Susan has shared with much of the community offering laughter to children, teens, businesses and seniors and has become known in thecommunity as the Smile Lady with her upbeat effervescent attitude.

Susan is now servicing hospice as the Volunteer Coordinator adding a cheerful celebration of life in a position that is concentrated on tending to end of life care. .She travels to nursing homes and assisted living facilities spreading joy and laughter to help those in serious situations remember that they have brought joy to others and to assist with lifting worrisome burdens.

She reports getting great responses from the elderly she visits and sometimes finds herself surprised in situations where the elders that she services are appreciative though not forthcoming. What she is surprised about is that while they seemed to have appreciated the session, they don't seem to overjoyed as others are, though in those situations she will always get a call afterwards asking her to please hurry back for another. It reminds her that while everyone receives the information, it may take a while for the benefit to process through and that patience is required. Susan shares about one group that couldn't get enough of the experience she shared and when the session was completed, they asked if they could do it again right away! She says she just loves it!

Aside from the Senior and Hospice care, she has engaged with building laughter in the community and in August the local college will be hosting sessions twice a week for example. She has presented to the Rotary organization, businesses, churches, Relay for Life, Hospitals, Health care and more, nothing is out of the reach of the "Smile Lady". If there is a difference to be made, Susan will be the one to do it. Because Susan kept in touch and asked lots of questions, she didn't get stuck with the "how" questions, and today she remarks that she is booked with laughter presentations through the end of the year. It is her determination and willing to take herself beyond as well as having a great sense of how her actions affect a community that have added to her success.

Laughter in the Family

Making a Difference

One difference that Susan has made in the community with daughter Kelly is in the friendship of one senior both were very fond of named Bob. Bob was especially close to Kelly as both shared the same birthday and what they found in laughter with Bob was his beautiful rolling rendition of laughter. Susan shares that Bob would begin with a small quiet laugh and would soon be rolling in boisterous tones so that everyone could not only hear but feel the richness of his mirth. Bob was looking forward to celebrating his 100th birthday and took a sudden turn with less than six months to go, though even at the end he found a way to spread his humor, which was received in great warmth and understanding and a few laughs. While they may have to part physical presence, what they have shared and Bob absorbed will be forever echoed in the halls of this Gigglesburg Senior care facility.

Toward the Future

Susan looks forward to what is on the ha ha horizon for 2012 and knows there are many ways to create encouraging programs to really bring levity to this rural community. A teen laughter and leadership program is planned for the coming year and follow up to create a cycle of laughter as a way to assit youth to use humor as the anti bullying message.Susan wanted to make a difference and now has touched in just over a year has significantly touched the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people and redirected the path to joy. She says she has only Jest begun!