Halloween Comes Early For Children At Mass General Hospital
BOSTON (CBS) – There were some happy faces at the Mass General Hospital for Children Wednesday as Halloween came early, much to the delight of some kids who can use a lift.
It is part of the MGH efforts to make hospital stays a little easier for their youngest patients. And the hospital isn't doing it alone. It's the generosity of a lot of people that makes it possible.
Some of them came in costume and others in their pajamas, just to take a much needed break from, well, being sick.
"I get to pick out a costume," says Salma Quiltr, one of the kids. "I like this party because I got a new backpack!" says 6-year-old Ryan Alens.
The early Halloween party is part of what the MGH Child Life Specialists do to try to make the hospital experience a little less scary. "It's great. It's something to get the kids' minds off anything they have going on," says 16-year-old patient Nolan Eldridge.
The party was thrown by Spirit Halloween; those costume stores that pop up at this time of year. They ask customers for donations that help fund programs at 139 hospitals.
"One hundred percent of those donations do go to the hospital's child life department," says Spirit Halloween's Wanda Potter.
Mass General Hospital for Children is getting more than $36,000. "They're a main source of funding. It absolutely makes such a huge difference. We're so appreciative," says Ashley Reardon an MGH Child Life Specialist.
This year, the fundraising goal for the Spirit of Children campaign is $7.8-million.
