Betty Will Be Your Guide: 2004
"Betty will be your guide. She will meet you in the South Lobby at 1:30 p.m. She will help you know which rooms in the hospital that you can go in and which ones you should avoid. We appreciate your being willing to come to the hospital and spread some Christmas cheer." 
We found a parking place and as Santa put on his gear--with my help--I noticed little waving hands in a second floor window of the hospital. I pointed it out to Santa and soon there were all kinds of waving going on--both hands. We made our way to the South Lobby and found Betty waiting to escourt us. She was a pleasant woman who had worked for the hospital for many years and now did volunteer work for them. 
In the next three hours every portion of the hospital was visited, except for the area that held the premature babies. We were led into areas where the maternity patients were--including one in very active labor, cancer patients, intensive care patients, emergency room patients, pediatrics, those in therapy after strokes, and so many more. We visited them all. If someone didn't want a visit, it wasn't pushed on them. Betty checked before hand and let the visitors know. 
Sometimes a room would be accidentally missed and someone would come looking for us to come back and visit. Fantastic! Usually, the visit was short, some interaction and well wishing both for Christmas and for a short visit in the hospital. Pictures were taken. Hugs and handshakes were firm and sought for. The hospital staff thought it was great and Betty just kept using the words, "This is Fantastic!" She wished she had a camcorder so that the staff would believe her when she told them how "Fantastic" it was.
One family group noticed right away that Santa had on a CTR ring. An elderly woman heard Santa say that she was in his prayers. She responded, "Good, that's where I should be." One boy was asked if he knew the names of Santa's reineer? He said he didn't know. Santa said, "Jeepers!" I said, "nope that's not one of them." I got some laughs.
One man had had thyroid cancer and had a bandage on his throat. Santa said he thought he had fallen among some "cut-throats."
One of the patients had had a hysterectomy and I told her that I had had one too, and that it had been a beginning for me in my life. That sparked much interest and she asked me lots of questions, all of which I answered. Included were questions of what the recovery would be like and I told her to do exactly what the doctors told her to do for six weeks even if she felt better. It was so important. I was glad I could help.
In a large waiting room, where many family members were waiting to hear the outcome of surgeries and such, Santa led several children in singing. One little boy asked, "Who's your friend?" Santa said that I was his best friend and I was also his wife. Then he pulled me to him and gave me a kiss on the lips, much to the pleasure of the group who were watching. I was embarrassed, but I loved it. 
We were introduced to a woman who helped clean the hospital. Her last name was Claus, also. We declared that we were long lost relatives and had a group hug. Santa carried his staff and that often brought on questions and comments. He told the story about the word JOY. He also handed the children, and many of the adults, reindeer bells and candy canes.
One man greeted Santa in a wheelchair and then left and went to his room without getting a small gift. I asked where he was and we went and gave him a reindeer bell. He was happy. A reindeer bell can only be heard by believers. He could hear it.
At the end of the visits Santa was talking to a secretary who controlled the intercom microphone. He got permission and did some "Ho Ho, Merry Christmas" stuff over it. He told all whom he had visited that he hoped they had a Merry Christmas and the same for anyone that he was not able to see. It was great! And, of course, Betty thought it was Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With the passage of time her number of explanation marks had increased.
Betty told us that we had really helped those in the hospital that day. She wondered if we had done it before? We told her they were the very first hospital we had visited. She was very proud that they were the first. She had worked there since 1966 and took it very personal. She escourted us to the front door where she had picked us up and we said Good-bye. "Merry, Merry Christmas, Fantastic Betty."
Mrs. Claus
We found a parking place and as Santa put on his gear--with my help--I noticed little waving hands in a second floor window of the hospital. I pointed it out to Santa and soon there were all kinds of waving going on--both hands. We made our way to the South Lobby and found Betty waiting to escourt us. She was a pleasant woman who had worked for the hospital for many years and now did volunteer work for them. 
In the next three hours every portion of the hospital was visited, except for the area that held the premature babies. We were led into areas where the maternity patients were--including one in very active labor, cancer patients, intensive care patients, emergency room patients, pediatrics, those in therapy after strokes, and so many more. We visited them all. If someone didn't want a visit, it wasn't pushed on them. Betty checked before hand and let the visitors know. 
Sometimes a room would be accidentally missed and someone would come looking for us to come back and visit. Fantastic! Usually, the visit was short, some interaction and well wishing both for Christmas and for a short visit in the hospital. Pictures were taken. Hugs and handshakes were firm and sought for. The hospital staff thought it was great and Betty just kept using the words, "This is Fantastic!" She wished she had a camcorder so that the staff would believe her when she told them how "Fantastic" it was.One family group noticed right away that Santa had on a CTR ring. An elderly woman heard Santa say that she was in his prayers. She responded, "Good, that's where I should be." One boy was asked if he knew the names of Santa's reineer? He said he didn't know. Santa said, "Jeepers!" I said, "nope that's not one of them." I got some laughs.
One man had had thyroid cancer and had a bandage on his throat. Santa said he thought he had fallen among some "cut-throats." One of the patients had had a hysterectomy and I told her that I had had one too, and that it had been a beginning for me in my life. That sparked much interest and she asked me lots of questions, all of which I answered. Included were questions of what the recovery would be like and I told her to do exactly what the doctors told her to do for six weeks even if she felt better. It was so important. I was glad I could help.
In a large waiting room, where many family members were waiting to hear the outcome of surgeries and such, Santa led several children in singing. One little boy asked, "Who's your friend?" Santa said that I was his best friend and I was also his wife. Then he pulled me to him and gave me a kiss on the lips, much to the pleasure of the group who were watching. I was embarrassed, but I loved it. 
We were introduced to a woman who helped clean the hospital. Her last name was Claus, also. We declared that we were long lost relatives and had a group hug. Santa carried his staff and that often brought on questions and comments. He told the story about the word JOY. He also handed the children, and many of the adults, reindeer bells and candy canes.One man greeted Santa in a wheelchair and then left and went to his room without getting a small gift. I asked where he was and we went and gave him a reindeer bell. He was happy. A reindeer bell can only be heard by believers. He could hear it.
At the end of the visits Santa was talking to a secretary who controlled the intercom microphone. He got permission and did some "Ho Ho, Merry Christmas" stuff over it. He told all whom he had visited that he hoped they had a Merry Christmas and the same for anyone that he was not able to see. It was great! And, of course, Betty thought it was Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With the passage of time her number of explanation marks had increased.Betty told us that we had really helped those in the hospital that day. She wondered if we had done it before? We told her they were the very first hospital we had visited. She was very proud that they were the first. She had worked there since 1966 and took it very personal. She escourted us to the front door where she had picked us up and we said Good-bye. "Merry, Merry Christmas, Fantastic Betty."
Mrs. Claus
posted by Mrs. Claus at 9:45 AM
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