THE CANDY STRIPER

THE CANDY STRIPER

It was a busy Holiday week-end and I had lots of things to do. It wasn't easy having a full time job and a part time one as well, two evenings a week. But I had committed to volunteering one day a week as a Candy Striper at a local hospital. We were mostly females in red & white candy striped uniforms who assisted the nursing staff with primarily terminally ill children.

This particular Sunday afternoon I was involved in the care of a four year old girl who's name was Alyson. It was easy to become too attached and I knew I needed to ask for a reassignment. She'd not be leaving our hospital alive and it was doubtful that she'd even live until Christmas. It was heartbreaking and very hard to bathe and tend to her needs with so many machines and wires.

So it was with some relief that I arrived at work to find my new patient, a man about my age (27), named Kevin. He was a double amputee who refused to go to the hospital for Vets as he said they were all "quacks and queers." Kevin had lost the use of his legs after Vietnam and both had been amputated and now his stumps were infected.

I had to help change his dressings and keep his sense of well being intact. He had a great sense of humour, was handsome and was bitter about the U.S. Army. His fiancee had recently left him and he lived alone in a one room apartment, all that he could afford.

When all was quiet in the ward and halls, he played his radio while we chatted and played some cards. But the Christmas carols had us both depressed and we turned it off.

I had an idea and he was game! He got in his wheelchair and I found one for me and we had the best out of three races down the long darkened hall. He won, of course and he laughed very hard and very long.

When I left his room, he was back in bed watching a basketball game. He said "Merry Christmas, sweetheart."

Since I wouldn't be back until after Christmas, I wanted to call on Alyson and give her a small gift I had made for her. But another child was now in her room.

I hurried to ask a Nurse where Alyson had been moved to but was told she had died that afternoon.

With heavy heart I started to leave the hospital. I saw the big donated tree in the front foyer and placed her gift underneath with all the others.

On the way home, I thought of my own little girl, just nine years old. I thanked God for her health as I stepped a little harder on the gas.

Alyson was with God now and Kevin was asleep. And I had to play Santa Claus yet....if I could stop crying long enough.