Why Parents Need Help
Posted on Sep 06, 2013
This is a guest post from one of our beloved angels, Diane Scott.
In my volunteering on the Hematology/Oncology floor at Children's Hospital in Boston, I often wind up hanging with siblings, who by default spend lots of time in the hospital. Tonight, while I played a Dr. Seuss matching game with the sweetest little six-year-old, I witnessed the following interaction. Her father came in, on his way out of the hospital, and said, "'Bye, honey. Gimme a hug." She gave him a quick one. "No, a better one," he said, "I need to fill up before I go."
Now I'm a self-admitted sap, but it was all I could to stop the tears from welling up. She was being silly with Daddy, playing hard to get for the hug, but I knew what she did not. He really did need to fill up - because he can't hug his twelve-year-old daughter (the patient) right now, for fear of breaking down; because he's headed back into the world and work, where maybe no one knows or gets what he's going through; because he and his wife are also parting, so she can stay here with the kids while he holds down the fort at home.
It's times like this that make me unashamed to plead for your donations to Lainie's Angels, so they can provide the support that helps parents like this father "refuel". There is no replacement for the comfort his six-year-old's hug can provide. But I have seen the power a parent who has been there can give to someone like this man, who just needs to fill up before he goes.
Diane Scott