The best part about being treated at a the bigger cancer center in Syracuse is the fact that they have a children's floor. I was devestated when I found out that the small hospital I started at serviced only adults. I truly enjoy visiting the children each day, and help them conquer their horrible illnesses, any way I can. I have found that we feed off of each other's strengths to help ease the pains of everyday life.
After my first treatment at the cancer center, I found my way to the children's floor. I wanted to familiarize myself with the nursing staff, so they knew I was a friendly face, and not some creeper. I asked if I could take a little time each day to read to the kids. My request was granted, and I have visited the children everyday since. The children and I have become fast friends. I have grown particularly close to a young boy named Nathan.
Nathan was quiet, and extremely shy from the first day I met him. Last Friday he opened up to me. Every time I saw Nathan he looked scared and/or nervous. After I a few days of visiting, I thought I would ask him about it, in hopes he would explain to me what he was afraid of. To my surprise, he expressed his fears to me. He is a fairly new patient to the hospital, and he would be undergoing his first ever surgery on Monday(today). I understood his apprehension. My first surgery was at age 15, and it was my tonsils. His first surgery is at the age of 6, and is a much more evasive operation. I sat there listening to this adorable little boy talk about how scared he was for his upcoming surgery. My mind immediately started churning out ideas to cheer him up. Nothing sparked my interest until I saw that he had some comic books on his nightstand. That gave me an idea.
After talking to Nathan on Friday, I spoke to the nursing staff, Nathan's parents, and family members of the other children. With permission from all parities involved I organized "Superhero Day". I volunteered to bring the supplies if the families would help construct capes and masks for the kids Sunday. The idea sparked from Nathan's surgery, but I knew that all the children could benefit from the superpowers given that day.
Sunday morning I went to a local fabric store, and asked if I could buy all the their scrap pieces of fabric from the weekend. They gladly gave me the scrapes, and I headed to the hospital with fabric, some glitter, needles, thread, and a hot glue gun. I couldn't sit still the entire car ride to the hospital. I was so excited to get there, and start "Superhero Day"! I practically ran to the children's floor when I reached the cancer center. I walked into the community room with multiple bags on each arm. The kids had no idea what was planned. I put down the bags as I looked up at the children and their families. Just then the families all shouted "It's Superhero Day"! All of the kids cheered, and we began making capes and masks. We helped all of the children get fitted for a cape, and personalize them with their first initial on the back. The room was filled with vibrate colors, children playing, families laughing, and a sea of glitter! For the first time, I saw happiness of Nathan's face instead of fear. Being the giant sap that I am, I had to choke back the tears. "Superhero Day" gave us all strength and courage that day.
I woke up this morning to the buzzing of my cell phone. Nathan had a early morning procedure, and his parents sent me a picture of him wearing his cape while being wheeled into surgery. A few hours later I received another picture of him after his operation. He was laying in bed with his caped draped over him, and he was giving a thumbs up. The caption read: Thanks for the superpowers Meg! You're helping me kick cancer's butt!
Nathan, like so many of the other children I have met battling cancer, give me the strength to fighting. They are all of the superpowers I could ever need!
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