171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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December 2008
Dear faculty, Children's Hospital staff and other friends,
During a recent visit to the NICU, I discovered that a baby who had virtually no chance of survival is still ill but has been stabilized, thanks to the excellent care of our neonatologist at East Cooper Hospital. This baby has been given a chance for life with a good chance of survival and health. This story is seen everyday in our new emergency department and in the intensive care units. These miracles remind me that Christmas time is a time of love, caring, and miracles.
I have been reading a book about the Revolutionary War and all the sacrifices that were made so that we can live in the land of the free. We are all familiar with President-Elect Obama's book The Audacity of Hope. It is this time of year that gives us more faith in religion, our country, and our fellow men. We are given a glimpse of what could be done if each one of us made a stronger effort to be kinder, more generous, and more loving. Imagine the possibilities! We are free and we do have an equal opportunity under the law, however, we must work harder so that all men and women in the United States have the opportunity to have nourishment, a place to sleep, medical care, and hope. These are not things that we can just give away, but we can help people to make their way.
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution help us to fulfill the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The first two promises grant us rights. We must make our own way to happiness. We go into this new holiday season with hope that life in the United States and around the world will be better for all people, big and little. We have seen through the eyes of a family in the NICU the hope which we help to provide. Thanks to each of you, the workers in the clinics, the hospital, the ED, the laboratory, the radiology suites, the operating rooms, and provide us with a clean building and serve us food.
It is up to each of us to mold a better life for ourselves and our children. May we all continue to have hope, strength and belief in our "Land of the Free" and do our best to make 2009 the best ever. Happy holidays!
God bless America, God bless all of you and yours.
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Sincerely,
L. Lyndon Key, MD
Chair, Department of Pediatrics |
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