JULY 6, 2008 - TORONTO SICK KIDS.

Toronto Sick Kids is a huge hospital compared to Cheo. The grandkids were amazed at the sheer size of it. On the main floor they have a large cafeteria, The Terrace... where you can choose to eat from many different restaurants. They also have Starbucks, Tim Horton's, BurgerKing & a soup & sandwich restaurant.
The elevators in the Atrium are made of glass so as you go up to different levels you can see below you. It's modern, kid-friendly and very clean.
We decided to have breakfast before admitting Mr. T.
Mr. T refused to eat. He decided at first glance that he was having none of this hospital. We begged & pleaded & nagged....but nothing doing. I think Mr. T was afraid...and I don't blame him. The size alone of Sick Kids can be intimidating for someone coming from a small hospital. Finally we let him sit at the terrace, while we went to get breakfast. When we got back with our food...Mr. T was just sitting there looking so alone and sad. He wanted to go back to Cheo.
His Uncle assured him that this was just another step on his journey to good health. He explained to him that this transplant was necessary for Mr. T to have in order for him to live a long, healthy life.
I told my grandson...that I was well aware of his feelings of sadness & anger...and that he had every right to feel that way...but we were a team...and the plan was to get Mr. T well and get him home....and we needed him as the primary team member to co-operate & help us get the plan on the road. I told him this could be a wonderful experience or a dreadful one...depending on our attitude. Is our glass half-empty or half-full? It didn't take long for Mr. T to decide. He was back in good spirits in no time at all.
As soon as we got up to 8B - the Bone Marrow Unit....they were expecting us. Right away they showed us to our room. And we're in Room 70! At Cheo...we had Room 7...and at Ronald Mcdonald House we had Room 7. It seems the number 7 keeps coming up! They call this a 'step-down' room. We will be in this room till he has the bone marrow transplant on July 17th.
I am able to sleep in this room. They have a steel built-in cot with a mattress for me to sleep on...and drawers underneath for storage. He also has a bathroom which I can't use...because when you are receiving chemo....your urine is very strong...and it could be dangerous to use the same facilities. There is a shower & bathroom in the hallway for parents & caregivers to use.
My son & his wife are allowed on the Unit...but sadly...Mr. T's sister wasn't. She had to wait outside the Unit while T's uncle set up his X-box and games. Only people on the visiting list are allowed to enter the unit...no children under 18. They feel it might compromise the health of the children here. After all Mr. T has been through....we wouldn't want to endanger his health at this point. We're on our way....to new beginnings!