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Toddler spends second Christmas in hospital
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FATHERLY LOVE: Jose Ramos sits with his son Joel, 2, Dec. 24, 2008, at Banner Desert Children's Hospital in Mesa.
Thomas Boggan, Tribune
COMFORTS: Toys line the shelf in Joel Ramos' room Dec. 24, 2008, at Banner Desert Children's Hospital.
Thomas Boggan, Tribune
Joel Ramos, 2, is spending his second holiday season in a row at a hospital.
There is a small silver Sesame Street Christmas tree under the window in his room at Banner Desert Children's Hospital. Several Elmo dolls and slippers stare down at him from the shelves. Even his door is decorated.
With help from Santa, and gifts from the community, the staff hopes to make being away from home just a little easier today.
"We basically make this as normal as possible," said Stephanie Olfill, a child-life specialist at the hospital. "It's not their room. It's not their pajamas. If we can to make it feel as comfortable as possible, that helps."
Children can regress in their development when they're away from the comforts of home, and child-life specialists like Olfill provide a distraction from the pain, the medicines and the constant medical attention.
Joel was diagnosed in September 2007 with neuroblastoma, a cancer that strikes most often in childhood. After a bone marrow transplant at Phoenix's St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, he was transferred to the Mesa hospital on Dec. 15.
Joel's dad, Jose, has one wish for Christmas: that the family be together. Joel's three older brothers and his mom have had colds. It's been about two weeks since their last visit.
"We're hoping mom and brothers can come today (Christmas Eve)," Jose Ramos said, adding that Joel has gathered enough strength in the last week to get out of his room a bit. "He's been sad, too. He's been asking for his mom and brothers. He's a trooper."
Though his surgery was several weeks ago, the side effect of a medicine meant to help his condition made him weak and sick.
Today, Santa will visit as many kids as possible, including Joel. Santa will deliver a special bag of toys made for each child. He even has a sack of toys for siblings who may be visiting.
The staff on the oncology floor tries to send as many patients home as possible, said Chisa Hauber, a nurse on the floor. There were four children on the floor on Christmas Eve, with one or two possibly going home for the holiday.
"The doctors come and assess the patient to see if they're stable enough to send home," she said. "We'll have some that will go home just for the day. For the kids, it's not fun to be here for the holiday. But we try to have fun."
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