There is nothing more heartbreaking than to walk the halls of Children's
Hospital and see all the children who are so ill. It breaks your heart to see
young children on chemo, so pale. And it will grab your heart and twist it
inside out when you walk into a room with a parent holding a terminally ill
child who is in the last stages.
I've been walking the halls of Children's Hospital for a few years now. I take
one of the TV anchormen or women with me and the story is aired and it touches
lives. That's what I want. I want folks to know not everyone will be enjoying
Christmas with their families. Some families are clinging to the last shred of
hope in a hospital room.
Three years ago when I went to Children's, I met a boy named BJ. BJ was
fourteen-years-old and had cancer. Since I'm set up in advance with the hospital
for the day I deliver stuffed animals, the kids know I'm coming. I'm given
wagons to haul the animals in, and some of the staff gives me a hand or the TV
station. That year, BJ asked if he could pull one of the little wagons. I said
sure.
We had covered three full floors, going into each room, meeting all the kids,
handing out stuffed animals, when I notice BJ turning pale. I asked if he was
ok. His walking had slowed down, and though he said he was ok, I knew he wasn't
feeling well. I told him to go back to his floor and get into his bed, that I
could finish the last floor alone. He said he just wanted to lay down for a few
minutes. My guide, a staff person, led me from room to room, always telling me
briefly outside a door if it was a girl or boy, the age, and what was wrong.
I saw BJ before my rounds were ended that day. He was wheeled into the hall by a
nurse. BJ wanted to give me a hug and thank me for letting him help me. I had
been told by the staff BJ had no family who took much time to visit with him. I
have no idea what made me do it, but I bent down in front of his wheelchair and
said, "BJ, what would you really really like for Christmas this year?" He told
me he would give anything to spend a few hours at a TV station and see how
things are done at the studio. With me was CBS, and I turned to my anchorman who
looked me in the eyes, and I said, "Any chance?" He said, "Let me make a phone
call." I got the nurse to the side and asked if we could pull this off, could we
have permission to get BJ to CBS for a day. She told me she didn't see a problem
with it at all.
BJ got his special wish that year. The anchorman called me and told me BJ had
the grandest time of his life meeting all the TV people, seeing how films are
made, cut, aired, etc. I thank God we had the chance to let BJ get his Christmas
wish, for he was not on this earth the following year.
Sometimes I have to take a deep breath when I enter a room. Sometimes I have to
stare at a wall when I see a child so ill. And sometimes I can't hold back the
tears that are beginning to choke me.
My child is gone. He was taken in an accident. He was never sick in his life.
And I thank God I never had to go through what some parents have to with an ill
child.
The stuffed animals are sent to me by parents who have lost a child. That year,
a beautiful teddy bear came in from Pennsylvania. There was a request with the
bear, and that was that the bear was to go to a four-year-old little girl with
cancer. The man who donated the bear had just lost his own four-year-old
daughter of cancer. I had told my staff person that I had a special request and
I told her what it was. She told me she had just that child in mind for that
special bear to go to.
When we entered the room of the little girl, I saw her lying in her bed. One
look at her eyes, a beautiful blue, you saw how ill she was. I walked up to her
bed holding the bear. I bent over and asked if she'd like a very special bear
that had come a long way. She nodded her head yes. I placed the bear beside her,
her mother wiping tears from her eyes, saying "Thank you." That little girl
hugged that beautiful bear and you could see it was love at first site for child
and stuffed animal. For I knew that child would not be here the next Christmas.
I did not get enough stuffed animals donated this year to cover the 225 beds at
my local Children's Hospital. I will be delivering to another hospital with less
beds, but they are filled with children. I will also be donating to the blood
department of this hospital for the little cancer victims and children who come
in being tested for blood diseases.
I cannot tell you how rewarding it feels to do this. In my son's memory, in
memory of all of us who have lost a child, I will continue to take this journey
as long as God allows me to. To see a spark of life enter a child's eyes even
for only one short moment is worth all it takes to do this project.
I'll always remember the little cancer victim, four-years-old who we sang
"Jingle Bells" to in his room. His little eyes lit up when we sang and he just
kept clapping his hands together. You get a lot of hugs when you do a project
like this, not only from the kids who can hug you, but from the parents as well.
There are hugs I will never forget. There are children I'll never forget. And
there is one special little boy who lives with God that I will continue to do
this for, in his memory.
God Bless, Sharon Bryant www.angelsremembered.tk In memory of all our children
who left this world too soon Sharon Bryant 1946@bellsouth.com
About Me:
I am Sharon Bryant. I am almost 58 years old and I reside in Alabama. I'm
originally from Michigan but have lived in the south for eleven years now. I
have always loved to write since grade school and had hopes years ago of one day
writing professionally. I never dreamed I'd write about the things I do today. I
lost my child in 1977 when he was five years old and I write articles on
bereavement, poetry, and now have a website for bereaved parents and online
support to help those who have to walk the road that' I've had to walk.
I am a chocolate/candy maker and have my own chocolate shop in a historic state
park. I am also a wood crafter and knitter.
I like to read, play scrabble, cook, work with my scroll saw, paint, and create
crafts for my shop. I really love working with chocolate and creating truffles,
and all kinds of candy.
I write for 2theheart, Storytime Tapestry, Angels on Earth, Warm Fuzzy Stories,
Hugs From the Heart, Illustrator, and my own online support called Whispers of
the Heart.
I am married to a wonderful man, and have two remaining children, a daughter 25,
Amy, and a second son, Randy, age 22.
My main goal in life is to help those who have lost a child. The road is long
and hard, and it is my hopes that through writing, I may be able to help someone
who is hurting from this tragedy. My website is: www.angelsremembered.tk Angels
Remembered My poetry site is:
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/fromsharonsheart/
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