Spending the Holidays with a Different Kind of Family

With the Christmas holiday almost here, many people are celebrating by not working.  But hospitals, police and fire departments, and other organizations don't stop just because it's Christmas.  Eyewitness News spoke with a few staff members at Faxton St. Luke's who will be working this Sunday.

"Last year I had Christmas off so this year I wanted to share the wealth maybe somebody else could spend it with their family," said Theresa Hagens, a nurse at Faxton. 

The staff we spoke with agree that there's something really special about working on Christmas.  "The atmosphere changes everybody's much jollier and happier," says Kathy Leonard.  "It's actually rewarding," says Hagens, "even though I'm not able to be with my family I'm here with my work family."

While it can be a special day on the job, it can be a difficult one for the patients and their families who are spending their holiday in a hospital.  The workers we spoke with emphasize the great importance of creating a positive atmosphere for those who having a tough time this Christmas.

"We all do our best to accommodate and do whatever it takes to make them happy and make them feel okay," says Rosanne George.  Hagens added, "When someone is ill it's nice to have a friendly, positive, caring atmosphere especially at this time of the year."