Wednesday, April 4, 2012

at children's hospital...

i wish there were words to adequately describe the feeling that overcame me today, as i wheeled sarah back to M30 at the cleveland clinic children's hospital. it was the perfect mixture of stress from memories of years gone by, including clammy hands and feet, along with the greatest feeling of pleasure, including a racing heart and shaking limbs. we have been in this exact location so many times over the past twenty two years. i've experienced some of my darkest hours in this place...


today was entirely different. we were greeted at the elevator by an entourage of people including the camera man from fox 8 cleveland that spent the day with us at the store yesterday. they were waiting to get footage of sarah delivering the pillowcases she has been creating for the young patients. she really did not need the wheelchair, it was simply to give the forty pounds of love in that bag a lift through the long hallways from the parking garage.

they decided it would be fitting to take her up to the fourth floor, where the pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit resides. just seeing the sign brought tears to my eyes.  hearing the familiar beeps of monitors, flooded my heart with empathy.  they filmed her walking through the double doors carrying the pillowcases she worked on with kristi capel. they did three takes just to be sure. during this time we held up doctors, nurses and therapists so they would not be in the camera's view. i made eye contact with a few, remembering those who worked so hard to save my girl's life.

after the filming, i watched as my daughter handed a pillowcase to a mother. i could simply tell by the look in her eyes, their journey was fresh and new. they were walking uncharted waters. i watched as her eyes went to sarah's chest and neck. the scars have faded with time, yet still visible enough to recognize her as a survivor.  as the mother's eyes filled with tears, i tenderly placed my hand on her arm. my eyes too welling with tears. for a very different reason though. we are on the other side of the journey. it is time to give back. and there is no greater gift to be given. i am so grateful to have this opportunity.

thank you all who have given of your time to help us complete 65 pillowcases to deliver to the kids today.  and thank you kirton family for allowing us to share a little bit of kristen today.

en el hospital de niños...

Quisiera que hubieran palabras adecuadas que describiera el sentimiento que me superó hoy, mientras llevaba en silla de ruedas, a sarah de vuelta al M30 en el hospital de niños de la clinica de cleveland. era una mezcla perfecta de estrés debido a los recuerdos de años pasados, incluso las manos y los pies húmedos, junto a un fuerte sentimiento de placer, el corazón palpitando rápidamente y mis extremidades temblando. Habiamos estado tantas veces en esta exacta posición durante los últimos veintidós años. he experimentado algunas de mis horas más oscuras en este lugar...

hoy fue totalmente diferente. fuimos bienvenidos en el ascensor por un grupo de personas incluyendo el camarógrafo del canal fox 8 cleveland que había pasado el día de ayer con nosotros en la tienda.

ellos estaban esperando poder obtener material de sarah entregando las fundas de almohadas que ella había creado para los pacientes jóvenes. ella realmente no necesita la silla de ruedas, fue simplemente para poder darle un aventón, por los largos pasillos desde el estacionamiento, a las cuarenta libras de amor que estaban en ese saco.

decidieron que sería conveniente llevarla hasta el cuarto piso, donde la unidad pediátrica cardiovascular de cuidados intensivos reside. con sólo ver el letrero se me saltaron las lágrimas. oyendo los sonidos familiares emitidos por los monitores, inundaron mi corazón con empatía. la grabaron mientras caminaba por the puertas dobles cargando las fundas que en conjunto con kristi capel crearon, la grabaron tres veces para estar seguro. durante este tiempo detuvimos a médicos, enfermeras y terapeutas para que no estuvieran en la vista de la cámara. hice contacto con mis ojos con unos pocos, recordando aquellos que trabajaron tan arduamente para salvarle la vida a mi niña.

después de la grabación, vi como mi hija entregó una funda de almohada a una madre. podría decir simplemente por la mirada en sus ojos, su jornada era fresca y nueva. ellos caminaban en aguas desconocidas. vi como sus ojos pasaron hacia el pecho y cuello de sarah. con el tiempo, las cicatrices han aclarecido, sin embargo aún suficientemente visibles que la reconocen como una sobreviviente. según se les llenaba de lágrimas los ojos de la madre, puse mis manos tiernamente en su brazo. también mis ojos se llenaron de lágrimas. aunque por muy diferentes razones. Estamos al otro lado de la jornada. es hora de devolver lo recibido. y no hay ningún regalo mayor que dar. estoy tan agradecida de tener esta oportunidad.

gracias a todos los que han contribuido su tiempo para ayudarnos terminar 65 fundas de almohadas para entregar a los niños hoy. y muchas gracias familia kirton por permitirnos compartir un poco de kristen hoy.

10 comments:

Darlene said...

You've brought tears to my eyes - what a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing this with us and thank you for all you do.

Blessings,
Darlene

Ellyn said...

tears here too. we have never met, but I have had similar experiences giving back to the Children's hospital in Dallas. My daughter loves to take gifts to the children there and it brings back a flood of memories to us too. God Bless you.

mathangie said...

What a moving post. Thanks for sharing your lovely story with us.

Neabear said...

An amazing post! Very meaningful for those involved and for those who have similar experiences. Thank you for sharing!

~Linnea

tubilinha tiacarminha said...

GRAÇAS A DEUS!!!Levei um susto quando vi SARAH na cadeira...Que bom que foi para aliviar o peso das fronhas.Realmente adoro essa menina,e o que ela vem fazendo de sua vida,por conta de primeira visita em seu blog, Meu nome é sarah,comecei a fazer mais seriamente peças para doação.A cada 10 Peças que faço 3 são para doação.E todas as sobras de quadros de colcha são emendados aleatórios e é feito mais peças para doação.APRENDI COM SARAH.Fiz 16 mini-fronhas com aplicação de coelho para minha prima levar para um orfanato que ela é voluntária.Ainda não sei se fez sucesso...UM GRANNNNDE BEIJO PARA VOCÊS E FELIZ PÁSCOA!!!!!

quilter000 said...

Hi Joyce and Sarah this is so cool and touching. I am so proud to know you botrh and wish the very best for each of you . Patty

Kristen's mom said...

I know that feeling. This past Tuesday I had a meeting at the children's hospital where Kristen spent months. I walked in the front doors and felt very sick. I tried very hard to avoid the tears, but they still came.

Thank You so much for continuing to share Kristen's light. I know she is smiling down on the 2 of you.

Debi Jenks said...

Joyce, I am so blessed to have you in my life as a friend. You and Sarah are two very powerful women and any one that has shared some time time with you and Sarah has surely been bleesed!

slfranks4 said...

That was such an eloquently written post. Yes, I'm teary eyes as well. Your generosity is as beautiful as your daughter. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. :)

Scarehaircare said...

On May 1, 2008, I sat in the waiting room of PCMC in Salt Lake City while my 5 year old Love Magnet endured open heart surgery to fix a mitral valve regurge. The only things that save my sanity - my husband sitting on my left side, my twin sister sitting on my right, and my hands crocheting baby hats for the little ones in the NICU. It is good to give back. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful post.