because they did not know the
says. “It was really a blessing to have
deliver to Children’s Hospital and
severity of Dax’s diagnosis and had to
the Children’s staff there at Tatum’s
Medical Center.
watch as he endured more testing. In
side. We knew she was taken care of,
“We were able to collect a ton of
addition, they also were in isolation.
and it really made it more like home.”
toys, and my mother and father-in-
“Because they did not want to further compromise Dax’s immune system, anybody who came into the room had to wear a gown and mask,”
law gave a really generous donation
TOY DRIVE FOR THE HOSPITAL
Ben says.
that we were able to give to the floor that Dax stayed on,” Nikki says. “They were able to buy new toys for the playroom and buy toys for the kids
Their daughter, Tatum, then 3 years
On day 21, Ben and Nikki received
that couldn’t go to the playroom.”
old, was allowed to be in the room, but
blood test results that confirmed Dax
When they delivered their donation,
she could not spend the night, and she
was cleared of his diagnosis, and he
they took pictures and, for nostalgia’s
could not play outside the room for
could go home, where he continues
sake, ate lunch at the same cafeteria
the first few days. The new family of
to live a healthy life as a happy and
they used during their three-week
four could only sit, “wait and see,” and
“ornery” toddler today.
stay.
pray for the best.
But to walk away wasn’t enough.
“We’re very thankful for families
Ben and Nikki felt so grateful for the
like Ben and Nikki who, after they’ve
support they received at Children’s
had experiences here, want to give
that they were compelled to step up,
back to us,” says Patterson. “We have
do more and show their appreciation,
thousands of kids that come through
like any leader in life would do.
our
“When Dax’s birthday came around,
hospital on a yearly basis, so our toys
we knew we really wanted to give
get a lot of use. When we get donations
back,” Nikki says. “Children’s had
like what Ben and Nikki provided for
given us a lot that year. We stayed at
us, we get to replenish toys that are in
Children’s all 21 days like it was our
here; we get to refresh the room.”
home. Ben and I shared the same
And the tradition continues. Dax
little couch bed, and we never left. We
turned 2 in March, and they collected
knew we needed to give back because
toys once again for the hospital. Tatum
there were a lot of families there and
also wanted to donate gifts for her
a lot of kids there in need.”
fifth birthday in April, so she collected
THE PLAYROOM A few days into their stay, tests confirmed that Dax’s meningitis was only in his spinal fluid, which meant initial precautions were removed, and the family was able to move about the hospital more. Most importantly, big sister Tatum could go play. Children’s Hospital and Medical Center has a playroom on every floor designed to provide an atmosphere that children are familiar with, says Terry Patterson, manager of family resources at the hospital. “Play and activity is really how
playrooms
and
through
the
So for Dax’s first birthday party, they asked family and friends for toy donations that they then would
children learn about the world,” he says. “Toys, books and games aren’t as frightening as a hospital setting. In the playroom environment, they can come in, just be a kid, do what kids do, and that’s play.” Patterson says once a child finds the playroom, it’s the only place they want to be, and the same was true for Tatum. But it was difficult for Ben and Nikki to leave Dax’s side and be with her, so the hospital stepped in. “They had wonderful volunteers who would go down with her,” Ben The initial toy drive in 2018
52
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Tatum in the playroom with a volunteer named Fred. He would watch and play with her while Ben and Nikki talked to the medical staff at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, Neb..