The Christmas Room

Grace Trinisi, deathly ill in a hospital ICU and unaware that Christmas had passed months before, wanted her room decorated for the holiday. Her son lovingly fulfilled her wishes. A little tree was put in the corner, a battery-charged candle was placed in the window, and Grace’s treasured nativity set was arranged on the table beside her bed. It was beautiful and comforting. And it turned out that the Christmas Room, as it was quickly dubbed, served as an oasis of beauty and comfort for hospital staff as well. Was the Christmas Room a factor in her recovery? Who could say? But recover she did, though the weakness, balance, and judgment problems deriving from frontal lobe dementia remained. And so Tony Trinisi brought his mother to Villa Vista Care Community, an innovative nursing home and rehabilitation facility. The Christmas Room came too. Carolyn Kovacs, the visionary director of the large facility, welcomed the idea. So too did the staff and residents. Indeed, the Christmas Room became a winsome part of the overall ministry. Clark Gritzner, however, was an exception. His wife and daughters were excited that Mattie Gritzner had become Grace’s roommate in the Christmas Room and they applauded the calming, encouraging influence it had on her. But their opinions didn’t matter to Clark and, in his zeal to have his way, he triggered a medical emergency that placed Mattie in the hospital. His action also threatens to expose a mysterious crisis playing out in his private life. Unveiling (and ultimately resolving) that crisis provides one of the intriguing plotlines of The Christmas Room but there’s a lot more going on in this realistic, refreshing, and ultimately inspirational look at life in a nursing home. The reader will follow the dedicated and innovative work of Carolyn Kovacs as she deals with plumbing problems, expansion plans, a lawsuit brought by a disgruntled family member, a case of elderly abuse, and innumerable other incidents. Unfolded too are the stories of Zachary O’Rourke, a physical therapist who loves not only his work but one of Clark Gritzner’s daughters; David Youngville, a young professional left paralyzed by a drunk driver; Rita Costello, a nurse aide whose commitment and loving heart wins her a new career; Ralph Yarborough, the elderly custodian of Villa Vista whose life-saving action in a restaurant leads to an unexpected development for the facility’s future; Grace Trinisi, a much-beloved lady whose fragile life yet shines with joy and Christmas spirit; and many more. The Christmas Room is an honest, uplifting look at nursing home life, a novel that is full of human interest, spiritual challenge, and Christmas cheer.