Cook Juan Chipoco has been delivering more than 300 lunches to the medical and nursing team at Holtz Children's Hospital in South Florida.
It is December 24, Christmas Eve. It is the night in which, as tradition dictates, millions of families will gather to enjoy an evening that marks the arrival of Santa Claus – Father Christmas or Saint Nicholas in Latin America – and also of the Baby Jesus.
These holidays are a reason to meet and celebrate, but not everyone will be able to enjoy them in the same way. At Holtz Children's Hospital in Miami, Florida, the medical and nursing team knows this well.
Nancy Interiano, an intensive care nurse in the children's area, recognizes that this time is “complicated, especially when working with children,” who are the ones who “really should be enjoying the magic of Christmas and not be in a hospital.”
“These are very complicated days, especially when everyone wants to be at home and they (the children) can't,” explains Interiano about the minors in his care at the hospital.
“We are glad to be able to bring Christmas”
On a personal level, the nurse of Honduran descent confesses that it is also “difficult,” even though she tries to find “the beautiful side” during these times when the magic of Christmas should occur, although this is not always the case.
“Many times we have to work (at Christmas), but it is also fun because, in some way, we are happy to be able to bring Christmas to those children who cannot leave here,” says the 37-year-old woman.
Peruvian chef Juan Chipoco, one of the most recognized in the entire region and who has several restaurants in the United States, wanted to contribute his bit to this Christmas spirit in this hospital in South Florida.
But not only for the children, but also to highlight the work that health professionals are doing, “sacrificing their family time for this work.” So to honor all of them, Chipoco has been organizing Christmas lunches for dozens of professionals from the children's hospital who have been able to enjoy typical Peruvian dishes on these important dates.
“Today is a special day, we are giving lunch to more than 300 people at the children's hospital and I am very happy because I think there is nothing more beautiful than seeing people enjoy, eat and have a good time,” he says surrounded by some of the trays of huancaína potatoes or lomo saltado that he has been serving these days.
A moral duty to “the heroes”
In his opinion, the general population “owes it to these heroes, these doctors who do a wonderful job trying to help our children” and that is why, he says, he did not think about it when the idea of power was presented to him. prepare Christmas lunches at the children's hospital in the city of Miami.
“That is what motivates me more every day, in addition to the excitement of being able to see those smiles of people who are enjoying the moment, despite the circumstances,” he adds in this regard.
The chef also leads his own foundation to “actively” help the most disadvantaged communities in matters of nutrition and education, both children and parents, aware of “how important it is to take care of the little ones.”
“Children are the future of this planet and we have to take care of them,” he adds.
The Peruvian nurse Gioconda Orellana, 60, is another of the employees who is spending these Christmas periods working at the hospital. He wanted to recognize the gesture of his compatriot by remembering all the healthcare workers, “something that also extends to the rest of the professionals who are around the world doing the same work.”
“God is very generous and when you give, he returns it to you. “I'm very sure of that,” she exclaims while waiting in line to pick up her Christmas lunch prepared by Chef Chipoco.
The great forgotten
Holtz Children's Hospital is part of the Jackson Memorial public hospital, one of the largest health systems in the United States, and this is another of the actions they have been promoting during the month of December. However, this is the only occasion that doctors were honored.
“It is very special for us, during this season, that people come to give toys to the children, but they almost always forget about the team that works and is here during Christmas. So we can't be anything but grateful to Juan and his team for feeding us all,” says Flavia Yiso, president of the Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation.
“The employees are here on Christmas, New Year's and other holidays caring for their child patients, and leaving their respective families. So I think it's important to celebrate them too,” he adds.
It will, without a doubt, be a different Christmas. Far from family gatherings, toasts and music. But always, they clarify from the hospital, “maintaining the Christmas spirit.”