What's in a Name?

12.14.2012

All I want for Christmas

Being in the hospital is never easy, but it seems to be particularly hard for the families during the holidays.  I volunteered at the hospital today, and when I went into one of the rooms there was a team of doctors in there.  This is not new, as I work during morning rounds, so I checked back later.  I went in and they were talking with their nurse as their toddler daughter slept.  The nurses are in patient rooms all the time. and they tell us that we are welcome to come in unless they are doing a "procedure" with the patient.  So I went in, introduced myself and asked the parents if they needed anything.  The father replied that they needed a miracle.  Then he asked me if I had an extra healthy heart in my back pocket.  Apparently when that team of doctors was visiting moments ago, they learned that their sweet little girl was going to need a transplant.

It's Christmastime, and all of us are fretting over presents and decorations and parties and cards and travel.  But not these parents; all they want for Christmas is a healthy heart for their little girl.  It makes my heart ache.