- 8 December 2023
The elves from Sweden arrived in Lithuania this morning. Before they set off on their journey to Kaunas, they traditionally dropped by to visit Domantas.
After visiting Domantas, the guests from Sweden headed to Kaunas Clinic, where they hugged everyone they met and brought hopeful St. The children were welcomed into the wards with the excitement of Christmas anticipation.
- 9 December 2023
Today, our guests from Sweden - Ieva, Stefan and Mia - continue their journey through the snowy cities and roads of Lithuania. In the morning they knocked on the door of the home of Captain - Junior and his brother Jurgis. They already know the boys, so it was like meeting friends we hadn't seen in a year and missed! We admire the Elves' dedication, tolerance and love for children. These three people have been carrying out a noble mission for many years - before St. They have been visiting the children at Christmas, giving them joy, hope and support. They are true Elves, bringing immeasurable light and magic. And we wish our beloved Young One the same - curious and full of life experience.
From Kaunas, the elves headed along snowy roads towards Šiauliai, where they knocked on Lukrecija's door. Lukrecija is an indescribably strong girl who has left one of the most serious oncological diseases behind. She is my TEACHER! When things get really tough, I open a video of a girl learning to walk again after the amputation of one of her limbs. So I have wanted to introduce her to our guests from Sweden - the Elves - for a long time. It is heartbreaking that I couldn't be there to listen to Lucretia's little brother playing music, but I am so glad that the meeting between the girl and the Elves happened!
After closing the door of Lucretia's house, the Swedish guests rushed out to hug Otto. We met the boy when he had already finished his treatment and was only coming to the hospital for check-ups. He had to undergo treatment in 2020, when a pandemic was sweeping the world. He is now a curious first-grader, attending swimming and basketball lessons, horse riding and finding time for needlework. Always sweet and smiling, Otonas instantly charms everyone he meets. He presented the guests with a drawing of a bunch of Elves on a noble mission. To thank him for his warm welcome, the Elves danced the traditional frog dance with his family. A sincere friendship is the most precious gift we can give each other.
On their way to Vilnius, the Swedish guests stopped in Panevėžys to hug Auguste. The Elves saw the girl in December 2019, when Auguste was on her first leukaemia treatment. So it was a great pleasure for the Elves to hug Auguste, who has already overcome her second journey through the disease. Warm hugs, songs in Swedish about a crow, a crocodile and a dance about a frog warmed the hearts of Auguste and the Elves. We say goodbye today and "See you tomorrow!" Tomorrow, the Swedish guests will visit the children treated at the Children's Onco-haematology Centre of the Children's Hospital and will hug Vainis, Bazilė, David and Gabriel and wave to Denis, who is sick.
- 10 December 2023
This morning, on the snowy roads of Vilnius, the guests from Sweden headed towards the home of a very cute little boy, Vainius. Here, both me and the Elves were warmed by the warmth, care, devotion and love of Vainius' mother and grandmother. The Elves sang Swedish songs, bringing a little bit of the cosiness of the coming holidays. Dear Little One, I wish the white snowflakes to be caught in a favourable wind!
After hugging Vainiukas, the Swedish guests rushed up the snowy hill to meet Basil and her sister Bernadette. As soon as the Elves got out of the car, Basil asked them why they had come in the car and where their reindeer were... After they had told each other their stories, they hugged so tightly and got lost in the snowballs, that all the warmth and love would last until the next year. When we left, we received a message from Basil's mother:
"Today I finally defined for myself what Rugutė is for us. It is grace. Have we been worthy of it? Of course not. Grace is love, love in advance. Why, for all these countless years, Rugutė has held our hand silently, subtly. Why did she marry us without asking if we deserved what was best for our wounded daughter? For our family. Today, we were visited again by elves. Basil tells me we have had another miracle. Yes, Basil, a miracle again. And I turned my face away so that I could weep for the love given in advance, because love is a miracle, a grace. A grace we do not deserve. Love in advance."
The next stop for the Swedish guests was the Children's Hospital. Elves knocked on the door of every ward of the Children's Oncohaematology Centre. They sang, talked and listened to the children's stories about their dreams and future plans. The Elves wished only one thing - the strength to get well and to welcome the next year's holidays at home. And who knows, maybe next year they will knock on the door of their home instead of their ward.
Together with our guests, we hug everyone we meet and say: YOU are not alone. We are here for you and we support you.
The guests from Sweden ended their trip to Lithuania this year by coming to Rugutė's House to hug little David. The boy needs to be protected from the various viruses around him. Although we limited the meeting time and took precautions, even a short stay is not possible without Swedish songs, dances and the warmest hugs.
We wish our little friend to watch the snowflakes fall safely through the window of Rugutė's House, and to the Elves we say:
"See you next year! We will miss you. We hope the children will miss YOU too!"
