Throughout her life, Kathy McCann has been driven by a desire to help people become better for having known her. Her passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others served patients and families well during her nearly 50-year nursing career at Aultman. Now she continues that legacy as a volunteer at Aultman Hospital.

Born and raised in Canton, Kathy said she comes from an Aultman family. “I was born at Aultman Hospital, my kids were born at Aultman Hospital, and it’s where so many of my family members seek care,” she said. “I started my nursing career at Aultman because that’s where my friends were.”

Kathy didn’t originally intend to be a nurse. After high school, she attended the University of Dayton to earn a teaching degree. But fate intervened and she returned to Canton, where a friend persuaded her to try nursing.

“It turned out to be the perfect career for me,” she said. “I liked everything about nursing – caring for people, sharing knowledge that would improve their health and helping them get better. I realized that I always wanted to leave every person a little better than I found them.”

As a nurse, Kathy worked in several different areas at Aultman, including Aultman Hospital, rehabilitation and home health.

She had always considered volunteering with Aultman after she retired. When her husband Bob passed away early this year, she reached out to Volunteer Services to find out how she could help.

Today, she volunteers twice a week in imaging services at Aultman Hospital. She serves near the check-in kiosk so that she can assist patients in using it or answer their questions. Because there are many different imaging rooms, she also walks patients to the right place for their particular test.

“Most people who come in for imaging are somewhat scared because their doctor ordered these tests for reason,” she said. “I like to think that by being kind and helpful, I’ve helped them feel a little better.”

She also loves working with Aultman staff. “I can’t stress enough how nice the people who work with me are,” she said. “They always thank me and remind me how much they appreciate my help.”

Outside of volunteering, Kathy enjoys spending time with family. She has three children – a daughter and two sons, one of whom has passed away – and four grandchildren. Now that she is retired and has time to follow sports, Kathy is an avid Cleveland Guardians and Cleveland Cavaliers fan – and she still plays a little basketball herself.

“My grandson was surprised recently that I was willing to play basketball with him. He could not believe it when I told him I’d played basketball in college when I’m so old now,” she laughed.

Kathy plans to continue living life to the fullest. “I feel so blessed that I am still healthy enough to volunteer like this,” she said. “I hope to be able to volunteer at Aultman for a long time. Every day is a blessing.”