WakeMed's Singing Volunteer — Walter Moreland

"I sing because I understand the emotional pain people experience being in the hospital.

"In September 2023, I was hospitalized at WakeMed Raleigh Campus for an enlarged prostate. I was having a lot of issues as a result and was in the hospital for nine days. My family visited, and that was nice, but I didn't want them to stay too often because they had a lot of obligations with work and family. Dr. Charles Helton even visited me. I realized that while I appreciated drop-ins, what I really needed was someone to sing, play checkers and things of that nature. 

"I didn't have anyone to cheer me up in that way, so I became what I needed when I was in the hospital. I asked Donald Gintzig if I had permission to sing, and he said if I could sing then I was welcome. So one day, I just started singing during my volunteer shift, and I've been doing it since.

"As a volunteer, I like to sing for patients and families to bring a smile to their faces and ease their troubles about their medical condition. Visitors tell me I brighten their day. Donald gives me a smile and nod when he sees me singing. Some patients have taken my hand to dance with them, and I oblige. Female workers and kids also like dancing with me. The men will give me a thumb's up and then we will laugh and joke.

"I used to sing with Gladys Knight and the Pips, BB King, the OJs, The Spinners, and many more. I've sung at the Apollo Theater four times. Now I sing at WakeMed Raleigh Campus near the A/B elevators on Fridays  between 11 am and 3 pm."

-Walter Moreland, WakeMed Volunteer