It was just after New Years 2013 when I surprised my grand daughter, Mila with a few gifts. Never needed a special day or reason to give. One of them was a warm fleeced winter jacket. PINK! She smiled! She tried it on. She said she loved it. Mila’s smile warmed my heart. They always do.
It was a colder than normal January. Bitterly cold! I was running my winter sponge hockey program on the large outdoor hockey rink at the Behavioural Health Foundation in St Norbert area at south edge of Winnipeg ….also known as the BHF treatment facilities. A location that had seen many transitions. An orphanage in the 30’s and 40’s whereby the good nuns would care for infants and those orphans mostly under 5 years of age. Many a time the nuns would find newly born babies bundled and left at the front door.
In the 50’s and 60’ it gave way to a seminary. Then in the 70’s X-Kalay became the new tenants helping those struggling with alcohol and addictions. Its success in and for the countless many let it morph into the BHF which presently treats both men and women (separate floors) in residence and it’s still flourishing. Seemingly and regrettably …a growing undertaking.
I came to appreciate all that the BHF facilities and staff were providing for many struggling souls. One was my son, Rob. He will be the subject of another sharing…not here…not yet. But I will share that he turned out to be a good ‘stat’…a ‘good news’ story! Rob is presently a counselor up in northern Manitoba at the Frontier Collegiate and celebrating almost 10yrs DRUG and ALCOHOL free!! And gifted me with both a grand son and grand daughter (numbers 8 and 11 of 14!!!!) I cannot thank enough those at BHF whom cared for him for over a year.
Back to that cold January of 2013! I visited almost daily to the BHF to lunch or have supper with Rob. Within a few weeks of visiting in the fall of 2012 I soon became on first names basis with many of the 100+ residents. The residents were NOT allowed to leave the BHF ground and had to go thru the treatment process that would eventually allow them to earn day, weekend, work passes. Rob had mentioned that the outdoor ‘weathered’ and ‘seen better days’ rink at the BHF was no longer maintained or in use and maybe I would consider having my hockey programs at BHF.
And thanks to Rob and his situation…I looked into just that! I met with the Executive Director at BHF and offered to maintain the unused hockey rink that would allow me to also invite the residents to participate too if I could also have my league teams playing. AND THEY DID! The residents formed a coed team and two mens’ teams. I dropped off several boxes of spongee shoes, bundles of hockey sticks, and several sets of jerseys. I became amazed at how more and more residents, many whom never ever played in team sports…would show up early or watch from their windows for me to arrive at the rink and begin working on the ice!
I would hurry to pull the hose in after several quick light floods to the rink and get my referee clothes on and head back onto the rink. To be honest, I had more fun than them! Watching them play. Hearing them laugh. Seeing them celebrate a goal. For those few hours each week…they were NOT residents in TREATMENT. They were ‘kids’ again!
The protocol at BHF was using first names ONLY (residents). And I noticed that quite a few did not have even winter gloves, toques, scarf or proper JACKETS. Having several thrift stores aware of my free youth sports programs, I would get sizable discounts and also donations from friends and long time participants within our veteran teams. Each week I would replenish the boxes in the outdoor warm up room adjacent to the rink. And as hoped, …seeing the boxes marked FREE TO TAKE.…those in need would rummage thru looking for matching gloves and more!
There was one girl, Stephanie…around 16 or 17…that only wore a light weight hoodie every week. Even in minus 30 degrees! She was a loner. SHY! But she still wanted to play. I had put a pair of gloves and scarf aside for her. She shyly accepted them without a smile or a thank you. I did NOT mind. I sensed that this was a girl that had gone through far too much within her young life. I would watch her play. And just wanted to hear one laugh from her or see a smile. But never happened! And I accepted that. And I struggled with NOT asking how she was doing or if she needed a jacket. Maybe I would have someone else ask her.
Then just a couple weeks after giving Mila that pink warm winter jacket, I found myself sitting at my daughter Ricki’s …having super with her, 14 year old Mila and 4 year old Ella. I had not seen Mila wear that jacket since she first tried it on. I felt moved to ask her if she really liked it. That it would be alright if she didn’t. And that I had another young girl that I could give it to. Mila said she did not want to hurt my feelings but she did not like the color pink! LOL… She was happy that I could give it to a girl in need.
I kept the jacket in my car intending to give it to Stephanie at the next game. But she did not show up. Was told that she was sick with a bad cold. I wasn’t surprised, with her only wearing a hoodie outside. The jacket stayed in my car. Over a week passed and the cold temps persisted. I was leaving the BHF after having supper with Rob. Exiting the BHF… starting and warming up my car and shuddering, I was about to back up when I noticed a girl walking quite quickly at the front of my car towards the BHF entrance . I stopped my car…jumped out and said. “ Stephanie?” She turned. It was her. She said “Hi, John.”
Her ‘Hi John’ gave me hope! I said “Stephanie, my grand daughter Mila gave me a special jacket just for you.” I reached into the rear seat…grabbed it, walked it to her…and said I hope you will accept if it fits you, Stephanie. She held it up as to see if it may fit…then to my surprise, she tried it on…over her hoodie and zipped it up! IT WAS A PERFECT FIT! She said “THANK YOU!” But she still did NOT smile. Seemed it was not within her make up! I asked if I could take a picture of her wearing the jacket so I could show Mila.
She said YES and asked me to thank Mila. After taking the picture…I wished her a good evening.. turned and started to walk back to my car….then I loudly heard “John!!” I looked back….and then heard her say “Thank you, John ..today is my birthday!” Then the slightest of a smile was sent my way. To me…it was a GOLDEN GIFT! I wanted to run to her and give her the biggest hug ever. But I just could not! Actually froze in my tracks. I sensed that this ‘wounded’ girl still could not feel comfortable within the arms of a caring man. Once inside my car…I reached for tissue! I always have a box on hand! Now I would go make Mila smile!
I will never forget a GIFT GIVEN TWICE!