Carla Torrence’s busy life as a human resources professional was upended when she suffered a stroke in 2021. Today, she’s back on her feet and volunteering at Aultman to lift the spirits of others who are going through tough times.

Gratitude for Therapy

Carla loved her position in human resources, even with the additional stress of hiring people during the COVID-19 pandemic. But when she experienced a stroke, she had to step away from her job and focus on regaining skills.

Carla had limited movement on her left side and required assistance with basic activities of daily living. She credits the knowledge and dedication of the physical and occupational therapists at Aultman Therapy Services in Canton for her recovery.

“Aultman therapists helped me regain what I could have lost,” Carla said. “For example, when I first started therapy, I couldn’t even see my left fingers move. Now I can use my left hand.”

Her therapists also boosted her confidence when she felt dispirited. “Sometimes, I thought the exercises they proposed would be too hard, but they encouraged me to try,” Carla said.

Thanks to those exercises, Carla regained mobility over time. When she entered therapy, she needed help to walk just a few feet. She progressed to a wheelchair, then to a walker and then to a cane. Today, Carla can walk without using a cane.

And she is independent: “I am living on my own, and I can even drive again.”

Carla was not yet ready to return to work when her therapist suggested she volunteer in outpatient therapy at Aultman Tusc in Canton. To Carla, it seemed like an ideal opportunity.

“Just being at home wasn’t good for me,” she said. “Now, before I return to work, I can volunteer to see what I am capable of doing.”

A Ministry of Care

Volunteering at Aultman fits well with Carla’s compassionate and giving spirit. An ordained minister, Carla also serves as associate pastor at Gethsemane Baptist Church in Canton.

She volunteers both in Outpatient Therapy at Aultman Tusc and in the surgical family waiting area of Aultman Hospital.

At Aultman Tusc, Carla restocks linens, helps people find their way around the building and assists patients by bringing them water or other items. She also greets patients and keeps them company before their therapy appointments. In the surgical family waiting area at Aultman Hospital, Carla assists with answering the phone and helps each family as they await word on their loved one.

Carla begins each day with prayer. On the days she volunteers at Aultman, her prayers are for the patients and families.

In her eyes, her most important role is to brighten each person’s day. “I talk with patients and give them encouragement to lift their spirits,” she said. “Even just a hug or a smile can make all the difference.”

Part of the Team

Her favorite aspect of volunteering is spending time with patients and families. She also enjoys being part of a team. “I love to laugh and joke around with the Aultman staff,” she said. “They started off like colleagues, then friends – and now, we’re family.”

Carla appreciates the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the team. “As you volunteer, you gain knowledge in the area where you’re working,” she said. “Volunteers don’t do the job of a staff person, but we help them where they need it. I’m glad to be able to take a little stress off the staff.”

Outside her roles as volunteer and minister, Carla enjoys spending time with her friends, her parents, her brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. She also has a 15-year-old goddaughter who is spending the summer in Canton.

For Carla, the stroke and her subsequent recovery taught her not to take life’s small problems too seriously. “I really enjoy life,” she said. “I don’t let anything stress me to the core because I know there’s nothing I can do but put it in the hands of God. Even after my stroke, the spirit of God told me that my current situation is not my final destination.”

Serving others gives Carla joy. “I’ve learned that we need to make the best use of the days we’re given,” Carla said. “My mother always said we should never look down on others. The only time you should ever look down on someone is when you’re helping them up. That’s what I do – lift people up.”

Visit Volunteering at Aultman for more information on how to become an essential part of the Aultman team as a volunteer.