[Gpdd] Peter Gurney: GPDD Tribute

[Guineapigfilms at aol.com]

Dear Fellow GPDDers,

I am so touched by your tributes and all your ideas. It is obvious from 
reading all these posts that Peter touched the lives of many, many guinea pig 
lovers.

About the idea of sending a box of guinea pig goodies to Great Ormond Street 
Hospital (GOSH): I think that, before voting on this idea, a hospital 
administrator needs to be contacted to make sure this gift would be welcome. I'm sorry 
that I don't have any contact info, as my time there was arranged by Peter. 
It is a wonderful idea, but as Peter learned, bureaucratic regulatory wheels 
run s-l-o-w-l-y, and hospitals are notoriously bureaucratic. I don't think 
something like this can be done overnight. I do know that Peter received an award 
for working there (and he was very proud of that); perhaps we could find out 
who presented him with the award and contact him/her.

I am not sure that a hospital library (if there is one) is the best spot for 
our efforts, as it would not be a place to attract children. Perhaps the 
playroom?

GOSH should already own several copies of Alyssa's movie CARROT WARS, as 
Peter was faithful about delivering them for Alyssa and me. (I know that some of 
them also went home with patients!) When I went on rounds with him, I also 
brought some. If somehow all these copies have disappeared with outgoing patients, 
Alyssa would be happy to provide another.

I spent some time at GOSH with Peter, and am familiar with the setting. Here 
are a few of my ideas (and it will take some time and planning to carry any of 
them out):

Perhaps some small guinea pig statue in the children's playground area 
outside the hospital with Peter's name and a short tribute written at the base? Or 
maybe a painting hanging in the Peter Pan Cafe at the hospital (where Peter 
often grabbed a bite in between visits to the wards)? I believe there is also a 
garden.

I know there is a Child Life/Play Therapy department at the hospital, and the 
play therapists knew Peter well and looked forward to his visits. I was a 
play therapist myself for awhile at a hospital in Illinois; that is why Peter 
thought I'd enjoy accompanying him on his rounds at GOSH. GOSH has one of the 
best playrooms for patients that I have ever seen.

There is also a nice gift shop at GOSH, and I think they do carry Peter's 
books, especially the one about his visits to the children at the hospital. (I'm 
not sure if this particular book is available here in the States; I believe 
Peter gave one to me, but I can't seem to locate it at the moment.)

Again, the idea of doing something for the children at GOSH in Peter's memory 
is absolutely perfect and I think it can be brought to fruition; it's just 
that we need to find the right people to contact. Without careful planning, all 
our efforts will be in vain.

Love and WHEEEEEEEPS,

Nancy
(Alyssa's mom)
http://hometown.aol.com/guineapigfilms