A Day
in the Life!
BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON
CAROL MAUGERI
Reiki Practitioner and Volunteer
Ronald McDonald House, New York, New York
othing tests the inner
strength more than caring
for a sick loved one,
especially of a child with
cancer. Seeing how the act of taking care
of a sick child can take a toll on a
caregiver’s health, relationships and state
of mind, the Ronald McDonald House
New York decided to offer a wellness
program that focuses on providing
complimentary care to caregivers.
Initially, the wellness program was
only a night of spa treatments with local
wellness practitioners generously
donating their time. The program was so
well-received by caregivers that the
services offered eventually expanded to
include therapeutic yoga, guided
meditation and relaxation techniques,
therapeutic massage, reflexology and
acupressure. The services most in
demand are manicures, pedicures,
haircuts, Reiki and massage treatments.
During the early days of the program,
with no dedicated space or center for
the program, treatments were offered in
the Macy’s Living Room inside the
Ronald McDonald House. But in spring
2015, the organization received a
N
There’s more to volunteer work than simply showing up. You
also need to be mentally, emotionally and spiritually present.
“Go with an open heart, be present for those you are helping and
be grateful that you are able to be of service to the caregivers who
are facing challenges with their child’s illness,” advises Magueri.
generous US$5 million donation from
the Blavatnik Family Foundation to build
the Blavatnik Wellness Center which
now serves as home to the volunteers
and caregivers.
“This was a tremendous gift to our
caregivers and has helped improve their
ability to cope with this unimaginable
level of stress,” says Wini Cudjoe,
director of operations.
Today, the program has a total of 45
wellness practitioners who volunteer on
a regular basis. One of these volunteers
is Carol Maugeri, a Reiki practitioner
who first came to the Ronald McDonald
House nine years ago in order to
volunteer for the 1st Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society Mother’s Day event.
When the monthly Wellness Night was
launched three years ago, she once
again volunteered to provide free Reiki
treatments to caregivers. Then, when the
Blavatnik Wellness Center opened in
June last year, she made a commitment
to continue her volunteer work. “What
initially inspired me was my own
journey with breast cancer. As a survivor
of several years, it is my way to give
back and to be of service,” Maugeri says.
Her volunteer nights at the center
typically look like this:
★ 7 pm Arrives at the Blavatnik
Wellness Center. “Knowing that for the
time I am volunteering, I have helped
mothers and other caregivers to have
some time to take care of their own
wellness is so rewarding,” she says.
★ 7:10 – 8:30 pm Provides caregivers a
20-minute Reiki treatment. “In one
evening I can provide up to six Reiki
treatments. I am often able to offer my
services one to two times a month at
the center,” Maugeri says.
★ 9 pm Takes the time to connect with
caregivers before completely wrapping
up a night of treatments. “A family with
a 10 year-old daughter had been staying
at the Ronald McDonald House for a
prolonged period of time. They were
very far away from their home in India.
The mom said the Wellness Center had
enabled her to take care of herself, her
daughter who was ill and her other
children who were staying at the
House,” she recalls. “The good news is
that her daughter is doing well and they
have been able to move on.” ■
Give Back and Volunteer
WHERE: rmhc.org/volunteer
HOW: Apply through the Volunteer Program. As an organization,
company or individual, you can help by sponsoring classes, lectures or
wellness events, spa trips, donating beauty products and/or goodie bags
for events. You can also volunteer your time and talents to the program
by offering services as a practitioner or instructor, teaching classes,
leading lectures or helping at wellness events.
October 2016
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