March 31, 2015
Story and photo by Heather Kipling
When Chris Repp received his meal one afternoon at the Vermilion Hospital and Care Centre, he wasn’t expecting to also receive a note of encouragement from a local elementary school student.
“It definitely brightened my day when I saw it,” Repp recalls.
The 30-year-old Vermillion man has seen many hospital meal trays since suffering a traumatic injury in his early twenties.
“Seven and a half years ago I fell in the shower and ended up paralyzed” explains Repp, whose latest hospital stay was prompted by a pressure sore infection.
He’s had more than twenty surgeries and eaten countless hospital suppers in the years since his fall, but he had never received anything but food on his dinner tray until a note of encouragement arrived on a piece of yellow construction paper.
The little star-shaped letter was written by a grade two student at a Vermillion area elementary school, as part of an initiative by Food and Nutrition Services and Volunteer Resources to increase patient meal satisfaction by making a more appealing meal service display.
“I contacted the elementary schools in Vermilion, and proposed that they make a weekly craft,” explains Volunteer Coordinator Heather MacMillan, who advised teachers to make hand hygiene a priority during the crafting session. One of the teachers came up with the star-shaped notes, one of which ended up on Repp’s meal tray.
Repp was touched by the token, but felt the need to respond to the student who wrote “you are a star” on the craft. He turned over the construction paper star and wrote back to the child.
“I just wanted to say I’m not really a star,” says Repp, “I’m just a guy who’s going through some tough times and I’m sick right now.”
In his response to the youngster, Repp suggested children should consider their teachers, friends and families as the real stars in their lives. He hopes his message of can be part of the wider lesson the kids are learning by creating crafts for patients.
“Most of these kids have probably known people who’ve been in the hospital, but they might not know how tough it is. I think it’s a good idea to make the kids aware, and help them understand what people are going though."
According to MacMillan, more children will have the opportunity to learn these lessons while making crafts that bring a smile to hospital diners. The program has been expanded zone wide, with participating schools and auxiliary groups creating crafts to decorate the trays of patients.
Meanwhile, Repp says he is looking forward to his release from hospital, and is already making plans to volunteer at an area school.
