Bleeding Hearts

Hospital Kids

We loaded up Angel and our musical equipment into his Jeep and headed off to the hospital. I’m going to miss coming here, with my new job I’m sure it will be harder to come as often as I do now. I gazed out the window thinking over all that had happened today, so much has changed in so little time. My whole career path has made a drastic change, first I was going to be a nurse then I decided on doing art instead but quickly realized make that into a career wasn’t really my thing so I decided on veterinarian medicine, hopefully this fits me better but who knows. One big thing Max and I have in common is our inability to decide on what to do with our lives.

We pulled up to the hospital and unloaded as a security officer named Bob came out with the big rolling cart for us to wheel in the equipment. ‘Those kids in there have been going crazy all day waiting for you guys, I swear they are going to tear the place apart if Angle doesn’t get in there now.” Bob laughed and said with as serious of a face as he could possibly make. He helped Max with all the stuff and I headed in with Angle in tow, she was wagging her tail and getting more and more excited as we got closer. 

Once in the building I met with the receptionist who gave me 2 visitors passes for angel and I , after signing in we headed up to the 3rd floor where the children’s wing was, the second the elevator door opened all I could hear was excitement. We walked down the corridor to the last door where the play center was and walked into a room full of children of all ages squealing in excitement, they all rushed us and gave us hugs and Angel got lots off kisses and pets, yup this is definitely one of my favorite free time activities.

Max soon joined us as the kids were calming down a bit, most of them I knew because they were regulars to the hospital and several were new patients who I have never met. Each time we come hear all the kids who are long term patients or come to the hospital regularly for whatever treatments they need they tell all the new guys about us so basically every child who isn’t confined to their room joined us.

We stayed for a couple hours and sang with the kids, we did arts and crafts with them and Angel made her rounds to make sure every kid got to play with her. Nurses came in on there free time to join in on the fun to. May of the parents sat back and watched or sat helping their child to participate in the fun activities. This week we had some games out that the hospital staff found so we got to play lots of games with the kids and talk to them, one thing I have noticed after coming here for so long is that these kids like to have someone new talk with them and be normal around them, someone who isn’t a part of the team trying to fix them. They like us because we don’t know why they are here and if they are dieing, we treat them like normal kids and they need that as much as they need the medical treatment they are getting.

On the way home the three of us are exhausted, angle is snoring in the back and I’m trying to pick glitter out of my hair. It was a good visit today and I’m already missing it.

“Max did you notice Annie was walking without her braces Yoda? She’s getting so good at it her mom couldn’t keep up. That girl may end up being an athlete someday.”

“ Yeah she came up to me and showed me they were off, her little legs finally got some muscle 9n them. Her mom says they can’t get her to sit still for anything now" max and I both laughed as he pulled up to my apartment.

“ thanks for the ride, I will see ya later" I hugged him and hoped out. As he pulled away I felt a couple tears in my eyes, its going to be so weird not seeing him everyday now. I don’t know how or if I will ever get use to all this change. After a long hot shower I collapsed on my bed and passed right out. Angel was already long asleep and didn’t even notice me. My dreams where crazy, Max and James filled them, some sad and some scary. I also dreamed of the kids and even of Amy. Waking up I felt mentally exhausted still and anxiety filled me with butterflies. I’m starting my life over again and I’m terrified