VISIT TO SUNSHINE WARD

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17220, 1 October 1927, Page 16 (Supplement)

VISIT TO SUNSHINE WARD

THE LITTLE SUFFERERS. AND lIOW WE MAY HELP THEM. (By “Peter Pan.”) Such a good beginning has been made with our Christmas Cheer Campaign. Already there is a large pile of presents, and next week I hope to receive many more. _ The clear, blue skies, the sweet songs of the birds, the greenness of the growing things, and ali the other glories of spring remind us that Christmas t,lie happiest of all seasons—will soon he here. How glad we shall feel to know that wo have made a little brightness for some small child at Christmas time! As we learnt last year, “The way to be happy is to make other people happy." Last week I had something to say about the little folk at “The Nest,” and now I want to tell you about the children of the Sunshine Ward of the Waikato Hospital. . „ Those of you who live in Hamilton will probably often have visited the Sunshine Ward. Tiic very name suggests brightness. llow we all love a sunny day! How beautiful is the world when each blade of grass, each leaf, and eacli tiny flower is lit up by the golden rays of the sun. Sunshine Ward has big windows that let in every bit of sunshine and lots of fresh air. It contains about 45 beds, and has a verandah ail along the sunny side. Quite close are some swings, a slide, and see-saws, and in front is a large lawn, sloping towards_ tiic sun. The children love to rest their eyes on this patch of lovely green grass, and then to look over to the motors passing up and down the road, and to catch glimpses of the lake in the distance, sparkling between the trees.

Lotting in the Sunshine. But sometimes we speak of the sunshine wc feel not with our hands, hut with our hearts. Some people who wanted so much to gladden the hearts of the sick folk—big and little—at the Waikato Hospital formed themselves into the Sunshine League, and the motto they chose was “To dispel the shadows and let in the sunshine.” Members of the ’ Sunshine League go to tlie hospital every visiting day, and speak cheery words to the sufferers, and they take those who are well enough for drives. They also often hold concerts. I expect some of my readers have helped with concerts for the children. Until last year the Sunshine League provided a Christmas tree and toys for the little folk, hut last vear the. readers of the Children s Page of the Waikato Times supplied the toys, the Sunshine League providing tlie tree. We hope they will let us help like that every year. Not far away from tiic Sunshine Ward is a beautifully laid-out garden. The day I was there beautiful daffodils and narcissi and gorgeous kowhais were in bloom. Soon the beds will he aglow with roses of all shades, for in each corner and in tlie centre are rose gardens cut in tlie velvety green. This garden is kept by the Sunshine League, and the flowers are used for the hospital wards.

School In Hospital. The day I visited them many of the children looked the picture' of happiness. They talked to me about the school that had commenced only the previous day. The little tots showed their paper-folding, and the older ones said they had had sums, English, and geography that day. Perhaps some of you are thinking, “Oh, I shouldn't want school if I were sick.” But when you had been lying still for some days, and if you were not too ill, I think you would. Anyway, all these children think it is great fun to have school in hospital. One boy actually thinks it is heller than school at home because, as lie says, “they can’t give you the strap here.” Tiic children do not have proper classes. As a rule, Lhe teacher just goes from bed to bed, because many are not well enough to get up. One boy was lying very still, and looked very white. Beside him were his toys, but he was too weary to play with his meccano set or to look at his cigarette card album just then. But he must be getting on all right, because he said it would not be long before he would be able to have school.

I j'elt very sorry for the wee child- J ren, some of whom looked very sick. ! Oh, how these wee tots must miss their mothers when they first come to the hospital! But my heart ached for the children—there were several—who had spine trouble. They were strapped !o their beds—hardly able to move at all, and you know how 7 children hate to lie still. “Will it be long before they are better?” I asked. “From one to two years,” I was told. ' “When we were here last Christmas there was a boy who had been in bed for about three years. Did he get ali right?” I inquired. “Oh, yes. lie is running about again as well as any one now. So will these. It is only a matter of time,” was the reply. Is it not wonderful to think that these little folk can be restored to health? At one time such a thing would have been impossible. But think what having to lie still so long means, hoys and girls—not to be able to run and play, not to he able to walk about the gardens, not to be able to go as far as the next bed, not to be able

to sit up, and not to be able even to look for very long at books! Oh, shall we not be glad that we are well and strong, and shall we not ho ready to help those less fortunate? Gifts for the Christmas Cheer Campaign, which is for the children of the Sunshine Ward of the Waikato Hospital and for the little inmates of “The Nest,” should be sent as soon as possible to “Peter Pan,” c/o Waikato Times, Hamilton.

Desmond Quick, of Hamilton, has sent’ a splendid picture book called “The Children’s Treasury.” Jean Cameron, of Frankton, has given two pretty necklaces and a bangic. „ ~ , From Kathleen Gifford, of Motumaoho, I have received two children’s bonnets, which she has knitted beautifuily. . Eileen Clark, of Hamilton, has sent a pretty little bead bracelet, a scrapbook, and two cards. A parcel from Joyce Pollard, of Pukeroro, contains a bottle of scent, a shell necklace, a bead necklace, a game, a picture puzzle, two picture books, four painting books, and last but not least, a teddy bear, about which Joyce writes:: —“Will you give my teddy bear to one of the dear little children who has not got any mother? Daddy bought him for me when I was fifteen months old, and I have loved and nursed him ever since. Mother gave him a hath and put a ribbon round his neck, and I want someone else to have a lot of fun with him. I hope you will get heaps and heaps of parcels for the Christinas Cheer Campaign.” “I am sending you something for the Christmas Cheer Fund, and hope it will help to make the kiddies happy. It was your article on ‘The Nest’ that made me realise what a lucky boy I am,” writes Murray, who did not sign his full name. The “something” proved to he nothing less than a £1 note, which will.provide cheer for very many lit Lie folk. “Auntie,” of Hamilton, has sent a Noah’s Ark and a toy train.

CHRISTMAS CHEER FUND. Previously acknowledged . 7 6 Murray 1 0 0 £1 7 6