and at first, I really had my doubts that I was going to be making a difference. But with encouragement from the Care Dimensions team, I stuck with it, and I'm so glad I did. I ended up having a lot of conversations with that patient. We made a real connection.”

Mike says he’ll sometimes play music or bring trivia on his visits, depending on the patient’s interests. He also says humor can be a good connector. But often, it’s just the act of showing up.

“It’s OK to just be there and be present,” advises Mike. “You might not think you’re doing anything special. But just sitting with people, and listening to them, it means a lot.”

A Thoughtful Gift Brings Smiles

It was because of Mike’s attentive approach that he knew how much animals meant to Pete. After one of his visits, Mike was talking with a volunteer coordinator at Care Dimensions. She had an idea, and Mike was immediately on board.

“One day a few months ago, Mike came over and said ‘I’ve got a surprise for you,’” recalled Pete.

Mike unveiled an animatronic “companion pet” – in this instance a dog, but cats are also available – through a program funded by donations and grants to Care Dimensions.

“I was so excited to give it to him,” said Mike. “The look on Pete’s face was priceless.”

Pete named the dog Spanky (in the Little Rascals, the character of Spanky has a dog named Pete). It’s the size of a small dog, and moves its head back and forth, often barking for attention. Pete often keeps it on the bed with him, or sitting on the back of a couch by the window.

Pete’s nephew Ralph can see how much of a difference the little dog makes, and credits Mike with really listening to Pete and understanding his needs.

“Mike made it a point to really get to know Pete,” said Ralph. “He understood that Pete loves animals, but can’t take care of them anymore. So while this might seem like a small thing to some people, it’s really an example of going above and beyond for someone like Pete. It lights him up.”

"It's fun having him,” said Pete. “When I turn him on, it's really fun."

For Mike, being able to put a smile on Pete’s face is what volunteering is all about. And he encourages others who are looking for ways to make a difference to give it a shot.

“Don’t be afraid to get outside your comfort zone. When you do, you grow.”

Click here to learn more about being a Care Dimensions volunteer.

Looking to support programs like companion pets? Contact our Philanthropy team at [email protected] or call 978-223-9787.