Moment: Sisters in service

Jamie Wright and Valerie Burke spend more than 40 hours each week directing patients to appointments, delivering flowers, transporting patients in wheelchairs - and they do it all for free.

The girls, best friends since having classes together at Red Bank High School, began volunteering at Erlanger hospital shortly after Burke graduated in 2007.

"We just decided we wanted to volunteer somewhere, and we chose here," said Wright, 31, adding that most of Burke's doctors are at the hospital, so it was convenient. Burke, 29, was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.

Patients often ask if they are sisters because they are so frequently together.

"We can pretty much say we're sisters. We act like we're sisters pretty much all the time," Wright said.

They are also roommates, sharing the bottom floor of Burke's parents' home. Burke's father brings them to Erlanger each morning shortly after 7, and her mother picks them up each afternoon.

Sometimes patients ask Burke about her medical condition. She explains to them that she can stand, and move around with assistance, but spends most of her time in the chair.

"It could be like an inspiration that they could have somebody to talk to that would make them feel better," she says.

"They are, like, really in shock if she brings a wheelchair 'cause she's in a wheelchair herself,'" Wright said.

The women enjoy lifting the mood of patients who might be sad or worried.

"If we come in and see people that are upset, we can make them happy or make them feel better, or if they are lost we can help them," Wright says.

They say they plan to volunteer as long as they are able.

"We're the good volunteers. We're a good team," Burke said.

photo Volunteers Valerie Burke, left, and Jamie Wright pick up flowers from gift shop manager Doug Parker to deliver to a patient at Erlanger.

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