The holidays are a time of year that most everyone looks forward to: Christmas shopping, spending time with family, big holiday meals, etc. However, for some it's a time that they will be spending stuck inside a hospital. We know all to well what that is like, having spent many a holiday in the hospital with Rowan. When we aren't there, we truly count our blessings but still try to remember those who are. So, every year at this time I ask Rowan, "What do you think we should buy the patients and their parents for Christmas?" He always has great ideas. This year was no different. Below are pictures of some of the items we purchased for the patients of all ages, and for their parents, as well as some other items that people donated to us for this project.
Infants:
Toddlers:
Young children:
Pre- Teens/Teens:
Some of Rowan's favorite things to do in the hospital are playing with Play-doh, play food, activity books and coloring. So, we made sure to stock them up on those items.
Chap-sticks always come in handy when you are in the hospital too.
As well as warm socks:
And Rowan wanted to add a few items to the hospital "Brave boxes" as well, so they would have plenty of treats to choose from after all the iv pokes and treatments they endure.
Rowan wanted the kids to be able to decorate their hospital room windows for Christmas too, so we purchased lots and lots of holiday window clings:
On top of all of these items, we received donations of blankets and hats for the patients from "The Linus Project" so we delivered a trunk full of those as well:
We also were blessed with donations from another special lady, all the way from Springfield, Ohio. Thank you Marty Tayloe for your unique fair trade gift items. We decided to make a special trinket tub to be used as a "Teenage Brave Box" for the older patients, so they may choose one of the special stones, crosses, or necklaces after their treatments and procedures, or on those tough days at the hospital. The items are all so precious and beautiful, and we just know they will help the older patients.
Marty also sent us candy for the patients...
and, she sent the most gorgeous handmade fair trade ornaments to be distributed to the families.
We placed all of these priceless ornaments in a pretty Christmas basket, and told Child Life that they could offer them to patients and their parents, so they could take them home to put them on their family tree when they were discharged.
Thank you so much Marty, for your thoughtfulness, generosity and support!
Your gifts will bless many lives, through Christmas and beyond.
We never want to forget that there is usually a parent staying in the hospital with their sick child during these holiday stays, so we try to do something for them as well. Several years ago, Rowan said he wanted to buy me a better pillow than the flat plastic ones they have to use in the hospital, so "Pillows for Parents" was started. This year we also purchased big soft comfy blankets to go along with their fluffy pillows and nice pillow cases. We've been told that parents have literally cried over receiving these pillows:)
Yesterday we had the pleasure of delivering all of these gifts to the Child Life Staff at Methodist Children's Hospital, so that they can distribute them during the next couple of weeks. Thank you to the board members and volunteers who helped us take these items to the hospital, and a huge thank you to the Child Life Staff for receiving them so graciously and for your hard work in getting them to the kids and their parents.
Rowan was asleep when we first arrived, but soon perked up.
It was so exciting! And we were overjoyed to almost fill up an entire room with boxes and boxes of gifts.
And of course we couldn't leave without a "crazy face" picture with the Child Life Staff:)
And then Rowan went floor to floor, to all of the unit's nurses stations that he frequents, to give them their own little Christmas treats.
This is one of my favorite days of the year, and something that I am so proud to be a part of. Thank you to everyone who donated items, volunteered their time, or has donated to the Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation throughout the year. Without you, we couldn't do what we do for these families. And a HUGE thank you again to Deputy Duane Buethe, the Comal County Sheriff's Department and all of the people who were involved with the 2nd Annual Toughest Dog in Texas Competition this year. The success of that charity event will certainly help us bless even more families than usual this year, and in bigger brighter ways!
And to think that all of this began, eight and a half years ago, when the staff at MCH first cared for our little Rowan in the NICU those first few weeks. He has now returned there many times, had 69 surgeries there, and stayed over 900 days of his life there in that hospital. We have so much to be thankful for, and are so happy to have the opportunity to give back to them.
Here Rowan is leaving Methodist Children's Hospital for the first time, after spending his first several weeks there in the NICU...
And here he is now, outside those very same doors yesterday...
As I said, we have a lot to be thankful for!
Merry Christmas from Rowan, The Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation, and the Methodist Children's Hospital Child Life Staff.
