​When the Hospital Became Our Home

​Christmas has always been a sacred time for our family, but this year, our traditions took an unexpected turn. Instead of gathering around the tree in our living room to celebrate the birth of our Savior, we found ourselves gathered in the family room of the Madison hospital.

​While the setting was different, the spirit of the season has never felt more present.

​A Lighthearted Start

​My journey began the week before Christmas with surgery at CCM Health in Montevideo. I cannot say enough about the incredible surgical team there. They managed to turn a stressful moment into one filled with laughter; we even joked about broadcasting the procedure live on KLQP! Seeing the smiles on the doctors and nurses as they “practiced” their on-air intros put me completely at ease. It is a top-notch facility, and I am so grateful for their care.

​However, complications arose thanks to me, and by Tuesday afternoon, I was admitted to the hospital in Madison. It quickly became clear that I wouldn’t be heading home for the holidays.

​The “Christmas Angel”

Roxie and I were heartbroken. Our plans for a prime rib dinner at our son Brandon’s house in Montevideo—complete with all the trimmings and the chaos of the grandkids—seemed to be slipping away. We then resigned ourselves to the idea that the family would celebrate at our home in Madison, and I would see them for a brief visit after they had dinner at the hospital.

​Then, a Christmas angel appeared in the form of my nurse, Brittany Engesmoe.

​After overhearing our situation, Brittany didn’t just offer sympathy; she offered a solution. “We have a room downstairs,” she told Roxie. “You can bring Christmas here to Paul.”

​Making Spirits Bright

​While Roxie went home to gather the presents under our tree, Brittany, along with nurse Nicole Hillman, went to work. They didn’t just find us a room; they transformed it. They assembled and decorated a Christmas tree in about half an hours time, put a glowing Yule log on the big screen with holiday music, and wrote a beautiful message on the whiteboard: “Merry Christmas, Raymo Family.”

​When Roxie returned with totes of gifts, Nicole helped her downstairs. Seeing the decorated tree and the other holiday decorations, Roxie was moved to tears. These wonderful women had spent their shift ensuring our family didn’t miss out on the magic of the season.

​Laughter, Love, and… Lessons

​When my family arrived, the room was immediately filled with the best kind of medicine: laughter. True to the Raymo spirit, the conversation wasn’t exactly “formal.” In fact, we began discussing bowel movements and even took a family vote on who had pooped that day! The grandchildren even voted! It might not be a traditional Christmas topic for some, but for us, it was a reminder that we can find humor in even the toughest health battles.

​We kept our most cherished traditions alive. My granddaughter Adelyn read the Christmas story out of her own Bible so beautifully, followed by Gretta and Eli reading holiday tales. We took photos by the tree, and the grandkids handed out presents—starting with the youngest and ending with me, the oldest. We had a few family members missing that night, but we used Facetime to connect with them.

​A Lasting Gift

​We will be talking about this Christmas for the rest of our lives. It wasn’t the Christmas we planned, but thanks to the extraordinary staff at Madison Healthcare Services, it was one of the most meaningful ones we’ve ever had. They reminded us that “home” isn’t a building—it’s wherever your family is gathered.

​Update: I am now back home and doing wonderful. It feels so good to be back in my recliner, but I’ll never forget what people from Madison Healthcare Services did for me and my family.