Derrick is one of the newest team members at RMHC of Alabama but he and his family are deeply connected to the mission.
He currently works as a Family Care Specialist, ensuring that guest families are checked in, answering questions they may have, greeting them and generally making sure our guests are supported during their stay.
Derrick’s life experiences help him every day to serve our guest families.
“I was born weighing 1 pound, 7 ounces. I could have died. Being able to relate to different people, talking to them and keeping smiles on their faces, it makes me feel great. I just want to make an impact on somebody’s life,” he says.
Derrick uses a wheelchair and also had many specialized surgeries as a child, recovering in or near a Ronald McDonald House with his parents. He says his memory is a little hazy since he was so young but he remembers playing video games and being with his parents during recovery.
“My mom would cook for the other families when she had a chance,” Derrick says. “That’s what she loves to do.”
Working at the Ronald McDonald House was unlike any job he’d had before but he took that leap of faith.
“I was kind of nervous because I wasn’t sure if I could do it. I’d never had a job where I had to talk on the phone a lot,” Derrick says. “But everyone told me I could it and I’ve gotten used to everything.”
We asked Derrick how he feels about being part of RMHCA.
“I love working here. A patient came by today and told me they were cancer free. It makes me feel good to hear things like that,” Derrick says.
“I just want people to know they are making a big difference when they support the House,” Derrick says. “Even through all the obstacles they’re facing, we’re making people feel better.”
