Dear Steve,
I wanted to take a moment at this most wonderful time of year to wish you a Merry Christmas! No matter your faith, I hope we can all appreciate the spirit of love, giving, and gratitude that Christmas represents.
Recently, a friend asked me what my favorite Christmas meal was. My answer took me back in time 40 years ago to a simple bologna sandwich. As you might imagine, that raised an eyebrow. So, I explained…
In 1979, my husband Charles and I spent most of the month of December in the hospital at the bedside of our daughter, Bizzie, who was just five years old at the time. Bizzie was suffering from tuberculin meningitis, a bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the membrane around the brain.
Just because the doctors could name the disease didn’t mean they knew what to do about it. So we watched as Bizzie’s condition worsened until, on December 9 – just days after her fifth birthday – she slipped into a coma and her heart monitor flat-lined. Words will never be able to express how scared and helpless Charles and I felt at that moment.
The doctors immediately rushed us out of the room and, after struggling for nearly five minutes to save her life, eventually were able to restart Bizzie’s little heart. While a sense of relief and gratefulness swept over us, we had no idea if she would ever emerge from the coma… or what kind of life she would have if she did.
There wasn’t a thought about Christmas that year, as we were so consumed with the desperate situation we were in. If it weren’t for the generosity of the members of our church, we wouldn’t have had a tree or a single present to give our two little boys at home.
It was just days before Christmas when a nurse yelled for me to come into Bizzie’s room. From her tone, I couldn’t tell whether I was supposed to be excited or whether a parent’s worst fears would be realized that day. I ran through the door, and all I could see was my beautiful daughter reaching for her blanket. After having been in a coma for the last two weeks, she slowly opened her eyes. The first question she asked was, “Where’s my mommy?” Tears were streaming down my face.
Her next question was, “Can I have some peanut butter cookies?” I can tell you that I cried like I had never cried before in my life. And I hugged her like I would never let her go. God had given us our child back.
Even though she was still in a delicate state when Christmas arrived, the doctors let Bizzie come home for a few hours on Christmas Day. With all that was going on, we hadn’t been grocery shopping, and with all the stores closed, all we had in the house was some bread and bologna. So we made bologna sandwiches that day, and they were the most delicious Christmas meal I had ever tasted. I can guarantee they will be the best Christmas meal that I will ever have in my life. It was manna from Heaven. My daughter was alive and my family was together on one of the most sacred days of the year. God had truly blessed us with the greatest Christmas gift we could have ever hoped for.
Eventually, Bizzie made a full recovery, and every year for the past 40 years around December 9 – the day we almost lost her – we gather as a family to reflect on how the Lord has blessed us and we share our prayers for the coming year.
This Christmas, there will be other innocent children across America who deserve only to be living out their childhood happy and carefree, but they will be spending Christmas in the hospital. I ask that you take the time to pray for miracles for them and their families, because we know that prayer can do amazing things. And if you know of someone who is suffering at this time of year, think about reaching out and just letting them know you care.
I wanted to share my family’s story with you – even though I can never get through it without tearing up – because it’s my sincerest wish that, amid all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, amid all the political strife, amid all the concerns about our nation’s future, we can all take a moment to, as scripture advises us, “Kindle afresh the gift of God.” Whether it’s our health, the love of family and friends, our prosperity, or our freedoms – we are all truly blessed.
May God continue to bless you all. May you have a very Merry Christmas, and may our Jewish brothers and sisters have a very happy Hanukkah. May we all greet the New Year with a renewed sense of gratitude for what we have and a stronger sense of purpose for what we must do!
All the best,
Kay C. James
Steve Haarman 