[pajama]

Originally Posted by Diva

I just hardly know how to begin to tell You this....

I began volunteering with Dell Children's Medical this morning on the Hematology/Oncology (Hem/Onc) floor. Half of my time was spent in orientation.....but then I was "let loose" <smile> Most of the stuff I did was trivial stuff that needed to be done.

Before, I always knew it was crucial to keep things clean for these kids, but every surface ~ once it's been touched ~ must be cleaned with stuff so strong we have to wear gloves...it's so strong, it kills the AIDS virus on surfaces......because the kids' immune systems, sometimes, are non~existent.

And then, I met Xaia.............<smile>

I was in the lobby at a down time, cleaning surfaces, funiture, even the markers for the easel. Xaia was there with her Mom and big brother....she was probably about 5. We started chatting when she asked me why I was doing what I was doing. I told her I was giving the cooties a POW. But she laughed. I started asking her silly questions...and she looked up at me and said...."You're beautiful."

I looked down into those big brown eyes and that was all she wrote. I was a goner! I said, 'No you!' and we went round and round with that....

And now I know why they tell us they don't want us to volunteer more than 4 hours at a time. I'm not sure I could handle more than one Xaia Experience a week.

But I know I will.......

And it's you the volunteers that make such a difference in our Childrens' Hospitals. Your post brought me joy today. It's hard sometimes working in a childrens' hospital but some folks are called to it. But to volunteer, that is a truely spectacular person. Thank you Diva for doing this.

And she was right. You are beautiful.