A Letter from Max's Mom

On August 13, 2010, Children's Hospital Colorado received a letter from Deana Watson, a mother whose son has been a patient at Children's since he was just a few months old. The following is her letter, along with our response to her fabulous idea of highlighting some familiar faces at our hospital.

"My son, Max, has been a 'frequent flyer' at Children's Hospital Colorado (TCH).  We've been visiting since he was 4 months old, and he's seen in the special care clinic, neurology, and the metabolic disease clinic, most regularly.  We were down at TCH this morning, and as we were heading out from our appointment, our friend, the valet parking attendant came up with his beaming grin when he saw Max. We've been visiting with him since we spent months at a time in the old Children's Hospital, when Max was a baby and so ill. Through the years, our friend has been a constant friendly face, and quick to ask how Max 'baby,' and now 'big guy' is feeling. He, and the other parking attendants and garage attendants are as much a part of our care team as the doctors and nurses at Children's.  

We always walk, and drive away with a smile on our faces after our visits with our friends, yet, in all these years, we don't know their names. We know their faces, and they know ours. But, in our coming and going, sometimes worried to pieces about our son, or making a mad dash out of there before the doctors change their minds about discharging us (only kidding), we don't stop to get their names. But they are so so important, and an integral part of TCH.  

So, my idea is to highlight them. The men and women who get our cars to us...who help us find a parking space when our vans don't fit in the garage...who look at our tired weary faces with a smile, and ask every time 'how's baby?'...and wish us a good day.  Sometimes it really is the smallest gestures that mean the most.

Thank you,

Deana Watson (mom to Max)"