A different kind of hospital visit.

Last week I flew to Indianapolis to meet with the entire Child Life department at Riley Children’s Hospital and to have a meeting with several senior executives at Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company. I had finished my luncheon presentation at the hospital, had a lovely swim at the Omni Hotel, and set out to explore downtown Indianapolis.

I discovered the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum complete with battle enactments, cannons and lots of memorabilia from soldiers and their families. The most poignant exhibits were the intricate handmade quilts which had inspirational messages sewn into the patches. Of course, these quilts reminded me of our SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® which are decorated with messages and artwork and donated to hospitalized children. Each public square housed another majestic monument to local heroes who served in the wars. I was taking it all in and contemplating the sacrifice and suffering of war juxtaposed with the beauty of the memorials.

When my son Joshua’s school day is over, we always speak for a minute or two. It’s actually one of the highlights of my day. When we spoke he told me he was scared because he had arrived at Grandma and Poppy’s house and no one was answering the door. I know that my mom would never miss being at her home to greet her youngest grandchild. When I call back in ten minutes, their friend answers my call to tell me that “my parents are in the hospital because dad had a stroke.” My husband Jacob was also out of town on a business trip. Fortunately, I was able to reach my son Jonathan; and he immediately headed over to my parents' house where the boys ordered take out and watched hours of TV. My assistant Greta booked me on the next flight home. As I was flying out the door of the hotel with suitcases and presentation materials in tow, the hotel staff could not have been more supportive. Stewardesses were able to change my seat so I could be at the front door and bolt for a cab, upon landing. These little acts of kindness have an enormous impact when someone’s world is crashing in on them.

I spent the next two nights sleeping in Lenox Hill Hospital alongside dad’s bed. He has expressive aphasia, which affects his speech. His receptive skills are intact which means that he has total comprehension of everything we say to him. Every now and then he just cannot say certain things like his middle name, his address, or random words such as chair or watch.

There are so many blessings to appreciate right smack in the middle of the actual crisis. I found mom and dad in the Emergency Room where it was “standing room only” as dozens of patients were being treated on stretchers. Dad was admitted into a room at midnight and mom went home to get a few hours of much-needed sleep. I was doing the night shift with dad and was able to snag an enormous Barker lounger that became totally horizontal when you pressed a lever and pushed really hard to make the various panels go flat. Having salivated over the recent series of airline ads showing First Class seats that become beds, I pretended I was embarking on a special trip and prayed for the strength to get through the night. Every time I moved, which was every hour on the hour as nurses and doctors came in to check dad’s vitals, re-fill the IV pole sack of fluids, or to help him walk to the washroom, the chair would start to fold up. It was like being trapped in a bad episode of the “I Love Lucy” show.

The nurses and orderlies were amongst the nicest, most positive and caring professionals I’ve ever met. They were so comforting. It made me feel good to see so many people who clearly are so well-suited to be in the healing profession. Dad’s doctors were impressive and took the time to explain everything to us so that we understood exactly what was happening. The doctors also visited each day, including weekends. The diner on Lexington Avenue had the creamiest tomato soup ever. Mom and I scarfed down a few good meals there. Dad is home now and has started his rehab with speech and physical therapy. He continues to be my hero. In fact he spent 45-minutes buttoning his shirt just to prove to himself that he can do it.

Each week I choose to spend time in hospitals with Soaringwords. I am always blessed and grateful, this was a different kind of hospital visit because this time my family and I were the recipients of love and care of so many people. I learned a lot about receiving which will enrich my experiences with giving.

Back to work.
What a dream come true. After five years of sharing one-time Soaringwords programs at PS152, one of our favorite inner-city schools, on Monday March 31, we kicked-off an 8-week Educational Outreach program at PS 152 with 375 children. This program is funded by Newman’s Own. There was amazing energy in the auditorium and classrooms. The children created SoaringFables to post on Soaringwords.org and to donate to patients at Montefiore Medical Center and other hospitals. If you’re interested in volunteering with us we'd love to have you join in. This eight week program runs until June 2. Email us at heal@soaringwords.org.

