The hospital is not a place people want to be spending Christmas, but often times many do because they want to be with their loved ones who are getting in-patient care.
Well, 13 year old Jerry Hatcher, Jr. wanted to do something special for those families.
Jerry, saved up $1,300 over the year to be spent in a special way . . . by treating patients and visitors to breakfast or lunch in the cafeteria of Scottish Rite Hospital at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on Christmas Eve.
It’s something the young teen has been doing for the past several years, and a tradition he hopes to continue for many more Christmas Eves to come.
In a statement to the hospital, Jerry says, “It’s Christmastime. No one should be suffering at the hospital at this time.”
He continues, “It’s the small things that make the biggest difference because the hospital bills are enough. You can pay anywhere from $6 to $25 just on meals and that adds [up].”
The reasoning behind the kind-hearted generosity stems from personal experience.
Jerry’s younger brother, Javier, was born with a mass that took up two-thirds of his lung, and what was supposed to be a 2-3 day stay turned into a three week stay, lasting over Christmas.
Javier later left the hospital with only one lung, but today is otherwise a healthy, happy 5 year old.
Jerry uses money saved from allowance, as well as raffles and other donations to spread holiday cheer to families spending Christmas in the hospital.
“It’s not something you should have to go through,” Jerry shares. “It’s supposed to be the happiest time of year.”
