The patients who remain on St. Vincent’s Cancer Ward at Christmas are the ones who are too sick to go home, often in pain and unable to eat. For those patients, and any family members who stay close by, we do our best to make Christmas feel festive.

My name is Sol, and I’ve been a nurse on the cancer ward at the Mater for 7 years. I always choose to work on Christmas day.

I can’t help but get close to these wonderful patients I spend so much time with… and their family members too. Often, I come to feel like I’m a part of their family.

To me, it truly is a gift, to spend this sacred day with people who are too sick to be at home with their families. Helping them feel special, celebrated and even a little uplifted.

Will you give today and provide comfort, care and precious moments of love to someone spending Christmas at the Mater?