Afflicted from birth with a bone disease that restricted her growth and confined her to a motorized wheelchair, she has spent many long hours and sleepless nights in the hospital. Twesten says it was the kindness shown to her as a scared little girl that she could spend a lifetime repaying.
“People gave to me and continue to give to me all the time,” she says. “So I turn around and give it right back. There is no way I can ever repay everyone who has helped me and those who continue to help me on a regular basis, but I can pay it forward.”
Since 2005, Twesten has volunteered four to five hours a week in CoxHealth’s Child Life Department. She comforts children, from newborns to age 18, who are facing multiple medical procedures and experiencing the same feelings Twesten did as a child.
“As an adult of small stature, I can honestly say I view the world from the perspective of a child and I’ve found kids trust me to level with them,” she says. “Yet as an adult, I can relate not only to the child’s point of view, but I can also communicate honestly as an equal with their parents.”
Twesten says she does anything she can to break up the monotony of being stuck in a hospital bed and help the time pass as quickly as possible.
“My goal is to make their lives easier,” she said. “It’s hard enough being in the hospital, let alone bored or scared or both.”
With 872 hours and counting of volunteer work in the children’s department, coordinator Rana Post says Twesten is a valuable resource for CoxHealth patients.
“Stacy is a motivated individual who does not allow her physical challenges to affect her volunteer work,” she says. “She often stays late to accommodate requests and is an integral leader within our pet therapy program.”
Twesten says she likes to keep her volunteer work one-on-one, but can’t help but be an enthusiastic ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network working to attract publicity, donations and recruit other volunteers.
Outside the hospital walls, Twesten works with local photography company Convey Studios as a sales representative in the Google business photo division, which provides customers with a virtual walking tour of the interior of an establishment.
“It’s basically Google Maps Street View for businesses,” she says. “If you are taking a walk on Street View, you can literally walk right into a business and see the interior.”
Twesten said her first sale was downtown Springfield’s coffee establishment, the Mudhouse. Convey Studios also has photographed Springfield wedding and event venues such as Historic Firehouse No. 2 for the Google project. Still in it’s first year on the market, Twesten said the program is being piloted nationwide.
Twesten had made use of her bachelor’s in fine arts from Missouri State University by volunteering at events such as ArtsRave, ArtsFest and the National Ornamental Museum’s annual Repair Days, but she says her heart keeps her going back to the hospital each week.
“Kids like me, and I like them,” she says. “I do what I love. I know its small, but in my heart, I know it’s good.”[[In-content Ad]]
