Julia Hayde became a social worker to serve as a voice for others. She discovered her passion in the hospice field and felt drawn to supporting families through loss because of her own experiences as a child. “I struggled to make peace with my own grief and wanted to turn this into a way to help others.”
Hospice and pediatrics? Really? Initially, I thought this was an oxymoron. Children are sweet and innocent, and should lead happy, carefree lives into adulthood. Unfortunately, we all know that this isn’t always the case. Some children get sick; some children are bornunhealthy; some are victims of accidents.
National Make a Difference to Children Month is a time when we show our appreciation for the children in our lives by making a positive impact. Whether it’s volunteering our time with community organization that supports local youth, or sharing special gifts with our own children, we strive to make kids feel cherished.
A little embarrassing. A lot humbling. The youngest of our group of friends was turning 50 and we celebrated by dancing the entire evening. The next day was spent reclined and iced. The pain improved, but didn’t resolve, and I had to do things differently because mobility was restricted. Three months later it was time for knee surgery.