27 May Staff Spotlight: Tissbeth Martinez

June 2, 2021

Tissbeth Martinez
Position: Guest Services Coordinator
Time at RMHC: 10 years
Hometown: Chihuahua, Mexico

Fun Fact:
I played basketball in high school and I love to dance.

Describe Ronald McDonald House® in one word:
Compassion

What is your role at Ronald McDonald House?
I am the friendly face that our families see when they check in. I take care of the office tasks such as guest’s registration, referrals, incoming calls, responding to emails, and receiving deliveries. I also supervise and organize the Cambridge House, and work on projects with our team to keep the House neat and clean for our families. My most important responsibility is to help our families feel welcome and accepted, creating a warm environment for them to truly feel at home. I am sensitive and receptive to individual needs and try to provide the help and information they need.

What do you love most about working at the House?
I love interacting with the families. I know that I am here to assist them, but I wish they knew how much I have learned from every person I have met during the last ten years. They have changed my perspective on life. My challenges seem lighter when I focus on the blessing of having healthy children because anything else can be resolved. RMHCCNAZ is for sure “the House that Love Built.” It amazes me to watch volunteers, donors and the community come together with the single purpose to help families. Race, politics, economic status, do not matter once they enter the House and interact with the families. I just love to see togetherness in action!

What is one experience or memory you have that made you feel proud to be a part of the RMHCCNAZ team?
A recent experience was when I went to get the COVID shot, and the fire department and nurses saw me with my RMHCCNAZ shirt and nametag. They gathered to thank me for everything we do for families. I was very surprised! They are the ones serving our community day and night, and putting their lives at risk. Nevertheless, they hold RMHCCNAZ in a very high place because they know the impact it has on families.

What is the hardest part of your job?
The hardest part of my job is when a child dies. It is very hard to see the parents, and the rest of the family in so much pain. It is very difficult to have a mother cry in my arms and ask me to be with her while she delivers the news on the phone to the rest of her family. I have learned that there are no words that can comfort a parent that just lost a precious child, instead I make myself emotionally available to sincerely listen, and offer to help in any way possible. It is important to be sensitive to a parent’s needs during this time of acceptance. There is so much to take care of, that just hearing me say that they can take the time they need to put their affairs together to go home, gives them great relief.

On one occasion, I offered water to a dad who had just lost his child. His wife was in the room and he needed time alone. When we sat down, he stayed quiet, and after a few minutes I got up, but he asked me to stay. I did not say anything, I just sat on the other side of the table.  He did not say one word, he just cried until he regained some strength to go back to his wife.

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Robin Williams