I joined the Young People of Pulse, my Home Group, for a visit to the Pediatric Unit of the Likas Hospital this past weekend, as part of Pulse’s Christmas activity.
Our Group was led by the lovely Dr Evelyn Dusing, who I must say, did a beautiful job of speaking to and praying for the patients. She was even able to pray in our local Bahasa Malaysia! Awesome!
Evelyn divided us into groups of three, and I had Nat & Adelyne with me in my group. We then made our way to the rooms assigned to us. I left the Children with the Hubby who watched them at the hospital playground.
The rooms we were assigned to was for patients who were being treated for Leukemia.
After visiting the patients in the first room, I had to hold back tears in the hallway. While we smiled and spoke in a low tone with a cheerful disposition, my heart broke at every bed we visited. Speaking to the patient and then their parents, my heart went out to both child and parent.
This was not the first time I’d visited a Children’s Hospital, but it was the first time I visited as a Mother.
Chemo treatment is painful. There were needle bruises all over the patients’ bodies. Some children were very young; still in diapers. Generally, the children were weak from all the treatments they’d been having. It pained me to see their pain, and I could feel their parents’ pain too. As a parent, if only we could take the place of our child undergoing treatment.
I was particularly moved by one little girl awaiting bone marrow donors. She had just heard that the blood test of her latest potential donor did not match. Her Mama requested prayers. So I prayed a prayer for both Mama and Little Girl that was as kind as I possibly could. Inside my heart though, I prayed to God for more than the words that were coming out of my mouth. It is Christmas Lord, if there could be a miracle, I told Him…
After our visit, we reconvened at the Hospital Cafetaria where my Kids would later join us. I was so happy to see them!
Even with the colds and coughs that they occasionally get, they are by far so much healthier than the Little Ones I had just visited. And I thank God for that. I should never take that for granted.
A Christmas Prayer
Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth . . . . may we begin to see the world in the light of the understanding you give us. As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart. May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving. Amen.
