Holiday in the Hospital - A Memory

In 2006, I was a pediatric resident on the hematology oncology ward. It’s where some of the sickest children stay. Some of the strongest families. Some of the bravest kids. They lose their hair. They go through strong treatments to fight their disease. They get better... and sometimes they relapse. It can be heartbreaking.

One of my warmest memories from residency was several few weeks before Christmas. I was working nights and had just finished signout and getting ready to see the patients. There was a bustling and excitement in the hall. (Excitement and bustling on ward full of sick kids is never a good thing... so I ran out to the hallway to make sure everything was ok).

There was a little girl-One of my patients. Confidently marching down the hall. Alopecia and all. We will call her T. What’s going on? I asked a nearby nurse. T is going to light up the night. What? What does that mean? It means that she will be the one to turn on the Christmas lights for hospital!

So I follow the parade. Following the excitement. Any sorrow from being surrounded by illness evaporated. Any fatigue from working nights melted away by the holiday magic and merriment.

I watch the little girl T, press the button with her magical pointer finger. I notice her entire face light up and her eyes aglow with wonder as her little finger lights up all the holiday lights and brings brightness into the dark night.

Every year, when I walk by the hospital and see it’s twinkling lights during the holidays I think of T. Of her bravery. Of her wonder. Of her little soul after she passed smiling down on us and these beautiful lights. Stay safe everyone.