Sidelines National Support Network  / Volunteer Spotlight  / September_Volunteer

Volunteer of the Month
September 2009
Hannah Hurey

Sidelines volunteer Hannah Hurey with her husband, Ryan, and sons Connor and Wyatt

Hannah Hurey shows a montage of activities with her husband and children  

Name: Hannah Marie Hurey
Home: Bothell, Washington
Husband's Name: Ryan
Children's Names and Ages: Connor, age 6, and Wyatt, age 2

"I am out in Washington State with no family and very few friends.  My Sidelines buddy was there to write me every day and was my lifeline to the outside world."

Sidelines volunteer Hannah Hurey vividly remembers the loneliness she felt during her complicated pregnancy.  Living away from family and friends, she counted on her Sidelines buddy for support during a difficult time.  Now the mom of two, she is that lifeline for others who are experiencing similar situations.

Hannah lost her first child, William Joseph, at 22 weeks due to an undiagnosed incompetent cervix.  When she became pregnant with Connor, now six years old, she had a cerclage put in, but ended up in the hospital almost a year to the day after William was delivered.  

"It was very scary, and I was placed on complete bedrest," she remembers. "After three more trips to the hospital for light bleeding, Connor was delivered at 39 weeks."

Four years later, Hannah became pregnant with Wyatt, and a different type of cerclage seemed to work more effectively, she explained.  She only had three days of bedrest, although her mother came to live with her to help out during the pregnancy.  Wyatt was delivered at 38 weeks.

Hannah found Sidelines on a discussion board during her pregnancy with Connor. Reeling from the loss of her first child and dealing with orders to remain on partial and then complete bedrest, she reached out to someone who had "been there."

"I was going out of my mind and needed someone to talk to who had been through the same thing," Hannah said. "My buddy was always there for me, and I wanted to give that to others."

One of Hannah's most memorable buddies was from the same area in Michigan where her father grew up and her aunts and uncles still live.  

"She and I really clicked and have remained friends," Hannah said. "We have even met a couple of times when I travel back to see family."

Hannah urges her referrals to be honest with those who ask what they can do to help. "People want to help, and it doesn't matter if what you need is someone to clean your bathroom.  I would have loved for someone to do that for me," she said.  "People won't ask if they really don't want to do something."

"Seek out help from any and every source," she continued. "Does your church have a ladies group that would be willing to make meals twice a week for you?  Are you active in Scouting or another organization?  Tap those resources to help.  Many hands make light work."Hannah, a stay-at-home mom who does seasonal work for a photography studio, enjoys scrapbooking, reading, camping, hiking, and swimming.