MATER Volunteer Jenny Summerson has spent the last 30 years perfecting her hugs as a volunteer “cuddle mum” at Brisbane’s Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
The Queensland grandmother recently recorded 6000 hours of service in the hospital helping parents take a break from caring for their newborns.
“Babies are just miracles to me,” Mrs Summerson said with a smile.
“I love helping people, so being able to settle babies and assist parents is really rewarding.”
Mrs Summerson said she “found her calling” in 1991 after spotting an advertisement in a local newspaper asking for “100 helping hands” at Mater.
“At the time I really hated Mondays and I never wanted to do anything,” she said.
“I saw this advertisement and thought it would be good to get out of the house.
“Thirty years later, I’m still getting out of the house.”
There were currently more than 500 Mater volunteers across South-East Queensland ranging from 18 to 80 years old.
Volunteer duties included patient transport drivers, patient companions, ward nannies and tea and coffee trolleys.
Mrs Summerson said cuddle mums and dads were the most popular positions.
“I think the waiting list is pretty long,” she said with a laugh.
While Mrs Summerson enjoyed looking after newborns, she also viewed her job as “an extra pair of hands” for nursing staff.
“I think a lot of nurses are overworked so I like to help where I can.
“I’ll do a nappy run, or I’ll restock drawers or sometimes I’ll offer to hold babies so they [the nurses] can get admin done.”
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mater volunteers were not permitted in wards.
When restrictions eased last year, Mrs Summerson and her fellow cuddle parents returned to a warm welcome.
“On our first day back, I ran into one of our nurses who said they’d really missed us,” she said.
“I guess I didn’t realise how much we were missed.”
Mrs Summerson said it was always emotional “to witness the stories of babies and families”.
“Every family that comes into the special care nursery or intensive care has a story,” she said.
“It’s hard to see babies that are unwell or sick.”
Mrs Summerson said she had “lost count” of the thousands of babies she had held.
While she might not remember every baby she’s looked after, their parents certainly remembered her.
“I was on the North Coast at a restaurant and a woman recognised me,” she said.
“She came up to me with a baby in her arms and said, ‘Oh you’re a Mater Cuddle mum, aren’t you?’”
Mater Volunteer Services senior manager Judy Johnson said she was grateful for the gift of time and empathy from volunteers and called on members of the community to consider joining the volunteer team at South Brisbane.
“Volunteers make a profound impact on the care and services that Mater provides to the community,” Ms Johnson said.
“Quite simply, Mater just wouldn’t be Mater without our volunteers.”
