One of the head physicians in Pediatric Oncology told Dillon and Luca, on our second day here, that he would teach them to Pole Surf.
The day passed and there was no surf lesson. The next day Luca asked me about pole surfing and he said that Dr. McKinnell had 'promised' to teach him. Well, the doc didn't come and didn't come. Luca overheard the nurses talking and he comes rushing up to me and says...."I heard that Dr. McKinnell is here, can I go find him and ask about pole surfing." I figured it was okay since the doctor HAD been the one to mention it. The hunt was on. Luca walked through the halls several times and then he finally spotted Dr. McKinnell standing and speaking with a nurse. He stood close by and waited and waited and waited. The doc finally noticed him and said, " Hey Luca, do you need something." Well Luca promptly refreshed the doctor's memory about his PROMISE to teach him and his brother how to pole surf. Dr. McKinnell's face lit up and off they went to find Dill Pickle and George.
This doctor is one of those adults who secretly wishes they were still a kid...so he imparts fun and slightly crazy, dangerous, and out-of-control activities on the kids who are hospitalized.
So the way it works is this:
The patient stands on the legs that stick out of the IV pole. They then hold onto the pole and the doctor pushes them at a full speed run down the hallway.
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| Luca Pole Surfing with Dr. McKinnell |
After Dr. McKinnell tried to take Luca around a corner and they tipped the pole over and almost ended up in a pile on the floor, the surgeon that was going to be doing D's surgery the next morning came in and gave the doc a lecture about how unsafe that activity was and that he could have caused a serious head injury to Luca. With a smirk and a laugh Dr. McKinnell teased the surgeon that he did not remember how to have fun and he needed to loosen up. It was very funny and of course the boys LOOOOVEEEEDDDD it, and love Dr. McKinnell as a result. I bet he is everyone's favorite doctor. Dillon did have the strength or energy to pole surf himself, but he had a ball watching those two crazy nuts zipping up and down the hall.
It's great that Dr. McKinnell is there to impart his sense of humor at the hospital. Attitude is 99.99% of healing and I'm betting he's savy to that fact...
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE Dr. McKinnell! And he will help Dillon heal in ways that will lift your heart.
ReplyDeleteI know this because our son, Cody, was diagnosed with T-cell A.L.L. (leukemia) in 2004 at age 9 and Dr. McKinnell was a major player in Cody's treatment and recovery. Cody is now 17, will be a senior and is enjoying great health.