Life with the Quinns: Learning to Share

We were finally able to deliver Julianna's donations to the Vanderbilt Children's hospital early this week. In exchange for her gifts, Julianna got a private tour of the Children's hospital. She really enjoyed watching the patients hold a "Teddy Bear's Clinic" and the Koi pond in the garden. It is kind of ironic that I work at Vanderbilt, but that I had never seen the Children's hospital the same way I saw it that day. I really am glad that we decided to support her in wanting to donate her gifts to the Children's Hospital. I could really see the efforts of the hospital to help the patients and their families have a comfortable stay during what are really the most trying of times for them.

I always feel bad whenever I see or hear about a very young child diagnosed with a terminal illness. I could never understand why they were never given the chance to enjoy life. A lot of our patients usually are diagnosed shortly after they are born. Most of them live for 2 years or more, but it is always a life filled with pain and suffering. I always wondered why they were allowed to suffer like that. During our tour, I promised Julianna that she could share her gifts with the sick children every year. Maybe in our small way, we can help improve the quality of life for these brave little angels. Julianna also told me, much to my husband's disappointment, that she wants to be a doctor someday...so she can help the sick children get better. Jeff pretended to be proud of her, but I knew deep down, he wants her to be a computer whiz just like him...We may hope and aspire differently for her, but I know that we will be proud of her no matter what she wants to be someday.