Written by Keri & Gus Tarantino

Recently, a small group from The Haven participated in an afternoon visit with residents at the local Rainier Rehabilitation medical center. There were five families in our group, including 10 children ranging in age from 20 months to 5 years that joined in the festivities. We shared a time of Christmas caroling and connecting over holiday crafts.

Our time began with walking through the hallways to sing for residents throughout the facility. Some were unable to leave their room while others were able to join us in the hallway in song. As we were singing, many residents asked to be wheeled out, or waved to our children from their hospital beds. After walking through the halls, we joined the staff in doing a craft project with several residents in the dining hall. We enjoyed painting alongside folks there and had the opportunity to hear about many of their journeys.

Our time at Rainier Rehabilitation certainly seemed to provide holiday cheer and offered a time to visit with many folks who often have few people who come to be with them. However, it extended well beyond the physicality of being together. Some group members were able to join in prayer with residents, broadening our holiday visit to a spiritual one as well. Residents seemed eager to talk, to hear about Lighthouse and were grateful for the time to connect.

In reflecting back on the day, several of The Haven’s group members shared the sentiment of being struck by the simplicity of the time, and yet the profound way in which we were all impacted by the experience we had sharing in the holiday spirit.