A Happy Christmas in a Hospital

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVI, Issue 2, 1 April 1923, Page 53

A Happy Christmas in a Hospital

Hospital, 26th December, 1922. Dear Pal o J Mine, .Notice the date and you'll understand the tone of this letter — the spirit of Christmas past. Have you forgotten our first Christmas in hospital in the good old training days? We always had war to contend with and in spite of our efforts even Christmas days were clouded. I thought of you, so far away, and would like to have transferred you bodily to our wee hospital. For weeks preparations mysterious had been in the air, and one was continually hearing snatches of conversation floating down the corridor. "What do you think she would like?" "Do you think this would do?" "Goodness knows, one can't get anything decent in this place. ' "I wish I had been more canny in saving my money . ' ' They had a familiar sound which you will doubtless recoignise. All the world seemed to think, talk, and turn round Christmas. Matron promised us things — at Christmas. Patients would go out — at Christmas. We would do all manner of things — at Christmas. The kitchen became a much frequented spot, and we were bidden to come and see (not taste, mark you!) if the cakes were too brown, if the icing looked all right, if the puddings were done. Of course we stirred the pudding for luck, and of course we all hoped we'd get the ring and somebody else the thimble . Some came at fortunate times, Avere tempted, and fell. I was getting off down the corridor consuming a perfectly scrumptious mince pie, and of course I met the matron. There were no doors handy either, but one's sins don't get their reward at Christmas. Matron smiled indulgently and doubtless thought thoughts beyond utterance. Even in a small place there is rivalry about the decorations. Here it was women versus men with a vengeance, and I supposed the extras thought the corridors far eclipsed everything. Some of us were even moved to trudge long weary

miles for lycopodium. Its way lay amongst boig and blackberry, not to mention barbed- wire entanglements. Nothing daunted, we achieved our purpose and dragged home many sacks full without a growl, no, not even when a perfectly good pair of silk stockings were torn and likewise a pair of suede shoes. The unfortunate ones doubtless viewed the mischief with rose-coloured specs. T really think that Charles Dickens or Father Christmas or the Prime Minister or somebody might have arranged so that Christmas didn't come on Sundays or Mondays. It is a little awkward to fit in . But anyway, we got to work on Saturday and when the M.O. arrived, ladders, lycopodium, twine and people were all in iglorious confusion. He smiled benignly as becometh the Christmas season. Patients sat up and began to look interested and think Christmas in hospital isn't so beastly after all. Of course, the old patients gave instructions and related the history of last year's decorations and the year before that, until I am sure people like Eip Van Winkle turned in their graves and protested. We had lots of encouragement. "My word, Nurse! Them colours do brighten up the place. You ought to put a bit more this end." No use indulging in colour schemes. Colour wins. The gardener brought us loads of flowers. They were a message of peace and goodwill in themselves. You'd have loved the sweetpeas and phlox and lilies. Who started Christmas trees? Do you think he or she thought of the hundreds of packages to be prepared and numbered and I wonder — oh, many things ! Old Euclid doesn't solve Christmas problems. No wonder the Health Department are advocating well-educated- nurses. For, if so many patients eat so much during many days, how much will an indefinite number eat in twice that number of days? How many extra patients will arrive Christmas night? How to make £1 buy £2 worth of gifts? Oh yes, we requirbrains.

But that is by the way. I wanted to tell you about our special Christmas. On Sunday morning even the tree was up in the ward (snow and all) just waiting for its load of gifts. On Sunday afternoon the band came to discourse sweet music on the lawn. There is something peculiarly beautiful about Christmas carols. Do you have them in the land in which you live? Sunday evening, of course, everyone had to hang up a stocking. My men were properly worked up to it, and such a time we had hunting up socks and finding places to hang them. "May I have a loan of Nurse 's stockings," some one said. The wag! But nurse is cele brated for the size of her pedal extremi ties. We heard a lot of tales of what w* used to do when we were boys, and the night nurse had quite a time trying to get them all to sleep so that stockings could be filled in the time-honoured fashion. What did we fill them with? Oh, well, you know, socks and ties and things for the men, and handkerchiefs and soap, etc. for the women. Do I need to remind you of the filling up with whistles, peapods, potatoes? Same old jokes!

