On Thursday December 13, 2007 at 6:15pm it may have looked like a police raid on Children's Hospital in Wauwatosa as six Wauwatosa Police Reserve Officers and two Officers from the Wauwatosa Police Department's Community Support Division walked from the parking structure, across the skywalk and into a game room on the 4th floor. It wasn't a raid, but a planned visit. A visit that brought the Police Reserves in uniform bearing stuffed animals, t-shirts, glow bracelets and Junior Police Officer badges.
Many children made their way to the game room to meet with the Officers, talk about what a Police Officer does and of course to get loaded up with some goodies. After visiting with the ambulatory kids in the game room the Officers made their way to the day surgery pods visiting bed sides, posing for pictures and chatting about everything from favorite foods to the best video games. The nurses on duty got into the act by donning glow bracelets and Junior Officer Badges right along with the kids.But the Reserve Officers were not done yet, onward and upward to the 5th floor to meet even more patients. From room to room the Officers were met by smiling boys and girls of all ages, appreciative family and supportive staff. For nearly an hour it was a flurry of high fives, hugs and hand shakes as the blue polyester uniformed men and women went from room to room. Stuffed animals were traded for stories, smiles and thumbs up; badges and glow bracelets for promises of being good. Then it was time to go, visiting hours were over and that applied to our group of Officers as well. As we were escorted out by Child Life personnel they commented that our visit was much appreciated and the kids loved every minute of the time we spent. I am sure that was the case, but I know for a fact that the people who benefited the most from the visit were us. Let me talk about bravery. Yes, our Reserve Officers and regular Officers are a brave bunch, but true bravery was seen at Children's Hospital. It was seen in the staff providing treatment, the families facing up to the realities of their child's illnesses and by the patients who fought the pain and smiled, laughed and talked with us. During our unofficial debriefing back at the Wauwatosa Police Department the Officers shared stories about who they met and some conversations they shared. To a man and woman, this was a trip well worth while, everyone admitting to choking back tears.
A special THANK YOU to Jill Wiench a Child Life Specialist, Elizabeth the Child Life Intern and our own Wauwatosa Police Reserve Officer Ken Harris who until recently worked on the 5th floor for seven years as a Pediatric RN. We all hope this is the beginning of a strong partnership.
