Gordon J. Phillips, a volunteer van driver at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Los Angeles, has had a special connection with Shriners Hospitals for Children for more than 75 years.

In 1933, Gordon’s family brought him to the Shriners Hospital in Portland, Oregon— 400 miles from his hometown of Caldwell, Idaho—for treatment of clubfoot. The distance separated him from his five siblings during his periodic stays at the hospital. While in the hospital, doctors treated Gordon’s condition with surgery and bracing, which helped increase his mobility. Gordon completed his medical care in 1943, when he was 15 years old.

As an adult, Gordon decided become a Shriner and give back to the organization that had given him so much. He remains active in the Shriners organization, including volunteering at the Los Angeles hospital. “It was always my goal when I got out (of the hospital) to join the Shriners,” Gordon said. “I wish I could spend every day volunteering.”

Gordon’s experience as a Shriners Hospitals patient often creates an automatic connection with current patients. “It is always a pleasure to see one of our patients return and help us provide compassion and care to our current patients,” said Volunteer Ccoordinator Judith Lau