CVMC volunteers choose to work here for many different reasons. Dennis
Bollinger, a volunteer in our gift shop understands firsthand how overwhelming
a hospital stay can be. His daughter, Amanda, was only 14 when she was
seriously injured after a car accident required a 26 day stay to recover
from fractures to her vertebra, arm and leg complicated by bleeding and
swelling in her brain and damage to her nerves.
“I joined the team of auxiliary volunteers four years ago,”
said Dennis. “It’s my way of giving back to the skilled team
of people who have done so much for my family.” Both Dennis and
Amanda find immeasurable satisfaction in giving hope and encouragement
to CVMC patients and their families. Dennis is thankful for the physicians,
nurses and other staff at CVMC who demonstrated tenacity in helping Amanda
heal after the car wreck. “My wife and I were so impressed with
the quality of care she received and couldn’t have been more pleased
with our experience.” At the time, Dennis and his family had no
idea but CVMC would continue to play a major role in their lives for years to come.
“After my wreck I knew I wanted to go into health care but I wasn’t
sure if it would be physical therapy, sports medicine or nursing,”
Amanda explained. “From then on I knew nursing and CVMC is where
I should be.”
Just three years later, Amanda found herself, once again, encouraged by
the staff at CVMC’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Center. After completing
her high school’s certified nursing assistant (CNA) program, she
was hired on to work in Inpatient Rehabilitation with the very team that
helped her recover. CVMC has received five consecutive accreditations by
the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), meaning it meets the highest standards for quality care and has passed
in-depth reviews of services. It is a qualified endorsement that CVMC
conforms to nationally and internationally recognized service standards
and is focused on delivering the most favorable results for patients.
Upon graduating nursing school in 2002, Amanda became a registered nurse
(RN) in the CVMC surgical service unit where she has now worked for 13
years. Dennis boasts, “My wife and I couldn’t be more proud
of our daughter’s strength and accomplishments.”
This strength was tested once again, with the birth of Amanda’s son,
Thomas, who was born at CVMC by emergency Cesarean section (C-section)
at 27 weeks gestation only weighing 2lbs 5 oz. He stayed a total of 119
days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), all of which were spent
at CVMC except the 2 weeks he was transferred to Carolinas Medical Center
for surgery. Thomas suffered from paralyzed vocal cords and had a tracheotomy
for the first 2 years of his life. “The NICU became a second home
and the staff felt like family. They taught me how to be both Thomas’
mom and nurse,” said Amanda. He is now a happy and healthy 7 year old.
“Becoming a grandfather for the first time will be an experience
that I will always cherish. I am so grateful for the dedicated nurses
and doctors who saved my grandson’s life,” said Dennis.
He enjoys talking with customers in the gift shop, helping them locate
and purchase the item(s) they are looking for and hopes that he in some
way helps brighten their day. As for Amanda, she is honored that her dad
volunteers and loves having him at CVMC. Amanda beams, “My Dad and
I often eat lunch together. CVMC is one big family, and I’m lucky
to have my dad here with me”.
If you are interested in volunteering at CVMC, please contact Betty Long
at 828.326.3434 or email
balong@catawbavalleymc.org