Guest Columnist: Occupational Therapist Shares How “WHY” is a Verb

GUEST COLUMNIST:

PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST SHARES HOW “WHY” IS A VERB

Half a century ago, I was born prematurely in an inner-city hospital in a third-world country. My father tells the story of how my chances of survival were slim as he held me close, softly singing into my tiny ear Chiquitita by—you guessed it—ABBA. God had other plans for my little self because here I am serving the smallest and most fragile tiny humans in our inner-city hospital NICU, and sharing in the promises of a bright future ahead. During my formative years, experiences both inside and outside the classroom shaped a conviction to serve others in my community. I found a place to find joy in service to others while working with the Boy Scouts of America. To this day, I continue my work in scouting as a long-time scout leader. A few years ago, I was bestowed with a new name—given to me by the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service—the BSA Order of the Arrow. My Vigil Honor name selected to reflect my character is Ikipi Tunwaya Ekta Ota which loosely translates to “Worthy Guide to Many.” Frankly, the Vigil Elders got it right. I am a humble servant leader. I happen to be a Pediatric Occupational Therapist in my professional life who guides tiny humans to be the best versions of themselves they can be. Through kind hands and gentle guidance, my tiny patients not only grow but thrive.

My journey to San Antonio was one guided by love and a call to service. While I started my career as an Occupational Therapist at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, a passion for pediatrics led me to Texas Children’s Hospital NICU, where I worked with some of the most fragile and medically complex babies. I followed my husband to San Antonio, where we have lived for over 25 years. During that time, I continued my work in pediatrics in many settings: Easter Seals Early Childhood Intervention, research in early childhood Autism with Baylor College of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, to name a few. Inner-city communities still hold my heart. Metropolitan Hospital | Metropolitan soon became my home—and a place to bring all my experiences gained along the way to serve our NICU. It has become more than a job but a mission of service. It has become a why in my life. This brings me to explain how ‘why’ is a verb. Why as a verb means actively taking a calling into purpose day after day. No one hopes their baby ends up in the NICU. I come into work every day ready to make a positive difference in the lives of families experiencing some of the most difficult times in their lives. I am there to help babies’ brains, and bodies develop and find opportunities for families to connect with their babies actively.

Whether it is giving a new parent the courage to reach into a hesitant first touch, supporting Kangaroo care, helping a baby calm after a rough night, holding a pacifier, guiding the first feeding, splinting a tiny hand, or simply assisting a fragile newborn transition to home, all these require action— one that is deeply seeded in a why. Without action, there is no evidence of a why. Without a why there is no purpose in action. What better way than to spend my days making someone else’s life a tiny bit better than in a NICU. Someone did that for me when I was born a fragile preemie once. So here I am, “Serving Humanity to Honor God,” returning a favor on a promise made 50+ years ago. So, I ask of you—what is YOUR why? Because, after all, what you DO with it is up to you. But, in the end, it’s what makes all the difference.

- Marcy RocaPediatric Occupational Therapist

Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan