~ Hospitals, jails ready preparation for making holiday stays bearable.

For the 13 years that his daughter was battling leukemia, Pat Taylor spent many Christmas holidays at the hospital.

"We know what it's like," he said. "It's the loneliest place to be, especially for a kid. It makes you sort of forget it's Christmas."

In 1992, Taylor's daughter Tracy founded Southeast Missouri Hospital's Toy Train program. Tracy and her family operated the Toy Train -- bringing toys to sick children every week at Southeast -- until she lost her 13-year battle with leukemia in 2000 at age 19.

"She thought it up herself," Pat Taylor said. "My son Andy and I built it. It was one of her last wishes that we would keep it going."

And so Pat and his wife Donna have. Each week, they visit Southeast's pediatric unit, pushing around a wooden train that Pat and his son made. The train is full of toys for children of all ages.

They also do it on Christmas Day, trying to bring a little piece of Christmas to children at a difficult time in their life. The toys come from donations, and the Taylors buy some, too. Pat Taylor dresses up as Santa to guide Tracy's Toy Train.

"It's a great tribute to her," he said. "It's meaningful for us, too, because you hate to see children in the hospital at Christmas. It's just not a place for kids to be. So what we do is just a little thing, it's not much. But it can make a difference to a lot of little kids."

Both hospitals try to make Christmas a little more special for their adult and children patients who don't get to have a traditional holiday among family and friends.

"Nobody wants to be in the hospital on Christmas. We understand that," said Trevor Sumner, who works in Saint Francis Medical Center's marketing department.

At Saint Francis, Sumner said each unit of the hospital will bring something special in for the patients -- whether it's baked goods or other treats. Also, carolers come through the hospital singing Christmas songs. Gifts are also given to children in the hospital.

"We want them to know that when they're in the hospital the medical center is thinking of them and their family," Sumner said.

At Southeast Missouri Hospital, spokeswoman Sally Owen said a volunteer in a Santa suit will deliver Christmas bears to patients. The bear has an inscription: "This little bear is here to say, you're in our hearts on the holiday."

Owen said the program was the brainchild of the late Charlie Hutson, who was on the hospital board and had some medical treatments over the holiday.

"He thought it would be a good idea to give our guys here something to say we care," Owen said. "Because nobody wants to be in the hospital on Christmas if they don't have to."

Christmas placemats made by Central Middle School students are used on food trays, Owen said. La Croix United Methodist Church also brings around treats to employees in the area who have to work on Christmas day, she said.

The babies at the hospital are all wrapped in Christmas blankets, she said.

The hospital isn't the only place people don't want to be on Christmas. People also would prefer not to be in jail. But many will be.

At the Cape Girardeau County Jail, between 130 and 135 people will be behind bars on Christmas day, according to jail administrator Capt. James Mulcahy.

It's pretty much just another day for inmates, though. The inmates are provided with a hot meal, but it won't be turkey, dressing or ham. He said they may be able to watch some Christmas programming on television.

They may also get extra time on the phone with loved ones and could possibly get longer time outside of their cells and in common areas, Mulcahy said. Special visitation with family might be arranged on a case-by-case basis, he said. The normal visitation day is Saturday, which is Christmas Eve. Since Christmas is on Sunday this year, inmates also will get church services, he said.

Those new to jail are more depressed on Christmas Day, Mulcahy said.

"They realize their situation has turned for the worse, and they're not where they want to be on Christmas," he said.

At the Cape Girardeau city jail, police chief Carl Kinnison said a special meal -- possibly turkey and mashed potatoes -- will be served. At Christmas, some inmates are allowed to go to the city recycling center to help sort through recyclables, a task which can reduce their time in jail by a day or two, he said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137