As promised, here is the story that was referred to in the
previous post about the doctor's mask. You may remember this mask from
Wiley's quarantine adventure in the Brisbane airport. But first...
One of the favorite 'toys' that the boys own is not what you would expect (or maybe it is). It's not their cars and trucks, although they do really love those. It's not even the assortment of balls, building blocks, or toy airplanes and trains that they play with each and every day. Possibly the most asked for 'toy' that they own, and that is often stored away in the closet, is none other than a cardboard box that we received two years ago from their Uncle Kevin that had Christmas gifts inside. I bet you thought it was going to be the doctor's mask, didn't you? We will get there, but first the box...
A cardboard box can be anything you want it to be, and Aden and Wiley can have quite the imaginations. It is almost essential for an MK living in a remote part of the world, and living at a Mission Hospital certainly fuels that imagination. While the cardboard box has been many different things over the past two years, this past week was definitely influenced by our surroundings. As most of you know, last month we opened a new hospital. We spent days moving equipment and patients from the old hospital to the new facility about 50 yards (meters) away. How could we not see this one coming?
One day, Aden and Wiley came pushing/pulling (one on each end) the cardboard box through the house. As they pass through the kitchen, we notice that it is full of toys from their bedroom. They empty it all into the living room, and return for another load. As they pass through again, we ask them what they are doing. They responded matter-of-factly, "we are moving from the old hospital to the new hospital." They were all business as they quickly dumped another load and returned to what would now be referred to as the "old hospital" in their bedroom. We somehow convinced them that they had moved enough, since we didn't want the entire bedroom in the living room. Shortly after this, here comes the box again. This time, it is the ambulance. It made one round with Aden pushing it and he said he had to go pick up a patient that was sick and take him to the new hospital. A couple of minutes later, here comes the 'ambulance' passing through the kitchen.
At this point, Aden is now wearing the doctor mask. Wiley is sitting in the box being pulled along. He proudly says, "Daddy, look who is in the bambublance? It's Wiley!" (big smile) "I'm sick!" They proceed to what is now referred to as the "new hospital" in the living room. Wiley is instructed by Dr. Uncle Bill (Aden) to lie down on the bed. Still grinning from ear to ear, Wiley hops on the couch and lies down on his back and lifts up his shirt and says, "Aden, cut my tummy."
Dr. Uncle Bill left at this point, in the ambulance of course, to go back for supplies. He returns and proceeds to 'prep' Wiley for his apparent upcoming surgery. He was very efficient and fast as he went through all of his protocol. First, he gave Wiley some medicine (a random toy that has been designated as medicine). He then gave him the necessary shot. This was another random toy of theirs that he used to poke Wiley's tummy. And now, he was ready for the incision. With Wiley's shirt still pulled up, Dr. Uncle Bill makes a few motions on Wiley's tummy and finishes the surgery with the obligatory back massage, which apparently concludes all medical procedures in our house (hospital). After this, Wiley jumped up and hopped back into the ambulance. Of course, it was now his turn to be Dr. Bubu Jim and so he took the mask and traded places with Aden and it all played out again.
Once the Christmas decorations came out, we had to have a break from the box and its daily moving of the old hospital to the new. However, the medical treatment continues. Just this week, Daddy was told, "Daddy, I'm the doctor and you need to lie down. You have scarlet fever!" Who would have thought that a cardboard box and a disposable surgical mask could provide so much entertainment?
No sooner had she thought that, then we found out that some others had this same idea. This past Sunday, Christmas Sunday, a whole group of us went to the hospital. There were angels, shepherds, Wise Men, and of course Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. We went from ward to ward (three in all). There was a trumpet trio that played some carols for us to sing, made up of none other than Bubu Jim, Uncle Bill, and Uncle Andy. And then, while Uncle Jeff read the story, we acted it out. Mommy and Daddy were very proud of Aden's performance as a Wise Man (he was the one carrying the myrrh, by the way).
Wiley gave a stellar performance as a shepherd, carrying his sheep to the stable. While we enjoyed getting to dress up, we were also very honored to be a part of such an important story being told, for maybe the first time to some of the patients. What a great experience for the boys. They even learned lines (from verses) that they are still quoting this week, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." It really STILL is the greatest story ever told.
