Gifts of healing at Christmas
There are many ways to grieve after losing a loved one. Rosy Evered has found therapy in the gift of giving during the holiday season to long-term patients at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.
"Working in pediatrics I see first-hand that children are always thought of at Christmas time, but there is a population who are sometimes missed. Like our seniors. They are someone's grandparent, mother, father or friend," explained Rosy, Administrative Assistant in the Women's and Infants' Program at St. Joe's.
For the past five years, Rosy, along with colleagues, family and friends in the community have been collecting gifts to wrap and deliver to at least 25 patients on the Acute Long-Term Care (ALC) unit at St. Joe's. Referred to as 'Christmas Angels', there are more than 20 individuals that assist Rosy by donating their time and gifts each year. In-kind monetary donations were also contributed by the St. Joe's Foundation and St. Joe's Retail Shop this year.
"I missed buying Christmas gifts for my mom and in-laws, who were all elderly," said Rosy. "It helped me with my grieving. The first year, I had just brought a few gifts from myself to the ALC unit. Then things took off after that as others learned what I was doing."
Items given this year included three carts full of sweaters, pants, pajamas, toiletries, crossword books, just to name a few. One of Rosy's supporting 'angels' (coworker) even made each senior their own stocking so they could open on Christmas morning.
The 'angels' had some assistance from Loretta Gundic, Recreation Therapist, ALC unit. Each Christmas, Loretta and her team organize a Christmas lunch for the patients and their loved ones that include the gifts but also a special visit from Santa Claus himself.
"When I see joy, I feel joy. I feel immense gratitude towards the 'givers' for their selfless generosity," explained Loretta, who has worked on the ALC unit for the past seven years. "When I stood back to observe the patients receiving their gifts, I felt humbled that these simple acts of kindness brought such pure, raw, unfiltered, emotional happiness!"
A patient's spouse pointed out the quality of the gifts provided and also the gratitude that their "loved one was remembered.'" Volunteers on the unit were also moved by the compassion of others and the response from patients reacting like children again.
"Watching the patients with Santa and opening their gifts my friends and I have lovingly provided is priceless," said Rosy. "I am very private and have always been reluctant to come forward, but I wanted my wonderful group of supporters to be recognized."