April 8, 2004

Volunteer of the Week: Sol Selim

Though Sol Selim retired from IBM in 1999, his hands have been busy ever since.  He volunteers at Good Samaritan Hospital and Hospice of the Valley, both in San Jose, using his skills as a massage therapist to treat oncology patients and hospital staff to massages. 

Selim, a cancer survivor, says, “One can’t help but change after going through an experience like that.  It makes you appreciate things fully and differently. Life has a different meaning for me now.”

Selim was born in Egypt and moved to San Francisco to attend college. He has lived in Almaden for 32 years. After retiring, Selim took about 250 hours of training to become certified as a massage therapist. “It gives me something to do with my retirement,” he says. He primarily practices Shiatsu massage, a pressure-point massage designed to regulate the flow of life energy in the body. This type of massage offers deep relaxation and initiates balance in the body.

“Shiatsu is an invigorating massage, one that will give you energy rather than deep tissue massages where you are tired and want to sleep after,” says Selim. “I took it upon myself to get involved in the community.  I realize how important it is for oncology patients to be taken care of, and the caregivers need a break also.”

His massages for patients usually last about 30 minutes, while the staff gets 15 to 20 minutes. 

“Sol is one of our most compassionate volunteers,” says Mary McCall, director of Volunteer Services at the hospital. “He is doing some very unique things with our caregivers and patients.”

Selim had to be cleared through the hospital administration before he began his volunteer massage therapy at the hospital.  The Good Samaritan Hospital is the only hospital in the area to offer volunteer massage services. 

Selim offers massages about once a week and sees between two and four patients each time. “Many of the patients see me regularly.  It is such a good feeling to know that I’m doing something good for them.  I know firsthand that chemo is difficult and they need to feel good.”

The Hospice of the Valley serves all of Santa Clara County. The hospice offers a range of services for terminally ill people who are close to death.  To be eligible for the hospice, one must have six or less months to live. These are patients who are no longer seeking curative measures. Selim tries to make their journey as comfortable as possible by offering massages to the patients and the families during this trying time.

“It isn’t sad to be around these people.  I’ve accepted death as a part of the cycle of life.  It’s nice to know that we’re giving these people the most caring and loving environment possible and allowing them to life in dignity in their last days,” says Selim, “I give some of them massages because some need it, but other than that, we just try and make them feel at peace.”

Victoria Wild, director of Volunteer Services at the hospice, says, “Sol has been with us for about four years. He is a great person. He gives support to the patients, families and everyone involved here at the hospice. When he says he’ll be somewhere, he’s there. We can always count on him. He has a very gentle and nurturing nature.”

—By Miranda Schultz