Why (We) Love R2-D2

by: Kurt Zimmerman

photo courtesy FoogyOne

This morning R2-D2 and I had the privilege of visiting the University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, with several members of the 501st and Rebel Legion. There is always at least one memorable surprise with any hospital visit, and today did not disappoint.

R2 and I at first visited rooms on our own while the rest of our Star Wars group suited up.  We went from room to room, accompanied by a hospital nurse, to visit the young patients who could not leave their rooms to see all the characters in the conference room.  There were photos, wide grins, happy waves, and appreciative glances from moms and envious looks from dads who wished they had their own R2-D2; nothing out of the ordinary.

We then visited a young lady who was resting peacefully in her bed, her eyes closed.  Her nurse and mom both told her she had a visitor, and R2 let out a happy beep for hello.  There was no response and her mom said, “Look, R2 is waving at you,” and the young patient glanced over, unimpressed at the astromech’s waving utility arms.

 It is difficult to know exactly what to do when you visit a patient’s room, since going in as strangers we are unaware of the challenges they are facing.  This young lady was very lethargic, possibly a victim of a stroke or head injury? (I didn’t know?)  But R2 is not one to be ignored, so he carefully nudged up to the young lady’s bed until he touched it.  Then he gently pushed, and pushed again -- and again.  Before long, he had the hospital bed rocking back and forth.  He let out a cheerful series of beeps and kept nudging his way into the bed.

Like I mentioned earlier, each outing yields at least one surprise, and this young lady, who was once indifferent to her mechanical visitor, started to giggle.  It was subdued at first, but as R2 continued to demand her attention, she started laughing.  Despite the obvious challenges she was dealing with earlier, she was now fully engaged and laughing!

Her mom stood nearby, shocked. Her trembling hand covered her open mouth, and she was weeping.  I can only guess that this was the first time she had seen her daughter laugh since whatever distress had befallen her; there was no way for me to know?  But the nurse who had been escorting R2 and me between rooms suddenly left the room, also in tears, mumbling something like: “well, that was awesome…”

R2 stopped rocking and tried another utility arm wave.  This time, the young patient responded by raising her arm, fingers splayed in all directions, weakly waving back.  The moment had been made, for everyone present to remember forever.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I love R2D2!