Rest in Peace, little one.
I just found out that one of my FAVORITE BMT patients, a little girl named S, died this morning.
S was the first BMT patient I got to physically interact with whose medical progress I knew quite well, and she absolutely captured my heart. She had graft versus host disease, which means that after she had her bone marrow transplant, her body rejected the new marrow and started fighting itself. She had been in and out of Hospice. Just when they thought for sure she was dying, she'd prove them all wrong and get better again. S would have been 7 years old in 18 days.
When we were getting prepared for Hem/Onc camp, we had to go to the hospital unit to get some boxes out of storage there. I went over with Carol, camp coordinator and office manager. Little S was riding around on a toy John Deere tractor. Carol said hello to her, and asked how she was doing. S sized her up, sized me up, and then turned to Carol and said "Can she stay and play with me?", pointing a skinny little finger at me. Carol said "Why don't you want ME to stay and play with you?" S said "Because I don't like your shoes.". :o) I stayed and talked with S as long as I could, but then explained that I had to get back to my office and do doctor things or my doctor would be cranky. She escorted me, tractor and all, to the entry of the unit and begged me to come back later. I wish I could have.
At Hem/Onc camp, she was the most darling little camper ever! She wore her camp hat with pride, and her bright little eyes never stopped shining. She was having so much fun just being there - being loved and adored and able to act like a normal kid for a while. One day at dinner, I saw her at her table. I called to her - "Hey, S!!!" She ran over to me and threw her little arms around my legs, hugging me for all she was worth. After a minute she looked up, still clinging to me, and said "Hey, how did you know my name?". I just beamed and laughed and said I knew all about her because she was a special little girl and she had a lot of fans at Children's.
S was a very sick little girl with a very big, open, honest heart and the strongest, most fiery spirit God ever put into a 6 year old girl. She will be dearly missed. God speed to heaven, little one. Wear your wings with pride, and try not to tease the boys too much. Remember that nice girls don't use bad words, and keep that gorgeous smile for all of us down here who are thinking of you. Thank you for touching my life, and gracing me with the memory of you.
I love you, little one.
S was the first BMT patient I got to physically interact with whose medical progress I knew quite well, and she absolutely captured my heart. She had graft versus host disease, which means that after she had her bone marrow transplant, her body rejected the new marrow and started fighting itself. She had been in and out of Hospice. Just when they thought for sure she was dying, she'd prove them all wrong and get better again. S would have been 7 years old in 18 days.
When we were getting prepared for Hem/Onc camp, we had to go to the hospital unit to get some boxes out of storage there. I went over with Carol, camp coordinator and office manager. Little S was riding around on a toy John Deere tractor. Carol said hello to her, and asked how she was doing. S sized her up, sized me up, and then turned to Carol and said "Can she stay and play with me?", pointing a skinny little finger at me. Carol said "Why don't you want ME to stay and play with you?" S said "Because I don't like your shoes.". :o) I stayed and talked with S as long as I could, but then explained that I had to get back to my office and do doctor things or my doctor would be cranky. She escorted me, tractor and all, to the entry of the unit and begged me to come back later. I wish I could have.
At Hem/Onc camp, she was the most darling little camper ever! She wore her camp hat with pride, and her bright little eyes never stopped shining. She was having so much fun just being there - being loved and adored and able to act like a normal kid for a while. One day at dinner, I saw her at her table. I called to her - "Hey, S!!!" She ran over to me and threw her little arms around my legs, hugging me for all she was worth. After a minute she looked up, still clinging to me, and said "Hey, how did you know my name?". I just beamed and laughed and said I knew all about her because she was a special little girl and she had a lot of fans at Children's.
S was a very sick little girl with a very big, open, honest heart and the strongest, most fiery spirit God ever put into a 6 year old girl. She will be dearly missed. God speed to heaven, little one. Wear your wings with pride, and try not to tease the boys too much. Remember that nice girls don't use bad words, and keep that gorgeous smile for all of us down here who are thinking of you. Thank you for touching my life, and gracing me with the memory of you.
I love you, little one.