Girl gives birthday presents to hospital

Van Wert County Hospital news

A mature-beyond-her-years young Van Wert girl recently presented Van Wert County Hospital with a bountiful bag of gifts she unselfishly donated to the hospital from her recent birthday party.

This year, Whitley Fast, 9, a third-grade student at Van Wert Elementary School, requested that her only birthday wish be to give to those in need.

“I felt sorry for the kids that needed things,” says Fast, when asked why she gave up her own gifts for others.

After she and her mother contacted the hospital, Whitley, with the help of her parents, Tisha and David Fast, prepared her birthday part guests for her gift giving idea. Friends and family members invited to her ninth birthday party were informed of her request to bring a gift, not for her, but to be donated to the hospital.

“Everyone was extremely supportive,” Whitley said. “They donated coloring books, crayons, markers, sketch books, activity books and a stuffed animal.”

Sammi Joseph, director of inpatient services for the hospital, said she could tell Whitley was excited when she brought the gifts into the hospital.

“I could see on her face when she arrived at the hospital that just bringing in the gifts for others made her ninth birthday even more special for her,” Joseph noted. “It was an invaluable gift for Whitley, too, in immeasurable ways.”

The hospital was very appreciative of Whitley’s donation, and inpatient children and adolescents of all ages will benefit from her donated items. Many of the items will be placed in the inpatient community area, so that children who come to the hospital have the option of using the items throughout the day for entertainment.

“Her donation will provide an alternative means of activity for our inpatient children,” said Sheila Brokenshire, VWCH vice president of nursing. “Hopefully, something as genuine as having a gift, given from the heart, available for their daytime recreation will help them to keep their minds occupied and delight them during their stay.”

This time of year, especially, Van Wert County Hospital welcomes gracious thought-inspired gift giving. “As we approach the holiday season, it is overwhelmingly heartwarming to know that generous individuals have selflessly placed others above themselves,” Joseph said. “Being in the hospital doesn’t nearly compare to the joy of celebrating with friends and loved ones at home; but, considering the circumstances, it is certainly rewarding to see a sparkle in our guests’ eyes as we surprise our patients with a glimmer of spirit and hope during their stay with us.

“It is donations such as Whitley’s that are able to provide that essence of kindred love to them, and for that, we are grateful,” Joseph added.

Whitley and countless other people have donated and volunteered their time and efforts toward making Van Wert County Hospital the most caring and compassionate place to receive healthcare services.

“We thank Whitley and her family for thinking of us and our patients. We are certainly blessed by her selfless generosity,” Joseph said.

Van Wert County Hospital is dedicated to helping provide hope and healing to patients, and to improving health and wellness for the entire community. To become a volunteer or learn more about ways that you can help make a difference in an individual’s life, contact Amy Rode, Patient and Community Relations Coordinator, at 419.238.8623. For more information about Van Wert County Hospital, visit its website at www.vanwerthospital.org.