As many of you gather with loved ones, awaiting the magic of Christmas, some are spending the holiday in the hospital, focusing on their fight for life.
Now we're learning how these patients and their caregivers are finding ways to celebrate.
Between singing and dressing up, Â鶹´«Ã½ Hospital employees are finding many ways to bring Christmas cheer to kids during this holiday season.
Stefani Williams with said, "It's definitely hard to be at the hospital any time of year; it's especially hard when you feel like you're missing out on traditions, on family time, on fun experiences at school, and so when we get to do these fun activities here at the hospital, it's bringing some of that normalcy back to kids.â€
On Christmas Eve night, they take it one step further—making sure Santa Claus pays a visit.
“So we set up a little workshop downstairs, and we pack bags based on age, and then on Christmas Eve night our nurses will be giving those out while the kids are sleeping so they will get to wake up to a more traditional Christmas morning if that's the holiday they celebrate,†added Williams.
While it's often easy to focus on the kids spending Christmas in the hospital, she says the real gift is easing some of the guilt parents may feel during this difficult time.
“It's so hard for our parents because they feel like they're out of control—they have no control over what their child is experiencing here at the hospital, so we can provide them opportunities to bring their child to come and participate,†said Williams. “It helps the parents feel more at ease and less guilty over their kid missing out on this holiday.â€
She says morale can sometimes get low for employees, but they always come together to support and uplift one another.
Williams added, "Hospitals are open 24/7, which means our employees are giving up their holidays as well to be here and care for patients, but they do such a great job of stepping into that and doing it with joy because they know this is not where our patients and families want to be over the holiday either.â€
