Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital is pleased to announce Deborah Harmse, better known as Ms. Debbie, as the 2012 Volunteer of the Year. Ms. Debbie started volunteering at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in September 2011 after her husband's work transferred the couple to Houston from South Africa.
As a fundamental member of the Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital team and family, Ms. Debbie assists with a wide variety of tasks, including cleaning toys, holding babies, training new volunteers and meeting the parents' various needs. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the staff breathes a little easier knowing Ms. Debbie will be on the floor helping spread some extra love to the kids and their families.
In addition to her commitment to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Ms. Debbie is also a certified CanCare volunteer and sits with our adult patients receiving cancer treatment to help them pass the time.
Leigh Ann Cutting, a child life specialist at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, says, "We treasure her ability to ease fears and spread love. Words cannot express what Ms. Debbie means to the staff and the patients she helps every day."