Photo courtesy of Madhu Amesur – American Red Cross
Madhu Amesur has turned her family’s heartbreaking tragedy into an ongoing gift of life for the Red Cross, globally. In January of 2023, Madhu lost her son, Dilip, to a sudden and devastating health crisis. Dilip was 30, happily married and the devoted father of three little boys. Madhu, in deep grief, continued in her work as a blood donor ambassador at the Contra Costa Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Pleasant Hill, California where she has volunteered since 2006. Madhu fondly remembers the staff at the center who contributed to a fund for Dilip’s children; a community gesture that moved her deeply.
“Last year, on my son’s first birthday after his passing, I wanted to do something special to honor and remember him. At my blood donor ambassador shift, I got the idea to ask my friends to donate blood and call it “Dilip’s Gift of Life,” said Madhu. “Soon so many people all over the world donated blood; it was such a joy for me to know that after his loss something good could be done to honor him. My mission on earth is to spread awareness for the everyday gift of life, encouraging people to donate blood and volunteer. We want as much awareness in the community as possible. The gift of life is precious, and anyone can give it.”
“My Grandmother basically raised me after my father passed away because my mom was working full time to support us kids,” said Olga Vasquez, whose father died when she was seven-years-old. “She made me crocheted blankets, embroidered dish towels, and gave me China sets and glassware that she had been given as wedding sets when she was young. We’d go to the San José Flea Market almost every month. She would teach me how to cook recipes she learned from her mom, we even enjoyed watching soap operas together, “General Hospital” being our favorite,” Olga reminisced.
Olga’s unbreakable bond with her grandmother led to a commitment to the American Red Cross. Olga remembers the time when her grandmother needed three blood transfusions after she underwent a heart surgery. During those first three years after the surgery, Olga states she became aware of how much the community relied on the blood supplied by Red Cross blood donors. These vulnerable moments impacted Olga greatly and inspired her to help anyone facing a crisis like the one her grandmother experienced.
Saniya Chandy and her father and inspiration, Ramnik Chandy. Photo courtesy of Saniya Chandy
Every individual has their own unique life story that has shaped them into the person they are today. The experiences we encounter on this journey of life often play a major part in shaping our future decisions. Saniya Chandy shares her experience as a Red Crosser and how her father inspired her to further pursue a career in healthcare.
At the young age of 15, Saniya began to volunteer with the Red Cross in 2022. After witnessing her father’s passion for nursing grow when he took his First Aid/CPR training course, she too was motivated to take a similar endeavor. She quicky took a First Aid/CPR training course that certified her to be a part of the American Canyon Junior Lifeguard Program and began her Red Cross journey shortly thereafter.
Her inspiration to support our humanitarian mission comes from her father, Ramnik Chandy, a psychiatric nurse. “My dad’s journey has instilled my faith in selfless service and the joy that comes from helping others,” she states. “I’ve heard countless stories from my father about the mentally ill patients he has worked with and the positive connections he has made with them. However, none of that would be possible if programs like the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association didn’t exist.” Both these organizations have shaped their passion for psychiatric medicine through training and volunteer opportunities, enabling them to be advocates for equitable care, regardless of any barriers one may face.
When Saniya was younger, she had the perception that only adults had the chance to make a significant impact in the community as a volunteer, since many organizations she hoped to volunteer for did not accept her because of her age. But that changed when she found the Red Cross.
“I was accepted with open arms to receive the CPR/AED certification from the Red Cross. Being put in realistic scenarios, from treating scrapes and burns, to drowning victim rescue situations, made me adaptable and more capable to handle stressful situations while caring for those experiencing medical emergencies,” she explains.
Ramnik shares his delight that his daughter is continuing a similar career path and states, “As nurses, we have the opportunity to heal the body, however, all humans are given the unique ability to understand others and exercise our empathy through selfless service.” Saniya’s Red Cross experience as a volunteer allowed her to connect with her father, pursuing medicine as a professional career while truly understanding the passion to give back in a variety of roles with the Red Cross.
“One memorable Red Cross experience I hold dear is writing letters to veterans during a meeting,” Saniya says. She was extremely joyful about giving service members the appreciation they deserve. “It goes to show that even as teenagers, the work we do behind the scenes matters just as much.”
Volunteers carry out 90% of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross. Here in the Northern California Coastal Region, over 7,000 committed individuals like Saniya turn their compassion into action helping us to strengthen their communities. If you want to join Saniya, learn more here.
Photo Courtesy of Connor Siu, Yesha Sacatani, and Monisha Raju
Every individual grows up in a different community–the Red Cross, as a global organization, encompasses so many stories from these divergent backgrounds. Being able to give back to their communities and make an impact is a great gift for volunteers. That’s why so many youth have resonated with the American Red Cross to serve as members of the Youth Executive Board (YEB), like Connor Siu, Yesha Sacatani, and Monisha Raju from North Bay and Heart of the Valley Chapters (NBC/HOV). The variety of ways in which these youth volunteers have been influenced by their communities is what inspires their distinctive journey:
Meet Mia Fahad, our Regional International Services volunteer. She has been accepted into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Solferino Academy’s Limitless programs (Limitless LEAD and Limitless 2.0), an international professional development opportunity. Hundreds applied but only 10 spots are reserved for American Red Cross participants. The Limitless LEAD programs are for Red Crossers who are already active in the space of humanitarian innovation and seeking an opportunity to advance their skills in leadership and coaching. They will go on to support the mentorship of Limitless 2.0 participants in their innovation journey.
Learn more about Mia and what she looks forward to the most in participating in this unique program through an interview with Red Cross Communications volunteer, Anika Kurkut.
Crystal Sims loved serving in the military. For 14 years she served as a Physical Therapist on active duty in the Army, a role that took her on a journey across the country and around the world. She would still be commissioned as an officer in the Army today if not for an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis, and its subsequent treatment and recovery.
Despite going through such a difficult situation, Crystal did not stop pursuing what she loved most: when her husband was recently stationed in Monterey, CA, she found her way to serve the active-duty military population at the Presidio Clinic as a Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces volunteer.
Crystal’s training and experience in physical therapy provided expanded treatment options for the clinic’s patients. She served in the morning sick call clinic and treated patients with musculoskeletal concerns. Working alongside military and civilian staff, Crystal had the opportunity to provide guidance and mentorship, drawing from own her personal experience.
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