However, there's something else I do. Every now and then, there's a request for special guest appearances. So far, I've been a cowboy, a leprechaun, a mime, and Uncle Sam. Cowboy Thom showed up at the 1995 pediatric oncology reunion picnic, with his horse 'Gus'. Gus is a special horse... he's only got one wheel. Uncle Sam, on the other hand, had to drop by to make the 4th of July official. That's him juggling, above. Last halloween, a french mime made his way onto the floor, just in time for a Haloween pizza party, and trick-or-treating. He didn't say much, but he got a few laughs! (Except for Leann, who was scared to death of him. There's one clown-phobic in every bunch!)

In March, a leprechaun was running around the floors, handing out 'gold' chocolate coins and stickers willy-nilly. The best moment was when Theresa and I ducked into an elevator, and this little girl being wheeled into the ICU sat straight up in her gurney, and shouted, "A leprechaun!" just as the doors closed on us. (I wonder if they believed her?) That evening, I helped Theresa raise money for the Leukemia Society marathon in June 1998, by donning the leprechaun suit once again; we went bar crawling... and in me best Irish brogue, I got over 65 couples to pitch in $5 for a picture with the leprechaun! I had no voice the next day, but I was pretty excited to have helped raise so much. And yes, I staunchly uphold my title on the button pictured below: "World's Tallest Leprechaun." Theresa raised over $4200 for the Leukemia Society and completed the Alaskan Marathon.

Ultimately, I think that the goal of the volunteering runs parallel to the old axiom, "Laughter is the best medicine." I may not be able to cure cancer, but I want to do something about it all the same. I lost my aunt and my grandfather to cancer, and I think that it's better to be motivated by that to take action, rather than to grieve hopelessly. The numbers keep getting better. I feel tremendously lucky to have met some of the kids who have passed through 7 West; some of them aren't with us anymore, but I firmly believe that it's better to have loved and lost. They're all so brave.

The butterfly beating its wings in China does have an effect on you. Maybe a volunteer sat with a kid while her parents grabbed some dinner. Everybody needs a break; there's nobody that can pull a 24 / 7 shift. So the parents had a chance to chill out, and when they came back, the mood was lighter... the kid was happier, and got better faster.