Dayton Children's Hospital

by: BrianKenobi

photo courtesy of Jedineeson

One of the most rewarding things we get to do is visit kids in the hospital.  Members of the Great Lakes Base and Ohio Garrison made an appearance at Dayton Children's Hospital.  We were there to visit a young boy named Luke.  A few weeks ago, a nurse asked Luke if he wanted anything else before she left his room.  He replied, "a wookiee."  Little did he know that the wheels of action started turning.  The nurse relayed that message to a woman named Samantha, whose daughter was in the same hospital a year ago that still helps out – and Samantha just happens to know me!  Soon after I got a phone call from Dayton Children's and was told about Luke’s request.  On the day they requested, GLB and OG descended upon Dayton Children's Hospital; including Marc "Marcus" Gau as the mighty Tarfful. 

"it's what we do!"

While our resident Wookiee and Luke Skywalker (played by myself) waited in a separate room, a nurse met Luke in the hallway and told him she had a friend waiting to meet him. That is when I stepped around the corner -- Luke meets Luke!  Luke was presented with some Rebel Legion and 501st patches as well as trading cards.  Next, the nurse and I lead Luke into the room with his family and all the characters.  Luke's facial expressions told the story.  Then, Tarfful walks in -- and Luke was speechless!  We took a lot of pictures with Luke and his family.

But the mission wasn't done yet.  The GLB and OG members went for a stroll around the halls, which the all the nurses at the nurse’s station thought was the best thing ever.  There was a touching moment with a little boy that I was so happy to witness: I was in a room with a little boy dressed in his Avengers pajamas.  Tarfful walked in to the boys delight.  The kid stood up in his bed -- carefully not to disrupt the 6 or so tubes in him -- to get a better look at the wookiee.  Marc walked over to the boy’s bed to get a picture.  The boy reached out and hugged Marc and then got a few pictures taken.  It was a great moment to see.