Saturday in the PICU

Here we are, still waiting, still trying to find that button, that magic switch that will make everything "all better."

Aaron goes for a little while just fine, we start talking about the floor, and then we're back to square one.  We've played this game before, the one where it seems we're stagnating.

But today, a family came into the Ronald McDonald Room at the hospital and made lunch.  Just a family:  Mom, Dad, a few kids.  It wasn't anything fancy.  Bagel sandwiches, a yummy salad, fresh peaches, chips and cookies.  But oh, the difference that made.  To have people willing to give up their time to come help, to bring us together.

See, the room is open from 9 am to 9 pm and anyone can go in and make themselves food.  It's there.  But when a mealtime is set, like they do when someone comes in to help, many of us come at the same time.  And we eat together, talk, help, comfort, laugh together.  And for a few minutes, the world seems a little brighter, a little less cold, a little more hopeful, a little less lonely.

"I love you, and I want you to know you are
amazing and I hope you get well soon."

Their daughter made some pictures that Mom passed out.  Several of us had tears in our eyes.  Again, a small thing, but still, not so small.  A gift.  Aaron's is hanging in the bottom of his bed where he can see it.

It's such a simple thing to do, to make a meal for families in the hospital.  Sometimes people seem embarrassed by our thanks.  But to those of us up here for days, sometimes weeks or months on end, it's a very big thing.

And per his brother's request, he's wearing blue today.  It's the big rivalry game, red vs blue (except Aaron prefers red over blue, we're working on that).

I don't know if we'll watch it all, but we'll probably try to find it.  And I hope, oh, I hope, we're not completely crushed like we have been on other occasions when we've been up here.  It's time for a BYU win!  And Aaron does look like he's getting into it, right?

"Not all of us can do great things.

But we can do small things with great love."

Mother Teresa