Christmas at the hospital

“Hopefully the Christ Child will find his way here”

Annabelle is still too tired to read herself, but mom Gudrun is happy to take over.(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Doctors, nursing staff and many volunteers spend the holidays caring for patients and giving compassion. Like nine-year-old Annabelle from Kapfenberg in Styria, for example, who has to spend Christmas Eve at the children's hospital in Leoben.

Annabelle came up with something special for the Christ Child this year: "Instead of writing down my wishes, I drew and cut out everything I wanted and stuck it on a piece of paper," says the nine-year-old in a gentle voice. Her hair is nicely combed, her appetite and good mood are slowly returning, but the girl is still struggling with tiredness.