Twas the Night Before…Chaplains Save…Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, from rooftop to basement

Not a creature was stirring, not even a patient

The call lights were quiet, yet nurses ready to care

But hoping no codes would blast through the air

The patients were nestled all snug in their beds

While visions of jello danced in their heads

And chaplains were home in their night caps

Just settled down for a long winters nap

When all of their pagers went off with a clatter

They each one called to see what was the matter

Away to the hospital they flew like a flash

Tore out their badges and parked with a crash

The lights from the ambulances had quite a glow

Adding to the urgency to walk fast and not slow

When what to their wondering eyes should appear

But a waiting room full of people and no one with cheer

They saw a nurse running, so lively and quick

They knew in a moment someone was sick

More rapid than eagles the chaplains they came

Barry whistled, and shouted and called them by name

Now Phil, Drew, David, Ann Carol, Sonya & Ted

On Kim, Kevin, Olga, Fr George, Clay, Lance, & David

To the top of 7 Main to the One South ICU

Go find him, the patient that’s needing you

Barry called in help as the Chaplains said please do,

Quick as a flash in, Carolyn and Fr. Paul flew

As fast as the elevators go floor to floor

The chaplains they scurried like mice coming in the door

They checked in with nurses, secretaries and pcas

They talked to security and ran down stairways

And then in a twinkling they heard overhead

A code exit, to look for a man all clad in red

As they entered the lobby and turned toward the sound

It looked like St Nicholas was hangin’ round

He was dressed in a hospital gown open in the back

They politely stood in front to avoid seeing his crack

He said he appreciated the care he received

But now you must listen, for it’s Christmas Eve

His eyes how they twinkled! Pupils dilated a bit

His IV fluids glistened and continued to drip

The chaplains held a meeting in conference room A

And tried to think of a My Learning to show them the way

They decided to ask him some open-ended questions

They asked him to tell more, to see if he suffered depression

A wink of his eye and expression of emotions

Told the chaplains he had quite a Christmas devotion

Enough of the chatter he said with a bellow

Now get some pants from the clothes closet for this fellow

They gave one another a nod, and found him a robe

Prayed for his safety and trip round the globe

They talked to house sup to get Santa discharged

And cleared the code exit regarding a man at large

He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle

But they heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight

St Vincent’s has the best chaplains, and the good Lord knows I’m right!

Chaplain Kim Crawford-Meeks, copyright 12.06.18