Father Christmas visited the Home at 4 a.m., quite early enough for those who had gone to bed in the early hours. Somehow- there are so many things to do at the last. After the fun and the frolic came a quiet little interlude. Time for the Christ-Child to come in. Words are poor things to describe the holy places and holy times, so you will think all the nice thoughts for yourself, if I just say that at 6 a.m. a Communion Service w T as held.

I w r as nearly forgetting to tell you about an extra piece of goodwill on Christmas Eve — a secret little plot of Matron's — a Christmas Eve Supper. We were so surprised when Matron sent w^ord for a general assemblage in the Dining Room, to find a nicely set supper. in each of our places was a wee box of sweets and we had cake and snapdragon and a "taste. " A few improvised toasts and a talk about Christmas made us all troop off to bed happier for the goodwill begun. Don't you think little things count a great deal ? I do !

What do you think? Some people chose Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to part with some of their anatomy. But nothing could disturb the serenity of the Theatre Nurse. She literally sat on the grunts and grinned. We were ready for Father Christmas at 10 a.m. sharp. The band ushered him into the ward. How youthful he is by daylight! One would think he would begin to show his age by now. He at once started distributing good cheer to everybody . He is a witty fellow, and apt in his remarks so that the boy who got a Jiecklace and the girl w T ho got a knife were just as happy as possible. It didn't take Jong to unload that tree. Some wags had stolen a march on us and tied a few extras to the tree in the shape of carrots and things. But wait, Father Christmas is shrewd and they sure igot them back again. Like Scrooge, they found that the Spirits had done it all in one night. We Avere able to bring most of the patients into one big ward and they all dined together. The only complaint I heard was insufficient accommodation . There must have been a few cases of dilatation (not cardiac) judging by the inroads into poultry, pudding, and — drinks. Farinaceous folk and even Milk Diets don't come to any harm on Christmas Day. Anaemias, eat, drink, and be merry without an aftermath. It is passing strange. We had hardly time after feeding the multitude, when our gong summoned us to a table that literally groaned with Christmas fare. "No thank yous" were missing, at least, until the last course. We did not inquire for a milk pudding. I just wonder if there would have been ime forthcoming — those estimable standbys of everyday. 'Shall T tell you of our Toast List? Matron had to amend it. In fact, in addition to an addenda I believe E. and O.E. were much in evidence. "The Father of as all" by his adopted family, was scarcely recognisable as our M.O. "Miss Maclean, Head of the Nursing Profession with which is associated the Medical Profession," passed muster. Matron puzzled

a few by proposing the health of the "Engaged Couples and those who are about to become engaged. " A few of the hopefuls seemed to have doubts and they spent a busy few seconds standing up and sitting down at random. They regained their composure, however, when someone proposed the toast of "The big blasts which w r e got for the little thing's we did not do" and coupled it with one for the "little blasts which we got for the big things we did do." We didn't forget "Absent Friends," which for me, of course, meant you. "The King" was not forgotten, but some could see the bottom of their glasses by then, and we had to fill up again to propose the toast of the one who was mainly responsible for so much happiness in this place of abode — Our

Matron. I believe Matron thought she was safe when she granted permission for us to sing 1 . She had no idea of the noise a few people can make when they sing: "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow"— and mean it. Three cheers are quite a fitting: climax, too. Write and tell me what you did. I don't know when I spent such a happy Christmas, and that seemed to be the general opinion. Amongst the patients it was not left to the children to wish for Christmas everyday. I am sure we will carry some of the goodwill far into the New Year, and work all the more harmoniously for the time of cheer. Well, goodbye, lots of good wishes, — From Your Mate.