Halloween, a time of ghouls, ghosts and goblins, is an occasion that has long been associated with the thrill of fear and the fun of dressing up in spooky costumes. However, in the halls of hospitals across Texas, Halloween takes on a unique and heartwarming approach. Far from the haunted houses and scary movies, each year health care workers, families and hospitals’ communities come together to make this holiday a little less frightening for patients spending it in the hospital.
Take a look into the heartwarming Halloween celebrations happening in Texas hospitals this year:
Baptist Children’s Hospital
Every year San Antonio Police and Fire departments treat patients at Baptist Children’s Hospital to a fun and memorable “Superhero Drop” for Halloween. SWAT Officers, joined by SAFD Rescue Team members, dress as various well-known superheroes and rappel down the side of Baptist Children’s Hospital. The children are able to watch the activities through windows, as well as interact with the superheroes in person at a reception after the drop. The everyday superheroes also tour the hospital to visit with children on the medical floor, in the pediatric intensive care unit and pediatric emergency room who can’t make it to see the superheroes make their drop.
Hospital staff dress up for Halloween as well and mingle with patients amid the ooh’s and ahh’s as the superheroes scale the walls and wave through windows. The event started eight years ago in honor of Julian Andrade. A former pediatric patient at the hospital and the son of San Antonio Police Officer Jose Andrade, 5-year-old Julian lost his battle with cancer in the spring of 2015. His memory lives on in the smiling faces of children in the hospital who can’t be home to trick-or-treat for Halloween.
CHRISTUS Health System
Patients celebrate Halloween at hospitals throughout CHRISTUS Health System.
Providence Children’s Hospital
Each year, Spirit of Children, Spirit Halloween’s charitable foundation, provides a fun Halloween party at Providence Children’s Hospital to brighten the day of children experiencing a stay in the hospital. The event features costumes, pumpkin decorating activities and celebration kits full of activity books and treat bags.
St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas
Today, 71 babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas began celebrating their first Halloween a little early. The patient’s families and nurses dressed up the tiny patients in custom costumes, ranging from pumpkins, astronauts, princesses and clowns.
Texas Children’s Hospital
Newborns at Texas Children’s Hospital dress up in costumes for their very first time. Since the tiniest trick-or-treaters aren’t able to go door-to-door this year, treats were brought to them. Babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Texas Children’s participated in a precious photo shoot, hamming it up for the camera dressed as french fries, an astronaut, and even a tiny turtle, coordinated by Child Life Specialists to help babies and their families get in the spirit of the season.
University Hospital
Patients at University Hospital in San Antonio celebrate Halloween in costumes at the Pediatric Halloween Parade.
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