Working With Sick Children

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Seeing someone in need of help and not being able to do anything about it is one of the most heartbreaking sights, especially when that person is a young, innocent child. Working with sick children is something that most people would not able to deal with, but every time I saw the smiles on the children’s faces it reminded me why I continued volunteering at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital.
At my high school, each student is required to complete a certain number of service hours every year. I had always done my share of community service in my parish or elementary school. One December evening, my aunt dragged me reluctantly to a local children’s hospital to volunteer. My job was to wrap presents to be distributed to the patients for Hanukah. To …show more content…

Then one day I was asked if I wanted to deliver ice cream to the children upstairs. What I anticipated would be an easy job turned into one of the most difficult things I would ever have to do. I was almost oblivious to the fact that I was volunteering in a hospital for sick children. Most volunteers were not allowed into the patients’ rooms due to the health risks and sensitivity of the kids. Before entering their floor, I was given specific instructions about what I could and could not give to certain patients, who I was not allowed to go near, and also how to react. I was confused at first but soon realized why I was being told to remain calm and light-hearted. At first glance, I was terrified and upset. It was difficult for me to remain composed while surrounded by such a dark reality. I began to feel an awful pit in my stomach and desperately wished I could help these children in some way but was not sure how. While handing out various ice cream flavors and toppings, I would talk to the kids for a short time and treated them as if they were average kids just hanging out. I was unaware that this small banter and bonding over ice cream could have an impact on their lives. Leaving that day, the kids were happy and smiling and seemed to genuinely enjoy the time I had spent with them. This was eye opening to me because I saw that the little things in life could still make someone’s day, even in the worst of

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