December 30, 2004

STREET SCENEVia Jose

Simonds fifth grader Hannah Henry made it home for Christmas after spending the week prior at the hospital suffering from bacterial pneumonia.

Neighbors come to aid of stricken 11-year-old

Hannah Henry returns from hospital for Christmas Day festivities

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Via Jose residents refused to leak news of a quarantine to Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. The decision—and efforts raised in support of a sick comrade—saved Christmas for 11-year-old Hannah Henry who returned home Dec. 25 after spending a week in the hospital battling bacterial pneumonia.

With Hannah’s stocking status unknown pending a Christmas morning release from the hospital, concerned neighbors lent a hand to help restore Hannah’s holiday cheer.

“We all know Christmas time is the busiest time of the year,” said Hannah’s mother Kristine Henry. “Yet our friends found time to send flowers, notes and gifts and stop by the hospital for a few hours to visit. They opened their homes to our son, so my husband and I could be with our daughter. It was a scary time for our family and the love, support and prayers from our friends helped us get through.”

Bacterial pneumonia is nothing to take lightly
The illness moved slowly. A week prior, Hannah posted a low-grade fever in the morning.

“She stayed home from school that day and missed her fifth grade Christmas Party,” explained Hannah’s mother Kristina. “We spent the weekend trying to get her fever down, but early the following week, Christmas week, they admitted her into Good Samaritan hospital with pneumonia.”

Bacterial pneumonia is somewhat common in the United States. According to www.emedicine.com, more than three million cases occur annually, more prevalent during winter months and in cold climates. The condition is likely developed following the deterioration of impaired hosts’ defenses.

Pneumonia from H influenzae is the most common strain of infection. This particular pneumonia is more often associated with hosts who are already debilitated in some facet. Asthma, smoking and a compromised immune system can make a person more at risk.

“My husband called to tell me when Hannah went into the hospital,” recalled neighbor Debbie Bellinger. “I went over and talked with Kris on my way home. If we know that somebody is injured or needs some help we just respond. Until it happens to you, you just don’t know how special it is.”

Bellinger knows. Last summer she spent several days bedridden in the hospital.

“They came over and cooked full meals the whole time I was in,” she says of her neighbors on Via Jose.
Home for Christmas

Thankfully by Christmas Eve, Hannah’s illness had taken a turn for the better. However, doctors determined that one more night was required.

In the meantime, a philanthropic crowd of kids—ranging from elementary to middle school aged—assembled a huge card and took it from house to house to gather get-well sentiments for their friend.

According to her mom, Hannah loved the card. And despite Hannah’s absence from Christmas Eve festivities, including an annual trip to Fondue, her Christmas was salvaged when she returned home on Christmas morning.

“This Christmas will certainly be unforgettable,” said Kris Henry. “Not just because Hannah was in the hospital but because we learned that our neighbors are our friends and part of the family.”

“It’s not a street [with activities] that you can plan on,” finished another helpful friend, neighbor Lilly Smith. “We came from a busy, busy street in Campbell. When we first moved, the kids missed their friends a lot. Now they’ve adjusted and they have so much more freedom. There’s an unspoken code where we all take care of each other as our own. Some neighbors refer to it as the new Mayberry.”