It’s been a crazy month for me. We went to Kansas on the 3rd of December to see our kids and grandkids and was greeted with voicemail that told us our 6 year old granddaughter Rainy was once again in the hospital. This time it was for an emergency appendectomy. Unfortunately things went bad for Rainy and she developed post-operative infection. We almost lost her, but God interceded. I know many of you were praying and I want you to know how much I appreciate that. Below is a photo of Rainy and me. 
Rainy is still quite ill, but was showing improvement. She will be in the hospital for sometime on antibiotics that are capable of shutting down her kidneys, so please continue the prayers. Her folks are trying to coordinate celebrating Christmas in the hospital so that they can be together as a family.
With this in mind, I have to give high praise to Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Hospital. The staff there are phenomenal. This non-profit hospital works hard to save the lives of children, no matter their status in life and I greatly appreciate that. While there I met many amazing people – doctors and nurses, as well as patients and their family members. The entire hospital promotes a positive attitude of healing and comfort. If you’re looking for a great non-profit to donate to, I highly recommend them. But I also encourage you to think about your local hospitals – especially children’s hospitals. Most of these have all sorts of volunteer positions, as well as a need for donations of baked goods and other things. I hope you’ll check in and see what you can do to help. We benefited from the Ronald McDonald room at the hospital where volunteers offered meals and snacks. These kind of things are so beneficial for families who have to be there for long periods of times.
As Christmas comes around once again, I think about how Mary and Joseph were also dependent upon the kindness and generosity of the people they met on their journey to Bethlehem. It’s frightening to need medical help and be far from home and people you know. There’s a feeling of great vulnerability when facing the labor and delivery of your unborn child, just as there is vulnerability when facing the sickness of a loved one. Simple basic acts of kindness and love are so reassuring. It’s a way of bearing one another’s burdens as we are encouraged to do in the Bible. This Christmas season, be a blessing to those around you, you never know the impact you will have on another life. I know this first hand, and so does my sweet little granddaughter.
Tracie
