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Volunteers Make Thanksgiving Meal For Hospital Staff, Patients, Families

By Joel Hillan

DENVER (CBS4)- In the Ronald McDonald Room on the 3rd floor of the Health One Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, patients, their families and staff all enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal, because of the generosity of a special couple.

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(credit: CBS)

"It's been my experience that the smallest things make a huge difference even to people that you don't expect," said hospital volunteer Melany Matheson.

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Melany Matheson (credit: CBS)

When Melany heard a Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't be served at the hospital this year, she was crestfallen.

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"So I sat down and spoke with my husband and he said, 'Why don't we just put it together?' and I was like, 'Okay, I think I can pull that together.'"

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And so they did and those receiving the meal, like Tracy Port, were grateful.

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Tracy Port (credit: CBS)

This is Tracy's third Thanksgiving at the hospital with her teenage daughter who has been suffering from a rare blood cancer.

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"It means everything to me; I haven't had Thanksgiving with her in three years."

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This year will be different, special, and not just because of the meal, they learned this week she's beating the cancer.

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Young J'lon Polk loves Thanksgiving, "My mom makes this good Thanksgiving dinner, it's so good, macaroni, turkey, ham-- it's so good!"

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J'lon Polk (credit: CBS)

But not this year, his new little brother needed some time in the NICU before going home.

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Still, J'lon's heart is full of gratitude, "I'm thankful for my little brother, my sister, my mom, Marcus, my dad."

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(credit: CBS)

He added this special message to those who at the hospital, "I hope they all get well and better and thank you to everyone who volunteered to make this for us."

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(credit: CBS)

Joel Hillan anchors CBS4 This Morning on weekends as well as reports stories for CBS4 News at 5 and 6 p.m. Follow Joel on Twitter @joelhillan.

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