Hiram and I are back from a quick trip to Kansas City where I spoke at a women’s brunch. The wind picked up as we drove north and the temperature dropped, but nothing could touch the warm glow inside us.
The glow was not the result of too much KC hot barbecue sauce, though our meal at Jack Stack BBQ on Wednesday night was delicious. And it wasn’t from the cordial reception we received at the speaking engagement. The warm glow was from a quick side trip on the way home.
We stopped at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and the Ronald McDonald House next to it. The staff at Children’s Mercy cared for Allen in December of 1996 during his surgery and recovery from the removal of 2/3 of his lower esophagus. The Ronald McDonald House provided an inexpensive, clean, comfortable, and welcoming place for us to stay for the 9-10 days Allen was hospitalized.
So I wanted to drop off copies of both my books at the two establishments as a way of saying thank you. Alan Lubert and Gina Dennis were so grateful for the gift. And they were excited to tell us about the changes to and expansion of the Ronald McDonald House services since we were there in the mid-90s. They are way proud, as they should be, of their first-in-the-nation Family Room inside Children’s Mercy. It’s become a model followed by over 100 RMHs Family Rooms around the country. Way to go, RMHKC!
At Children’s Mercy, we were met by Sheryl Chadwick (on the left in the photo) and DeeJo Miller (on the right) who are both coordinators for their Family Centered Care Program. Sheryl and DeeJo are also parents of children who received cancer treatment at Children’s Mercy. (Both children are doing well, by the way.) In about two minutes, the four of us were sharing stories about parenting kids with special needs, comparing resources we’ve discovered, and talking about how hard it is to allow formerly ill children to become independent adults. After less than a half hour together, it was hard to say good-bye to Sheryl and DeeJo because we were connected by a bond as deep and strong as that of soldiers who survive battle together.
Hiram and I left Kansas City warmed by the knowledge that parents and kids at Children’s Mercy were being cared for by compassionate people like Alan and Gina, Sheryl and DeeJo. The warmth lasted all the way to Iowa and lingers today. Who knew that in giving away a few books we would receive so much in return?
