My friend Patrick is an amazing person. He was originally diagnosed with TB of the spine more than three years ago. Doctors told him that he would never walk again. He waited for months to receive a special grant in order to have surgery in South Africa, and afterwards commenced a grueling process of physical therapy for over a year. This rehabilitation phase took place at my organization, Cheshire Homes. Now he is walking with only the minor aid of an elbow crutch.

What might be more amazing is that Patrick will be filling my position when I leave. This is quite ironic since I have been doing vocational training with Patrick the past few months in attempts to prepare him for re-entry into the work environment. The plan was to look for job opportunities outside my organization, but it soon became apparent to my boss and me that Cheshire Homes equally needed a member of staff like Patrick. So he is officially being hired as a Peer Educator / Administration Assistant. The peer education role is due to the fact that he previously attended Cheshire Homes as a long-term client and has been volunteering with the current residential patients. The administration side of his work revolves solely around the training I have done with him (including intensive handover training these last few weeks I am still around).

So obviously I am very happy with this whole arrangement, not only because Patrick will inevitably do a good job, but also because he deserves to have something go right in his life after all the recent struggles he has been through. He once told me that he considers me his brother since none of his real family would help him after he acquired a disability. I then told him that he also has helped me immensely by giving deeper meaning to my volunteer time in Swaziland. By loving and serving others, I find greater fulfillment in life. I hope this is true for you also.