The Man in the Blue Coat with a Tigger

Have you ever met a person that made a huge impact in your life, but you didn't realize just how much until years later?

When I was growing up I spent so much time in Children's Hospital in Detroit that we referred to it as my second home. From age 13-25 I was in the hospital 2-3 times a year from 3-5 weeks each time. Not the coolest way to grow up, but great things did come from it...like being able to make life long friendships with the people of CHM and 5West. I/We (CF and other frequent flyers) spent more time with some nurses and doctors than their own families did. Sad for them but great for us because they were our families 24 hours a day!  We had meals together, celebrated Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween and New Years and did things that would surely get them fired if anyone ever found out. These lips are sealed. I love and miss my Wild Wild West crew so much. The 6C crew at UofM is treating me fine and they're a really great group too! Luckily my health has been so good that I've only been in 5 times in 5 years and can do my IV's at home. Thank you exercise, good food and Blue Lighting!

So, where am I going with this? It comes back to the great people you meet when you spend months each year in the hospital. Of course there are nurses, docs, techs that wake up at 4am for blood pressure, the amazing housekeepers, RT's, PT's OT's, child life, the dietary peeps, etc. These people are all working for you. And then there are the people who take hours out of their days just to try and do one thing...make patients smile. They may be at the hospital when the sun rises, or stay until the sun goes down. They take trips to the library for you, play UNO, do crafts, play bingo...or, just take time to talk with you.

His name was Mort. He was man in his mid to late 60's. He always wore pleated dress slacks hiked up high with a tucked in dress shirt; always wearing navy or gray New Balance sneakers. His royal blue volunteer jacket had a Tigger stuffed animal sewn into his pocket and he always had a little book or notepad and a pen to write with. This was to make sure he wrote down the exact book, magazine or tape that you wanted from the library. Or in my case, to remember what theatre books or plays to bring from home.

I met Mort when I was in my late teens. He was a very gentle and kind man. Rich with the knowledge and the passion for theatre was something we both shared, and this allowed us hour long conversations. He loved to tell me about the yearly trips he took with his wife to the Shaw Theatre Festival at Niagara On The Lake in Canada. Shaw was his guy and I loved to hear what shows he got to see each year and then comparing with what I saw on Broadway that year.

Each time he entered my room he had a story, family update, or new picture of his grand children to show me. When he would get excited about something in a story he would throw his arms back and up and rise up on his toes, his voice rising slightly. A trademark that he owned.

Ask anyone who worked on 5 West and they will agree, Mort was notorious for roaming the halls even before breakfast was being delivered to our rooms. And at a Children's hospital you know nobody is awake then, especially CF patients who sleep until noon and never turn on their lights. I on the other hand liked to be awake early to catch all the action and never miss a thing... and Mort knew this. A bright and early light knock on the door and a glimpse of the Tigger in the door window and I knew it was time for Mort.  A couple days each week he would stroll in with a smile and a "Hello Emily," saying Emily how my grandma did...Emmly..this is something I just remembered, and I love it.

When I switched to adult care and had my first hospitalization at U of M I not only missed my 5 West family but I also realized that I missed the stuff that came with the kids hospital; crafts, bingo, the playroom, Child Life, volunteers, and Mort.

On Monday I got news from my mom that Mort had passed away on Friday. My friend and nurse from 5 West called me and told me the details. It sounds like it had been pretty sudden and unexpected. She also told me that on Monday she had her last conversation at the hospital with him. He had one question for her that day...."How is Emmly doing?" That was the question... I'll answer this question for him now:
Mort I am doing incredibly well and I've never felt better. I've seen a ton of Broadway shows since we last talked, some you would like and some you would shake your head at. I am glad to say that you helped shape me into who I am today. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me, like an adult, even when I was a dorky teen or mo hawked drummer. And thanks for listening too. I can speak for the hundreds and possibly thousands of lives that you've touch and say that we will miss you, your smile, your stories and your Tigger.

XO,
Emily