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Pulse
Special events coordinator turns into elf in December
When it comes to being busy, Santa's elves have nothing on Juliet Veal, MHM, CCLS, in December. The special events coordinator for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta stays busy all year, but during the holidays the fun quotient jumps off the charts.
"Thanks to our generous donors and the Atlanta community, we have something planned for our children and their families every day during December," she said. "Sometimes there's more than one event."
The Atlanta Falcons' Wives group will open a holiday shop where young patients can shop for gifts for their families with Falcon bucks. Starbucks will offer a ¨avored coffee fest for parents. The Coca-Cola Polar Bear plans a visit, as does the Callanwolde Concert Band. Cherokee County firefighters are bringing gifts, and the Merry Maids and Men, regulars for about 15 years, will be back to sing carols.
There will be a holiday party sponsored by college sororities and fraternities. Past patients and corporations are busy gathering gifts, while other community groups are making baby blankets or sleepers and decorating pillowcases to hold gifts that Santa will bring Christmas morning. Behind the scenes, hospital staffers are working as part-time gift-wrappers.
"Everything is donated, and it's a really neat job to be the one responsible for planning all the activities," Veal said. "No one wants to be in the hospital for the holidays and some of our patients are far from home. We just want to do everything we can to make sure each child has a special holiday."
The child care specialist began volunteering for events at the hospital before becoming the of?cial coordinator. "I love this job, and sometimes I do think of myself as an elf. The best part is that I get to be involved with the children in a fun way," she said.
One of her favorite events is the monthly visit of the Happy Tails group, which brings costumed dogs to visit young patients. "I consider it a privilege to be able to do this for families and our children. For parents to see their children smiling and having fun is part of the healing," she said.
Sadly, the number of holiday hospital patients has been growing in recent years. Veal expects there will be between 100 and 150 children at the hospital on Christmas morning. "If it's OK with their parents, every single one of them, plus their siblings, will receive a visit from Santa and gifts," she said.
Before her son was born two years ago, Veal was part of Santa's entourage every Christmas morning.
"The kids don't know, but we actually have several Santas in different parts of the hospital, so that they have more time to visit with each child," she said. "Some of the kids are worried that Santa won't find them in the hospital. Watching their faces as they first see him coming through their door is a sight you never forget."
