“I am lucky to have him touch my life,” shares Gwen Appleton, guest services coordinator at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital. “He is full of gusto and enthusiasm. I dare you to meet him and not walk away with a smile on your face.”
Ian Gordon has been a cherished member of the volunteer services team at the hospital since 2017. On Mondays, he escorts patients from registration to the areas where they will receive their care. On Wednesdays, he staffs the front desk and gets many steps in while escorting patients and guests to their destinations. And on Fridays, he assists in the lab doing data entry work.
“No matter what I ask, Ian always says yes,” Gwen says. “So, when the hospitals gave the okay for volunteers under 60 years of age to return after the peak of the pandemic, Ian was the first to come back. Ian and his parents were overjoyed to have him busy and contributing again.”
At 25 years old, Ian is intelligent, kind, outgoing and our team members absolutely love him. He lives with his parents in Seaford, VA and enjoys art as well as dating his girlfriend. His sister, Claire, was also a volunteer with the hospital with Ian before she started college.
Ian also has cerebral palsy. He finds he manages living with it by not dwelling on it.
“I have a lot of dreams and hopes for my future,” Ian shares. “I want to become independent and live on my own someday. I also want to continue learning new skills so I can be more helpful at Mary Immaculate Hospital.”
Ian adds, “I like working with my friend at the hospital, and I enjoy making a contribution to our community.”
A huge thank you to Ian as well as all our volunteers this National Volunteer Week!
Learn about the volunteer programs we offer at Bon Secours.
