Kids at Staten Island University Hospital, got a special visit from a theater group, to help boost the young patient's spirits during the holiday season.
Using their imagination, kids in Staten Island University Hospital’s Pediatric Unit, became superheroes and space detectives. It’s a way to help them forget about the illnesses that brought them here.
"Last night I was trying to get him out and he wouldn't even walk around but when they came it was great to see him out and about and actually being himself because he's been very lethargic," said Dawn Steckler, whose 10-year-old son has seizures, and is in and out of the hospital.
But thanks to the Theatre Group "Only Make Believe," he and his new friends can still get in the Christmas Spirit away from home.
"We believe freeing a child's imagination is such a valuable part of the healing process. You see what an impact it has for some kids who are a patient for most of their day and then for the hour that they're here they just get to be kids," Mark Friedlander, an Actor with ‘Only Make Believe.’
The pediatric unit hosts activities throughout the year, but officials say it's especially important during the holiday season. In the coming weeks there will be many visits from community members, including the fire department and several visits from Santa.
“Dealing only with the medical problems, hearing only medical jargon, and then this theatre group comes in.... they start smiling, you can see it uplifts everybody’s spirits. I always see you walk into the room and it turns them around,” said Dassi Leader, Director of Inpatient Pediatrics at SIUH.
A distraction not only for the kids, but the parents too,” said Dayna Weisman, whose 15-month-old son is in the hospital.
“A good hour of distraction for us to stop thinking. I can't even imagine being here over the holidays, I hope were gone long before that.”
But for the families who will spend the holidays in the hospital, staff say they'll be doing their best to make sure they feel right at home.