Hope on the Horizon

December 16, 2021 | (13) Comments

It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly two years since our lives, our communities and our world was considered “normal.” Honestly, I don’t think any of us could have imagined the world that waited for us after the holiday season of 2019. But here we are, two years later, with hope on the horizon.

We’ve now had a full year of accessible, safe and effective vaccines here in the U.S. for adults, seven months for adolescents, and now one full month for children as young as five years old. As I’ve said from the very beginning, these vaccines are the best and strongest tool we have to overcome the pandemic that changed the world we once knew.

Vaccines are also one of the main reasons that this year’s holiday season comes with hope, joy and peace.

While many of us are staying socially distanced from our friends and family who may be more vulnerable to illnesses or our tiniest population who cannot yet receive the COVID-19 vaccine, every day there are more and more fully vaccinated individuals who—for the first time in two years—feel comfortable enough to hug their loved ones once again.

Personally and professionally, I missed seeing my friends, family, colleagues and our patient families smile, and feel the sense of comfort that was taken from us for far too long. I cannot begin to express the joy it brings to my heart to know that Texas Children’s has had a hand in bringing this peace to families.

My hope for each and every one of you this year—whether I’m wishing you a ‘Happy Hanukkah,’ ‘Merry Christmas,’ ‘Heri za Kwanzaa,’ or ‘Happy Holidays’—is the ability to create new, beautiful and wonderful memories with your family and friends.

While we still have a journey ahead of us, we’ve never been in a better position than we are today. We have the tools and the knowledge, but most importantly, we have each other. The new year we are about to walk into may look different but I am confident that together and with the help of booster vaccinations, we can create a world that is much greater than the one we’ve always known.

13 Responses to “Hope on the Horizon”

  1. Valerie S. Mayer

    How interesting Mr. Wallace that you specified salutations to acknowledge each of the celebrations that we have in December and not only a general Happy Holidays, and to finish your letter bringing up that we have each other. I really appreciate it. I was raised Catholic Roman Apostolic, now I have a closer relationship with God through a non-denominational church, but I came from a Jewish background looking for better opportunities in South America, and have many friends that were raised in different religions and I love it! This ‘pandemia’-time took me inside, literally: inside my home, my office, and provided me with the precious opportunity to look inside myself too, my mind, my heart, my faith, and to appreciate the importance of feeling belonging to a community. This year for the first time I decided to bring all the icons of this Holiday Season, from Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa to decorate our clinic. I felt it was the right thing to do, and I felt good! This is a family of many, and everyone is unique and important, different and precious. It is the time to give thanks to God and to the ones who love us and care for us; Thank you Mr. Wallace! Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Have a Very Merry Christmas!

  2. Debi Witmer

    Merry Christmas wishes to you and your family, Mr. Wallace! I am so proud to be a member of the OneAmazingTeam here at TCH guided by your strong guidance and leadership. Thank you for all you do!!

  3. Angela Banks

    Thank you Mr. Wallace, you never seems to fail us. The love , support, compassion, unity is always what you pour into us here at TCH. Merry Christmas to you and your Family****
    MERRY CHRISTMAS to my TCH family!!

  4. Cassidy Penn

    An unrelated, but related comment – I just wanted to express my appreciation for you Mr. Wallace for all the support and dedication you have not only to Texas Children’s Hospital but to the employees. With so much focus on worker appreciation and detached CEO’s its so refreshing to know that our CEO does truly have our best interest at heart and goes the extra mile to show us appreciation. Thank you to you and all of TCH leadership for making TCH such a wonderful place to work.

    Happy holidays to you and your family!

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