Photo caption: Students at PS152 create SoaringFables

We are also collaborating with the Smithsonian Institute the National Museum of Native Americans to share workshops with hospitalized kids and school children as part of the Soaringwords Educational Outreach.

Photo caption: Me with Johanna Gorelich, Manager, Education Department and Cultural Interpreter Damara Jacobs-Morris

In March we also launched a special five-week program with the I Have a Dream Foundation DeHostos group. The students created SoaringHaiku for the website and to donate to hospitalized kids; had a field trip to see SoaringArtist in residence Stephen Bennett’s at an art gallery in midtown Manhattan; and enjoy a SoaringFaces workshop with him.

Photo caption: Dreamers enjoy SoaringFaces workshop.

Photo caption: UnitedHealthcare triple header!!! We shared three Soaringwords programs with UnitedHealthcare employees in March. What a terrific group of health care pros.

Photo caption: Ramaz High School students visit patients at Metropolitan Hospital.

Photo caption: Soaringwords rocks the house with 400 students at Temple Israel in Great Neck, NY on Sunday morning March 16th. The theme was Earth Day and students made SoaringMurals with inspirational artwork and messages to brighten up pediatric hospitals.

Join us at these fabulous events:

We want you in New Orleans. We are beginning our count down to the Soaringwords New Orleans Healing Mission, May 9 to 11th, there’s still time to be part of the delegation that will mentor over 500 children
and families affected by Katrina. We’ll be mentoring the kids, sharing hands-on programs, a dance jam, hospital visit, and much more. Bring your mom, your best friends, your co-workers, your kids… or yourself. It will change many lives, including your own. Click here to learn more and sign up today. If you can’t come and still want to cheer us on, please make a donation. Click here to learn more and sign up today. If you can’t come and still want to cheer us on, please make a donation.

Put on your sneakers and start getting ready for the Soaringwords 5K on Sunday, June 8. Start a team today, send us an email and to sign up today.

Check out the calendar at Soaringwords.org to jump start your week, donate a few hours and volunteer at one of our events, we guarantee it will be the most fun you have all month.

Wishing you strength, soaring words, and much love,

Lisa Honig Buksbaum, CEO & Founder, Soaringwords

Inspired? Make a donation to Soaringwords.

Best of the Best

Thanks to all of these special people who connected with Soaringwords to help more ill kids and families to heal. You are all shining stars!

Mark Kershisnik and Jeanne Hansbrough of Eli Lilly; Lisa Fiestal and Gina Huang of Horizon Media; Sam Rotenberg and the students at the DeHostos I Have a Dream Foundation; my agent Stacey Glick of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency for moving us closer to publication; Brett Barndt and Matt Gore and Gary Baumgarten of PatTalk for Soaringwords Podcast; Meghan D. Kelly, Leslie M. Clogston and Lindsey Davis of The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore; Jean-Michelle Lopez of MTV; Neusa Alshuk Metropolitan Hospital; David Grisevich, Julia Pietri and the amazing teachers and students at PS 152; Sheila Smith, Holly Garmon, and Kim Jones of Riley Children’s Hospital; Johanna Gorelich, Manager, Education Department and Damara Jacobs-Morris, Cultural Interpreter of Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian; Jacqueline Canton of Temple Har Zion; Rabbi Tracy Guren Klirs of Temple Israel; Maria Pomponio, Lisa Cappello and amazing volunteers from UnitedHealthcare;
Brett Barndt; Nancy Randall; Melanie Sawyer and Stephen Bennett for being a constant source of light and joy; Maddy Arnstein and the 12 volunteers who made the PS 152 program a delight; Laurie Langman for bringing Soaringwords to Lower Gwynedd Elementary School; Michael Silverman Rmaz High School, of course, Greta Rozensweig, the quiet power that keeps it all together.

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