A Great Day

Halloween in the Pediatric Unit of UC Davis Medical Center's Cancer Ward was hopping yesterday. Facepainters were stationed just outside the door, and rainbows and stars and spiderwebs on everyone's smiling faces. A clean room playroom was set up at the end of the hall staffed by volunteers to design pumpkins, decorate door hangers and make origami windchimes.

Inside the windows were decorated, and pumpkin decorations were all over the room. Gavon was the Spider King and Avry was a butterfly; Mom and Morgan were witches and Dad was a Hippie; Jason was a pirate. Randy and I went as cleverly disguised responsible adults.

The staff came in every minute or two, superheroes, Minnie Mouse, soccer goalies and Jessie and Woody from Toy Story, with their arms full of toys and candy and flash lights to put in the bag for Aiyana and her sister Avry. We watched and laughed at the trick-or-treat in reverse and the delight and anticipation on Aiyana's face with each knock on the door.


Aiyana got up and walked down the hall, and we trailed behind, most of us in masks decorated with big smiley faces, moustaches and glasses. She played a game of fishing and won a doll gymnast set with - count them - TWO Barbies! The anti-nausea meds kicked in mid-day and she was in great spirits. She ate! She ate peaches, drank water and juice, chicken nuggets and half a hamburger. We took a lot of pictures, overjoyed she was hungry and eating as much as how darling she looked in her little ladybug cap and fireman's hat.

Her mother said that today was a great day, one to keep as a memory because the days ahead will be hard. We know she is right. We are here to love each other, be strong, and hold hands