December 22, 2017

Saying goodbye to my safe haven.

Last night, I had the incredible honor of dropping off more than 75 toys that The Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach (JLNVB)  had collected for the Pediatric Ward of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP). Ten volunteers from the league helped wrapped all of them plus another 75 or so, for the nurses to surprise the children who will unfortunately have to wake up in the hospital on Christmas morning.



After the excitement settled, my friends all headed home but I had to pick up a medicine refill so I went to the pharmacy. Sitting alone, I was looking at the pictures we took and the gravity of the situation hit me like a brick wall. I couldn't help but start crying right there in the middle of the waiting room.

I have been a patient of the CF Clinic at NMCP since I was six years old and was admitted to the that very pediatric ward more than 20 times in the last decade before transitioning to the adult ward. While I never had to spend Christmas in the hospital, some of the absolute worst days of my life have happened in that building.