Clearwater / St. Petersburg, Fla. – “This world moves too fast. Let’s not just lend a hand to others, but share laughter and joy. Life can be too short to not live every day to its fullest,” says Alivia Seay, who states such wise words for only being 19 years of age.
Seay finds joy in giving back and helping others. And that’s why this Thanksgiving and holiday season her story is to be shared through Suncoast Hospice | Empath Health to hopefully inspire others and let the community know there is support available.
“My main goal in life is to help people. I am currently a full-time nursing major working to become a physician assistant,” says Seay.
Seay currently is a full-time nursing student at St. Petersburg College who also works, helps her mother with a daycare business, teaches CPR and enjoys the outdoors. On top of her already busy schedule, she dedicates herself to volunteering at Suncoast Hospice, a member of Empath Health.
Seay’s grandmother and aunt were cared for at Suncoast Hospice, which is where she found sanctuary, support and joy in volunteering with their teen volunteer program and care center. Her service has included community events, Lifetime Legacies program videotaping patients’ life stories and about 120 hours of patient and family support.
“What I feel is unique about my goal would be my passion for helping people. It brings this excitement into my life that is indescribable. It is truly all I want to do,” says Seay.
The 19 year-old wrote an essay sharing her very personal experience of loss and the importance of volunteering, which was published earlier this year.
“As I have experienced loss, I have also experienced a new beginning that has made me the person I am today. Going through loss for the first time in my life was probably one of the hardest things I had ever dealt with. I was just sixteen and thought that there was no end to the precious thing we call life. My grandma decided after six months of dialysis that the treatments were no longer for her. My mom and I were her primary caregivers, so we called Suncoast Hospice and started preparing for those next few weeks.”
For the full excerpt, go to: http://suncoasthospice.blogspot.com/2014/04/young-volunteers-grief-essay-published.html.
This year Suncoast Hospice is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their teen volunteer program with a ‘Where are They Now’ project story collection.
About Empath Health: Empath Health is a not-for-profit integrated network of care that provides expert, life-changing health care to those with chronic and advanced illnesses. Empath Health includes hospice, palliative home health and physician services, independent living assistance and day care for seniors, HIV services and advance care planning. Contact Empath Health at 727-467-7423 or empathhealth.org.