THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412280161
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 1B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines
A tiny Christmas tree stands on a table at the foot of William Mason's bed, nestled between two colorful flower arrangements.
The decorated pine tree is a wistful reminder to Mason that he wasn't home for Christmas. Mason, a cancer patient, is spending the holiday season attached to an IV unit on the fourth floor of Virginia Beach General Hospital.
It's ``kinda rough'' to be in a hospital for Christmas, he admitted, fighting back tears.
``I never spent any time away during the holidays,'' said Mason, a forklift operator at a local warehouse.
``It feels pretty bad to have to stay here - it's just not the same,'' he said.
Spending the holidays in a hospital is an unfortunate reality for many patients. They didn't get to decorate the family tree, wrap presents, drink eggnog or celebrate with loved ones. But nurses and staff at Virginia Beach General have tried to make the stay as pleasant as possible, knowing how difficult it would be for patients.
Every floor and wing was brightly decorated, with snowflakes and ornaments hanging from ceilings, Christmas trees and Jewish stars sitting on nurses' stations and snowmen and stockings of toys pasted on windows. Stockings with staff names hang at various locations and holiday cards are taped all over the walls.
The Labor and Delivery Department made a life-size Santa Claus out of red trash bags stuffed with linen, using operating room booties for the feet, latex gloves for the hands and holding a baby doll. On the fourth floor's Medical Surgical Oncology unit, a team of nine carved ducks hold court at the nurses' station. Red knit caps adorn the ducks' heads and they're strung together like reindeer.
``These were made by a man whose wife died of leukemia here a few years ago,'' said floor nursing manager Lynn Murphy. ``He spent his time whittling ducks, and adds another one each year. Every year we decorate them for every season.
``We get very close to the patients,'' she added. ``We have families who come back on Christmas Day with gifts of thanks - they remember what it's like being here.''
The Outpatient Medical/Surgical Unit, with a twist on a familiar holiday item, made wreaths out of bedpans. The Radiation Oncology Department constructed a Christmas tree on a door out of lollipops. Santa Claus and carolers visited patients on Christmas Day, and every patient received a special meal.
These kind of things are ``spirit builders,'' said public relations spokesperson Dee Dee Becker, both for the patients and staff.
``Obviously, it's not fun when someone has to be here,'' said Becker. ``Everyone joins in the festivities - it adds extra sensitivity over the holidays.''
And it works, especially for those holiday first-timers such as Elizabeth Day, a First Colonial Inn resident. Day, 84, has asthmatic bronchitis and will be staying in a hospital bed for the duration of the holidays.
She didn't get her shopping done or a card written, said white-haired Day. But her son was down to visit and so were people from the Inn.
Even though Day is despondent about staying in the hospital, she keeps on smiling and tells jokes to visitors and staff. When she says something especially funny, her infectious laughter sounds like the peals of little bells.
``I'm trying to keep my spirits up,'' she said. ``I believe that the more you laugh, the faster you'll get better.''
The Sentara hospitals - Norfolk General, Leigh and Bayside - also cater to patients extra hard during the holidays. Shirley Francisco, vice president of Sentara Leigh Hospital, said that they have decorations up ``everywhere.'' Community groups and schoolchildren have been caroling throughout the halls as well, and patients were served holiday meals.
``Only the very sick stay for Christmas,'' said Francisco. ``We want to be supportive of them and their families. We're very flexible with our visiting hours and encourage the family to stay as long as they can.''
But patients aren't the only ones who have to spend their holidays in a hospital. Many doctors, nurses and staff were working instead of sitting down with the family for the traditional holiday dinner. Internist and hospice director Dr. Barbara Parks is Jewish and said that she tries to volunteer for Christmas duty every year.
``It's not as hard for me although part of my family will be celebrating,'' she said. ``The spirit around the hospital is really nice. There's a lot of food, the staff is so lovely - the nurses are just wonderful.''
The toughest part for her is breaking the news to the patients who have to stay in the hospital.
``Around the holidays, when you begin to realize you aren't well enough to go home - well, it's a disappointment,'' said Parks. ``It's so important for them to be home for the holidays. But I think the staff tries to make it homey here - it's a nice atmosphere.''
Not everyone who works on Christmas is Jewish or non-Christian. General surgeon Wayne Ferguson has worked the Christmas shift for his practice every year for the past 15 years. He said with a smile that there's a ``camaraderie'' of the staff, ``our own little group of great sufferers.
``Christmas is sort of sad for them,'' said Ferguson. ``I really do feel like it's a special call to respond to these people who are too sick to go home.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JIM WALKER
ABOVE: Elizabeth Day, a First Colonial Inn resident, has asthmatic
bronchitis and will be staying in a hospital bed for the duration of
the holidays. The 84-year-old said she didn't get her shopping done
or a card written, she has keep her humor. ``I'm trying to keep my
spirits up,'' she said. ``I believe that the more you laugh, the
faster you'll get better.''
LEFT: Internist and hospice director Dr. Barbara Parks, who is
Jewish, will join the many doctors, nurses and staff who are working
through the holidays instead of visiting with family. ``The spirit
around the hospital is really nice. There's a lot of food, the
staff is so lovely - the nurses are just wonderful.''
by CNB