Stylists volunteer to help bring moment of peace to parents of Akron Children’s patients

by Laura Straub

Every day is a long day for parents of a child in the hospital, but at Akron Children’s Hospital, a group of dedicated volunteers gives those parents a moment of relief while remaining close to their child’s side.

Mark Geschke has been volunteering at Akron Children’s for seven years, and his company, One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, has been a national partner with the nonprofit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since 2012.

In his time with the two organizations, Geschke has had the opportunity to talk with those at the hospital about what services are needed, as well as talk with representatives from children’s hospitals around the country about what is working well at their facilities.

From those conversations, he decided to create a free salon for the parents of patients at Akron Children’s. After the painstaking process of getting necessary permits and approvals, Geschke was ready to set up shop in an improvised salon in the Reinberger Family Center in February 2019, but he needed stylists to staff it.

That’s where Hinckley resident Michelle Lumadue Kosinski, who works at Southern Breeze Salon and Boutique, came in.

“Michelle has been doing my hair for over 40 years,” said Geschke. “I came up with this idea and said, ‘Would you be interested in helping out?’ and she said she would.”

For the past year, Kosinski has visited the Reinberger Family Center on the first Monday of every month, where she offers free services including haircuts, shampoo and styles, hand and arm massages and mini manicures to the parents of patients in the hospital.

After their service, Kosinski’s clients receive a sweet treat from Malley’s Chocolates to take with them.

But most importantly, the parents are not far from their children. Since the Reinberger Family Center is in the hospital, they can steal a moment away without worrying about missing a meeting with their child’s doctors.

“I work a regular week at a salon, and sometimes on Monday when I’m driving in with traffic, I say to myself, ‘Wow, what did I get myself into?’ But when I get there, it’s so rewarding,” Kosinski said.
“Everyone is so grateful just for that step away.

“When I’m there, I don’t ask the people what they’re there for. As far as I’m concerned, this is their little getaway from what they’re going through. But when you start working on someone, a lot of times, the stories start coming out. I couldn’t not be there for these people.”

The salon gained steam throughout the year. It received a donated salon chair, and in September, two more stylists, Valerie Rado and Michelle Karem, signed on to volunteer one day a month.

At the one-year mark, Konsinski said they had served 102 clients. They are now staffed three Mondays per month from 10 a.m. to 1 or 2 p.m., but they are always searching for more stylists willing to volunteer.

Geschke is working with the hospital to write a grant in the hopes of securing a dedicated space for the salon. He hopes that one day, the stylists will be able to perform services on patients, as well.

Featured image photo caption: Volunteers (l-r) Michelle Lumadue Kosinski, Mark Geschke, Valerie Rado and Michelle Karem celebrate one year of the free salon for parents of patients at Akron Children’s Hospital.