Meet Our Buddies

Alex Chen, junior Biochemistry major at University of Pennsylvania, has been volunteering with StudentsCare since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. When Alex’s previous hospital volunteer position stopped to do COVID-19, he was excited to find StudentsCare, largely because of the Senior Buddy Program and its ability to cater to a virtual environment. He started off supporting Penn’s Hospital Buddy Program by making worksheets that were given to children at partnering hospitals, as they reminded him of one of his favorite childhood activities: brain teasers. Alex says, "I was hopeful children at the hospitals would enjoy the little brain workout as much as I did."

Harini Venkobarao, sophomore at University of Texas Austin, has been volunteering with StudentsCare for 6 months now. Looking for something to do “just for fun,” Harini was introduced to StudentsCare and has been part of our Senior Buddy Program ever since. Each week, Harini connects with her buddy Linda over the phone. A biology and plan II major and aspiring doctor, Harini hopes to help as many people as she can through medicine. 

She hopes to be "as resilient and strong" as the buddies she’s encountered.

Ashley Mendoza, junior at University of Miami, has been part of StudentsCare for just a year and two months. Since she started volunteering during the pandemic, Ashley had the unique opportunity to begin as a virtual buddy. With in-person visits postponed, she would plan to talk on the phone with an isolated senior as part of StudentsCare’s new Senior Buddy Program. While this presented itself as a challenge for many, Ashley rose to the occasion and surprised even herself with the relationship she and her buddy, Juan, were able to build.

She’s learned “there is so much more than meets the eye,” and because of that strives to treat others with kindness, love, and care.

Due to hospitalization and illness, our pediatric buddies often miss out on many childhood experiences. Birthday parties, clowns, and magic tricks are lost in the many procedures and hardships our buddies have to endure. Varun Krishnan, a magician and recent alumni from the University of Miami, has been a part of the StudentsCare family for the past three years and has brightened up his buddies’ lives with magic– literally!

“It wouldn’t be possible without the laughs, giggles, and support I’ve received from all the kids.” Varun says the best part of StudentsCare is how “the buddies have a way of lighting up your day and bringing out the best in you.” 

The pandemic changed life as we know it for everyone around the world, but especially our pediatric patients. With in-person volunteering being suspended to protect our buddies, we racked our brains on how to offer emotional and mental support without being physically present. Beatrice Torres found a way to adapt to the change by making virtual storytelling and arts and crafts videos.

As an aspiring physician, Beatrice feels that StudentsCare has helped her understand the true essence of empathy and compassion, better enabling her to enter the medical field. “It is truly an honor to build trust and friendship with kids who are amidst one of their biggest storms. Instead of being angered, they continue smiling and spreading love and kindness,” Beatrice says.

When the word “teenager” comes to mind, memories come flooding with it — getting behind the wheel for the first time, prom, first dates, graduating high school, and so many more. However, many of our adolescent buddies never get to make these memories due to being immunocompromised, as well in long-term care.

Megan says, “We played round after round for about an hour until I realized my shift was over. I had to make it back to campus for class, so I let her know I had to leave for the day. She started tearing up and was visibly upset. This had such an impact on me. I realized that while the time we spent together may not appear special on the surface, it meant the world to her (and to me!). It provided a glimpse into the psychosocial challenges that hospitalized children often face. Ultimately, I know that I will be a better pediatric nurse due to all of my experiences with StudentsCare.” 

Monzer Alatrach, a senior at the University of Texas-Austin began his StudentsCare journey in 2018, as a Buddy in our Hospital Buddy program at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas. We asked Monzer to share his favorite memory with his Buddy and he told us about a time he helped give his buddy an impromptu dance party– the nurses and doctors even joined in!

Monzer said “It was a really fun experience and my Buddy was really enjoying the music and having a good time dancing. I personally do not prefer to dance, but seeing the smile on my Buddy’s face as they danced to the music was really touching and I could not help but dance a little as well!”

Lorena Fernandez began volunteering with StudentsCare two years ago as a Hospital Buddy at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Last April, when StudentsCare launched a new buddy program for seniors isolated due to Covid, Lorena was one of the first to jump at the opportunity to serve another population in need. Similarly, when hospital visits for the children also needed to be shifted to virtual visits, Lorena was the first to step up and provide fun and support to a teen who was recovering from heart surgery in the hospital. Even behind a computer screen, Lorena was able to brighten his day. She even found a way to engage her buddy in playing Pictionary and Charades together over video calls.