CareTeams from a CarePartner's Perspective

Over the past 14 years, over 90 CarePartners have felt the compassion and support of our CareTeams.  Although CareTeams may start as strangers to our CarePartners, they quickly become supportive, lifelong friends and family.  One CarePartner, and mother, recalls her early memories of her CareTeam.

 ~ ~ It was a sunny day when the volunteers came into my home and introduced themselves as my CareTeam.  My daughter Dee had just started high school and also needed support as she came out about her HIV status.

Soon this group of strangers became the Northwest Hearts CareTeam and waves of lives changed, tossed all collectively in the circles of time allotted.  And throughout these changes, my Team - our Team - never really departed from our side. 

My CareTeam has been my hands when the weights of caregiving chained Dee and I down, these volunteers have been my legs when neuropathy and fatigues kept me close to my bed.  These loving people have cared for us when ignorance and fear blinded the eyes of those who I thought I could see.

My Team and I will always know our one-ness even when cities kept us apart.  I cannot measure the ways I am loved by them and them by me, for I carry this love with me, wherever I go.  Its breadth, span, depth…its gift to me is eternal.  For their love has grown from postcard to postcard, phone call to phone call, from dinners to cabarets, from rides to shoulders, to waiting arms embracing my daughter and me through all our span of life.

All of their gifts have grown me in grace, fertilized us with patience, showered us with their blessed covering in the holiness of love.  Because my cry was heard they rescued my baby and me in the greatest love.~ ~

Dee led an unbreakable chain of love that still exists even after her death at the tender age of 20.  Her spirit and love for life taught the volunteers much more than the tremendous support they gave to her.

- A CarePartner

What Can I Say about Those Times?

What can I say about those times? I had a $900-a-month condo that I couldn’t afford, and had moved back to Ohio for a break and to get away from my meth addiction. But, Ohio was not going that well. I was off the drugs but was staying with Dad who was chronically depressed because his life had just been destroyed since his wife died of Parkinson’s disease. Heartbreaking, I know, but I had my own problems having AIDS and all and nowhere to go.

So I decided to go back to Seattle. I ended up having to go the Lifelong AIDS Alliance again for help. As you probably know, there aren’t many options for housing in Seattle that a poor person has, but my caseworker advocated Rosehedge/Multifaith Works housing. I was against it. I don’t live well with others. But I eventually went along with it since I needed a place to live and also since my case manager was right about my need to socialize.

Here’s what I got for my trouble: An awesome room in a Rosehedge/Multifaith Works house with a gorgeous view over Lake Washington, and exposure to some of the nicest folks I have ever met.  I enjoyed your company, care and compassion, and admired your non-judgmental acceptance of everybody. 

Remembering it all, not only did I feel it in my life, but I saw it in the eyes of my peers - I saw joy! For example, they had a monthly dinner at the house put on by CareTeam volunteers, and everyone was always so happy and excited on that Sunday! It was fun for everyone.  And I can't give Shanti enough praise! It's a great program. During my time in Seattle, I had 5 Shanti friends, 2 of whom I am still in contact with today. It's really great when you are lonely and hurting just to be able to go out and talk one-on-one with a smart and caring person.

There are many things written about life-changing experiences, and learning I had AIDS and having to deal with it was certainly that, but clouds have silver linings. And mine was falling into the Rosehedge/Multifaith Works crowd. Sure you gave me a place to live for a while and helped me with practical things, but the best thing you ever did for me is that you changed my perspective and gave me hope! So now I am back in Ohio in a house that is way too big for me with a dog and a cat, and I am happy. Rosehedge/Multifaith Works was very helpful in getting me through some very tough times. I couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you so much and keep up all the loving!

Larry C.
Former Resident

Lots of Excitement at Rosehedge/Multifaith Works!

There are many exciting things going on at Rosehedge/Multifaith Works.  Below are a few of the major things:

On February 27th, we moved into our new Rosehedge/Multifaith Works main office!  We are now located at 1401 East Jefferson Street, Suite 401, directly across the street from Seattle University’s new athletic center.  We are excited about our new space.  It provides us with approximately 1,500 additional square feet of space so we have plenty of staff and storage space.  We also now have ample training space for volunteer trainings for our CareTeam and Shanti programs.   There is ample parking for staff and plenty of on-street parking for visitors.  On evenings and weekends, we also have 27 parking spaces in the parking garage!  The new landlord completely renovated the space to fit our needs and the space is new and fresh, with lots of lights and plenty of windows.  It is a great space to celebrate our merged agency and we are absolutely thrilled!!!   We also save money by moving into our new space.  This is really good!

Now that Rosehedge/Multifaith has merged, we are undertaking a Branding Process for the new agency.  In a nut shell, the Branding Process will help us determine:  a) Who we are, as a merged agency?, b) What we do?, and c) Why we do it?  While we think we have answers to some of those questions, we might get a variety of different answers, depending on who answers the question.  The goal is to complete a comprehensive process which will allow answers to these questions to emerge so we can all speak the same language, going forward.  The Branding Process will include feedback and discussion on our agency name, logo, and mission and many agency stakeholders (clients, volunteers, staff, donors, and others will be able to provide feedback during the process.  The Branding Process will take place between now and May 2012 and will be facilitated by Steelhead Advertising Agency out of Portland, Oregon.  Steelhead has generously agreed to undertake our Branding Process pro-bono!  This is a huge gift to Rosehedge/Multifaith Works and we are VERY grateful for Steelhead’s generosity.

After Rosehedge/Multifaith Works completes our Branding Process, we will have an open house at our new office building, where you will get to see our new office space and hear more about who we are as we move forward…please stay tuned!



James Marshall-Ward
Executive Director, Rosehedge/Multifaith Works