What do three families stuck in a children’s hospital – let alone the oncology floor – do on Thanksgiving Day?

Throw a parade, of course.

At precisely 1:51 p.m., patients, brothers, sisters, moms, dads, nurses, doctors and friends stepped off on Three East at A.I. du Pont Hospital for Children/Nemours for the inaugural Thanksgiving Day Parade. Balloons, remote control cars, silly string, bubbles, marching band music, signs and even a red wagon float generated lots of laughter and revelry on what otherwise would’ve been a boring afternoon.  We all laughed as we meandered back and forth in disorderly fashion down the hallway.

For me this parade brought a lot of celebration and levity and even tradition on what isn’t an easy day to be away from home. Tradition is a big thing for me.   I’m used to being in the kitchen cooking all morning to prepare for the big feast with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on the TV in the background. I love greeting family at my door as they come for dinner. And of course dinner, dessert, wine and football make me so happy.

These past two years my family has gotten used to having to abandon tradition. A year ago, the four of us celebrated quietly at a restaurant as Nate recuperated from open-heart surgery. This year, we have leukemia to contend with. Today we can’t even all be together.   Unfortunately Sam can’t come to the hospital today because he’s not feeling well so Ted is home taking care of him.

Thankfully my dear friend Jenn traveled all the way from Boston to be with us today so I’ve had great company all morning. She’s also the best partner in crime I know.  She was the perfect person to help me get this parade started.  We also are blessed to have two other wonderful families staying on Three East with us this Thanksgiving.  They share our sense of humor.

As it turns out, the Griffiths have so much to be thankful for  — we have each other, a wonderful extended family, the dearest of friends (old and new), the best medical providers and a pretty great life.