John Bousek
John Bousek was ending his outpatient therapy at Madonna when one of the Sisters approached him about volunteering. He welcomed the opportunity and has been logging his hours with Madonna's Volunteer Services for over 14 years.
John enjoys the interaction with patients and therapists. "It's a chance for me to give back and offer encouragement to each patient," John said. His main duty is to escort patients to and from therapy. "I always inquire about how their session went and keep them thinking positively about their rehabilitation."
Ellen Dailey
Ellen Dailey has a real affinity for Madonna patients. In 1999, Ellen was enjoying her role as a family therapist and community college instructor in Iowa. Her life abruptly changed when as a pedestrian, she was hit by an SUV and suffered a traumatic brain injury that led to her rehabilitation at Madonna.
Following her outpatient therapy, Ellen began volunteering at the hospital in 2005. "I enjoy working with the patients in different areas," Ellen shared. Her volunteer duties have included assisting with stroke survivors, heart patients and the neuropsychology department. She is working towards completing 3,000 volunteer hours and has future plans to return to her love of teaching.
Bud Dasenbroch
"Madonna is a place that needs to be beautiful for the sake of the patients, visitors, and staff," commented Bud Dasenbrock, the coordinator of twenty volunteers who, along with employees Randy Luebbe and Pat Morton, are the secret to the beauty seen around the Madonna campus.
The Madonna Garden Club was involved in the designing, funding and maintenance of selected courtyard areas to create beauty and provide therapeutic value. Courtyards needed to meet certain specifications with wider sidewalks, handrails and, in some areas, elevated planters.
Bud fondly remembers one of his first projects was the Alzheimer indoor courtyard when he needed to cart soil in wheelbarrows through the halls.
Bud feels very good about the quality of the plant collections, saying "Everybody wants to try to do new things and every plant that is on display is part of horticultural therapy."
Current volunteers not only keep areas looking lovely, but also bring horticultural activities to various areas, helping individuals improve their well being.
