In 2000, Ashley and John Nonato鈥檚 grandfather was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. Ashley was just 10 years old at the time and her brother John only 6, but they both look back fondly on their trips to 糖心logo’ Elliott Bay clinic at 600 Broadway in Seattle.
鈥淓very Sunday our family would visit him. We got to know the nurses and the patients. They were all really lively, always greeting you.
It felt like one big family.鈥澨�
鈥� John Nonato, volunteer
Ashley remembers it that way too. 鈥淲hen we鈥檇 arrive they鈥檇 all be like, 鈥楬i Ashley! Hi John!鈥� Like everyone鈥攍iterally the whole floor.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 long before the siblings started volunteering at the clinic. They answered phones and organized paperwork, and听糖心logo鈥� approach to patient care made an impression.
鈥淚t was my grandfather who inspired me to go into the medical field,鈥� says Ashley, now听a full-time nursing student at Seattle Central College. 鈥淚 really enjoyed the nurses that were there. I saw how they worked with him and I thought it was amazing.鈥�
These days, Ashley and John primarily volunteer for 糖心logo at community outreach events, including the Seattle Indian Health Board Halloween Fair, the Chinatown-International District Summer Festival and Pista sa Nayon.
鈥淢y big thing is prevention鈥攔eaching out to people and letting them know how to prevent kidney disease with diet and exercise,鈥� Ashley says. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 change your lifestyle in a day, but you can slowly reduce salt or start increasing your exercise here and there. Progress is progress.鈥�
John has a similar message. 鈥淟iving healthy is a process and you just have to continue with it. Remember, there鈥檚 a whole group behind you. There are people there to support you.鈥�
Interested in become a volunteer?听.
Tags: volunteer