A few of us were sitting in the library at Hospital Hospitality House the other day.

First: Yes, we have a library, full of wonderful donated books and games. Secondly: This is not something that we get to do very often.

It was a day much like any other, and as we discussed our plans for the upcoming Fancy Hat Party and Hats Off shindigs, we heard some discussion from around the corner. At the start of the meeting we had noticed a few folks checking in and the voice we now heard seemed to be giving a sort of tour:

“That’s the library. If you’d like something to read and maybe pass the time, there’s a pretty good selection in there. If you go through those doors, you’ll find the dining room. We’ve got a group coming in tonight to make spaghetti for everybody, and they’re nice ladies. They usually get a good Bingo game going after supper.”

The person leading this tour? The gentleman who drives our courtesy van. He works for us, driving people to and from their appointments and visits with the doctors nearby. But he seems to have expanded his list of responsibilities. In addition to knowing which building houses chemotherapy and which reconstructive surgery, he knows where to get a good sandwich, where to find a newspaper or toothbrush, and where to sit and look at the Governor’s mansion in the afternoon sun. And every time he brings a new guest to Hospital Hospitality House, he offers a little guided tour.

This made us think about how things sort of operate here at The House. While few of us are really full-time “employees,” we all have some sort of title or job description. But everyone who “works” here does a little bit of everything. Volunteers perform many of the tasks that keep our oars in the water. The spaghetti dinner was provided by volunteers. Songs and concerts during holidays are sung and played by volunteers. Things like Bingo are organized by volunteers. They are all people who have chosen to give, and to give to us.

We always look forward to annual events like our Fancy Hat Party, and they are always a blast, but they are a necessity. The funds that are raised at these events pay for things like detergent and new bed linens and electricity and indoor plumbing. It is your generosity that keeps our doors open.

Winston Churchill said,

“We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.”

It sometimes seems that we live at Hospital Hospitality House, and many of us make our living here, but for our guests, it means their life. When we pause for a moment and think of it that way, we’re living pretty large.

Going to the doctor is scary, isn’t it?  When you meet with a medical professional, what they tell you can be scary.  And it carries some gravity, because they are, after all, professionals, right?

Sort of.

Your doctors are the best source of information and should be relied on when making decisions about your health.  Remember that they are, after all, human beings first, and can make mistakes.  In fact, over 100,000 people will die in America this year from a medical mistake.  They can be as drastic as a mistake during a surgery to something seemingly careless like a miss-read prescription.  Sometimes it is a doctor’s physical action, and sometimes it is inadequate care.

But there are things that you can do to help reduce your risk (and your doctor’s risk!) and improve the quality of your care.  And it’s really very similar to talking to your auto mechanic.

When you take your car in for service, you tend to be pretty specific about what’s going on.  You describe a certain sound, a vibration, or colorful smoke spouting off from under the hood.  When you meet with your doctor, you should share everything.  Your discussion should not be limited to what you immediately think is wrong with you.  One symptom may be linked to another and may be an indication of a larger problem.  Doing this is easier if you prepare a list of what’s ailing you.

You also question your mechanic after he’s made his initial diagnosis.  When your doctor offers his or her opinion, start asking your questions.  “What causes this?”  “How will you fix this?”  “Are there any other things that could cause this to happen?”  This is partly for your own information, but it will often make your doctor think outside of the box, and perhaps realize that they’ve diagnosed incorrectly or overlooked something.

Use your common sense.  If your transmission is slipping and the garage wants to sell you brakes, you would certainly question that.  You are truly the best judge of how you feel, so take that confidence into your doctor’s office.  If you are used to certain medications, question the side effects and interactions of any new ones.  Ask why a doctor recommends a certain medication or procedure.

When you’ve gone to a doctor, or to your mechanic, you have formed a relationship.  It’s a partnership of sorts, with one of you needing service and the other providing it.  Keep this in mind on your next visit, and help your doctor make the right decisions for you.

After all, doctors don’t offer rentals.

We spent some time over the recent holidays watching football.  Don’t ask, don’t judge, and we were sorry, like everyone else, when the Redskins lost.  But this is not about that.

One of the things that we caught during the Holidays was the Rose Bowl Parade.  That’s the big one in Pasadena, California.  What made it kind of nice this year was seeing Hannah Storm.  She’s a big-time ESPN anchor and sports junkie.  We were kind of worried about her.  Storm, you see, had an accident and was severely burned.  During her Rose Bowl appearance, she had fake hair and eyebrows, and you could clearly see one of her hands bandaged.

Hannah Storm was trying to light a gas grill when it sent a fireball into her face, leaving her with first and second-degree burns on her face, hands and chest.  She lost most of her hair and is still battling an infection.  She was glad to be back on the air, but still has trouble with her hand, making it difficult for her to pick things up or flip through cue cards.

Seeing Storm made us think of some other burn victims.  Most are like her, and never expected to get burned.  It was some accident or moment of carelessness.  And sadly, it frequently happens to children.  Perhaps it’s childhood curiosity or the fact that they don’t yet know what qualifies as dangerous?

Later that evening, while trying to digest too much turkey and tired of football, we saw something inspiring on PBS.  It was a profile of a camp designed specifically for young burn victims.  Or as they like to call them, burn “survivors.”  We like that better.  You can see it for yourself here.

The Central Virginia Burn Camp (CVBC) was established around 20 years ago in Charlottesville by the Charlottesville Professional Firefighters Association.  Firefighters, like burn survivors, have some first-hand experience in the dangers and perils of dealing with fire and its destructive nature.  For those who have been injured, this destruction is in the form of scars, loss of hair, and often involves months and years of surgery and rehabilitation.  CVBC was created to provide youngsters from 7 to 17 a place to be kids, among people who have had similar experiences, and free from the worry of stares and questions.  For a week every summer, they just have to be kids.

The Camp is staffed with counselors, therapists, nurses, and firefighters from throughout the state.  They engage their young charges in swimming, boating, horseback riding, arts and crafts, and other fun summertime activities.  Just like every other kid.  And yes, they have an evening bonfire.  What would summer camp be without one?

The best part about it is this:  Central Virginia Burn Camp is free.   They receive sponsorships from a ton of firefighter associations, the University of Virginia Health System, and other like-minded groups.  They also are like us, a non-profit, and as such count on donations from individuals to keep stocked up in sunscreen and marshmallows.   Many of the kids who go there have been treated right here at VCU and we’ve met some families as their kids go back and forth for therapy and reconstruction surgeries.

You probably know that we’re pretty passionate about the “littles” that spend time here at Hospital Hospitality House.  And we genuinely need and appreciate your donations of time, money and goods.  But we had to share this story.