For the first time in years I remembered something that I did while in college... I volunteered at a large Children's Hospital - just to do it. I could not believe what CHILDREN had to live with... Sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis and then all sorts of other debilitating, painful diseases and conditions... I had health, resources and a heart of gratitude. I asked the director to place me anywhere, to give me any child. "Anyone?".... and they did.

They provided a brief description of the child, but it was not enough preparation for what met me. To tell you the truth, I don't know if it was male or female.. the child had a few fangs protruding from a hole in it's face. The eye sockets were indescribable. The limbs were like twigs and blobs. There weren't ears. The child was in a crib in a room all alone. I was asked to stay with the child so that it knew someone was in the room. Permission was given to pick the child up if I desired.

The child was three years old but weighed 18 pounds and had been abandoned. It sensed I was in the room and made some noises. I HAD to pick it up. Forgive me for calling the child an it... I really don't know that it had a sex.... the child did what any child will do upon being held and cuddled... it began to make purring and cooing sounds. It snuggled into my arms and chest... it horrified me and yet I felt compelled to hold it and love it. SOMEONE had to hold the child!!!

I repeated the visit a few more times over the next couple weeks... When time came for me to leave the room, and I would set it down, the most terrified horrific sounds of a child abandoned followed me.

Then one day the child was gone, and I don't know what happened.