Lucy Bateman with Sonya Manibusan, Presbyterian’s volunteer coordinator
Lucy Bateman felt a little funny about being honored by the staff of Presbyterian Hospital. The longtime resident of Lake Highlands has been volunteering in the surgery waiting room every Wednesday morning for 23 years, but she was uncomfortable with all the fuss.
“I enjoyed what I did because it helped people,” she told me modestly.
Her daughter, Susan Solomon, was happy to see her mother recognized.
“She ended up developing a relationship with many of the doctors and nurses she worked with over the years, and many of them came to congratulate her. I printed pictures from her party, and she carries them with her wherever she goes.”
Lucy, who helped provide updates to families as they waited for loved ones in surgery, said she often dealt with people facing fear and crisis.
“I enjoyed helping people feel at ease,” she told me. “My role was to give families information and to help those people feeling on edge and worried. I can’t tell you how many people said they appreciated me being there.”
Lucy with grateful nurses and fellow volunteers
“My mother has always volunteered, and I think that’s why my brothers and I have always volunteered,” said Susan. “My brother Mike is involved in prison ministry and Camp Grady Spruce. My brother Tom is active at his church. My brother Mark started volunteering at Scottish Rite, and now he works there.”
I guess modesty runs in the Bateman family.
Susan is active with Lake Highlands Women’s League (she currently serves as president) and with Healing Hands Ministries (she’s a board member and president of their Friends of Healing Hands auxiliary group). It would exhaust me just to type the other volunteer jobs she’s held over her many years raising 3 children in LH.
“The best part of helping at Presbyterian was meeting all the people,” Lucy shared. “I got to see people in hard times and how they respond. I tried to give them kind words and reassurance. I wanted them to know I was there.”
