Glenbard North student does daylong volunteer stint at GlenOaks

Mike MacRae was too tired to even feel tired.

"I'm feeling a bit better now that it's almost over," he said Sunday morning during the final minutes of a 24-hour marathon volunteer session at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital in Glendale Heights.

MacRae, a 17-year-old junior at Glenbard North High School, said he got the idea for the daylong fundraiser from an old work buddy who organized a fundraising dance-a-thon at his college campus.

"I've been a regular (volunteer) at the hospital for a year now, so I thought this would be a good idea to help out the place," MacRae said.

On most days, he answers phones, cleans rooms or transports patients around the hospital. Saturday was no different.

MacRae began his shift at an emergency room desk answering phones for much of the morning. By the afternoon, he was putting hospital bands on incoming patients and preparing rooms.

"It got real busy real fast," MacRae said. "I don't even remember how many people I saw come through here."

The toughest part of the shift, however, was staying awake overnight. To pass the time, MacRae and some of the nurses looked up odd facts on Google.

"I learned you can't fold a piece of paper more than seven times," MacRae said. "We tried it. They were right."

And to make sure he didn't pass out during his shift, MacRae made sure to have an energy drink or two nearby. When some of the nurses popped in a film to watch on the computer, he sneaked away to take a quick power nap.

"They put in some sort of chick flick," MacRae said. "I wasn't having any of that."

In total, he raised about $1,300 for the hospital in the weeks leading up to the daylong volunteer session. MacRae solicited donations through his Facebook page, classmates and hospital employees to raise money for hospital equipment.

Overall, he said his experience was worthwhile, and he hopes to get involved in more hospital fundraisers in the future.

"I've got to say that the E.R. has its moments," he said. "It's definitely not like Grey's Anatomy, though. More like a really busy doctor's office."

But before any more plans could be hatched, MacRae was off to the cafeteria to catch a quick breakfast, then head home and straight to bed.