An Ordinary Mom's Musings

Recently I had the opportunity to go to Seattle Children’s Hospital to drop off some blankets for the children who have to stay there long term.

Because I have a child with Special Needs, I often come to this hospital but we utilize the other side of it. We are there to see specialists or have tests run. On this side of the hospital, the halls are teeming with families. If you ever need to feel better about your struggles in life, spend some time there. No matter how bad things are, someone here has it worse off than you. I’m always grateful when I go there that we have our own problems to deal with. But I am also humbled to be amongst so many brave warrior families who get up every day and walk this walk. They truly are my heroes.
On this occasion, we were in the other part of the hospital. The part where children come to stay for awhile. This side of the hospital is very different. There are no children in the hallways. They are all tucked away in rooms very sick. Here in these hallways are parents with very long faces, the cares they were experiencing written plainly on their faces for any parent who has been in their shoes to openly read.
My heart sank and then constricted as I walked these halls. We haven’t had occasion to need to use this part of the hospital since moving here two years ago. But there have been other children’s wards, other hospitals in our past. I have been that scared parent not knowing when your child will be able to come home, the one hoping that this surgery will fix things.
The men and women who work there as doctors and nurses are a special breed. Every nurse I’ve ever talked to about this, says that Pediatrics is one of the hardest places to work because every day you are having to hurt little children who often don’t understand why, as they deal with blood draws, surgeries, and being ill. You have to be able to take that in stride and know that in spite of the pain you are fighting to help them.
As we walk these halls, I realize, these halls are sacred. They were made so, by the many tears and prayers of the families who have walked these halls. By all the children who have fought battles worthy of David and Goliath and won. Or lost. Because some do lose.
Volunteer at your local children’s hospital or ward. I guarantee you won’t regret it.

*This was written the end of 2017, since then we have had the unfortunate need to use the other side of the hospital…

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