INJURED - Shepherd Center

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Volunteer Profile:
Mark Pace
By Sara baxter
Mark Pace knows first hand what it’s like to recover from a catastrophic
injury. So when he thought about giving his time and talent to a good
cause, he thought of Shepherd Center.
Mark had heard that Shepherd had an excellent volunteer program.
He enrolled, received training and was assigned to help feed patients
who are unable to hold utensils.
But vision problems from a car accident – Mark can see only partially
out of one eye – made feeding patients difficult. So he offered to
put to work his skills as a professional massage therapist, massaging
patients’ shoulders and necks. But insurance regulations prevented him
from being able to work directly with patients.
Determined to find something he could do to help Shepherd patients,
Mark thought of a novel idea: Give massages to patients’ family members.
Photo by Leita Cowart
The inspiration came from his own experience. On Dec. 20, 1986,
Mark was involved in a serious car accident that left him with brain and
spinal cord injuries. His family was told that even if he made it through
the first night, he would never be able to see, hear or walk again.
He did survive that first night, and after five months of rehabilitation,
he learned to walk again. As a result of the head injury, Mark can
see only partially out of his left eye and not at all out of the right one.
He also lost hearing in one ear. Still, he feels blessed to be alive.
“I saw what my family went through sleeping on hospital room
floors, traveling to and from the different facilities, and really not
sleeping at all,” he recalls. “I would have loved to have had a massage
therapist giving my family massages to relieve some of their tension.”
Mark now takes the bus to Shepherd every other week, sets up his
massage chair and gives free massages to family members. The massages
last about 10 minutes, and Mark can provide relief to about 15
people in each of his visits to Shepherd.
His efforts are greatly appreciated. “I have had great feedback from
the families here at Shepherd,” Mark says. “With all of the out-oftowners
coming to Shepherd to support their loved ones, I figured this
was the least I could do.”
Says Jackie Gehner, Shepherd’s volunteer manager: “Mark brings a
special gift of relaxation to Shepherd Center. Caretakers are able to take
a few moments to rejuvenate their spirits, which gives them that extra
energy they need to be able to take care of their loved one in the hospital.
We are truly grateful that Mark wants to share his talents with us.”
Ten years ago, Mark was working as a personal trainer in a gym
when he decided on a career change.
He enrolled in a massage therapy
program and, because of his vision
With all of the out-oftowners
coming to
Shepherd to support
their loved ones, I
figured this was the
least I could do.
— Mark Pace
impairment, had to learn everything
orally. He credits a good memory
and friends in class for getting him
through the program.
Since becoming certified, he’s
been steadily working in spas
around Atlanta. In January 2008, he
decided to go out on his own and
is now running a massage business
from his home in Atlanta.
He has volunteered at Shepherd for the past year and says he
wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. “I get more out of volunteering
at Shepherd Center than anything else I do or have ever done,”
Mark says. “The most rewarding part is the appreciation I see, sense
and feel from the families. The look on their faces is the thanks I get.”
Left: Massage therapist Mark Pace of Atlanta volunteers his time to give
massages to family members of Shepherd Center patients.
20 Spinal column