We had been camped out in a Durham hotel after my daughter's pre-op appt. that Friday December 19th since a blizzard kept us from coming home to Asheville and our daughter's spinal cord surgery to put a shunt in was to be on Monday Dec. 21st., we couln't risk going home and not being able to get back to Duke for her operation. Needless to say, we didn't bring any presents for Christmas in the hospital due to this fact. Wouldn't you know, Santa has elves that helped him bring a sack full of toys to her on Christmas Eve morning! We found out that Santa must visit children in hospitals first before the rest of the world later Christmas Eve night! I have to say I will forever be grateful to the generous spirits that volunteered in the Ronald McDonald room on Christmas Eve and in the PICU at Duke Children's Hospital in Durham, NC. You see, my daughter was recovering from spinal cord surgery that week and I was the only one with her as my husband stayed with my 2 younger children in Asheville, NC. Needless to say, I was beyond exhausted and money was very tight as we approached Christmas Eve, I had no money left and was eating snacks from the Ronald McDonald Room for my dinner that Eve. Soon, I was told that all the parents of the children in the hospital could come to a Christmas Eve dinner in one of the meeting areas. I was so relieved-- a real dinner with wonderful desserts included! What that did for my lonely spirit that night as I was separated from my husband and 2 other children with Christmas the next morning! So, my husband and I thank you, all the staff and volunteers at Duke Children's Hospital for making an unbearable time in our lives, bearable.