Delivering Unforgettable Moments of Holiday Cheer to Kids
The holidays are all about helping kids and families feel the joy, hope and comfort of the season at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, HI.
Each year, the Child Life team turns into Santa’s helpers, dressing up as elves and delivering hand-picked gifts to each child’s bedside. Thanks to Starlight’s seasonal, holiday-themed Toy Delivery donations, the Kapiʻolani team brings a little holiday magic to each patient’s room.
A Gift That Sparked a Special Smile
Kelsie, Child Life supervisor at Kapiʻolani, remembers one gift drop-off moment that stood out.
A young patient had been hospitalized for almost a year. He had missed out on multiple holiday traditions at home. His days felt long and repetitive. He was often quiet.
But during one gift drop-off, Kelsie surprised him with a holiday-themed LEGO set!
“He was like, ‘Oh, what? I’ve never seen that before!’” Kelsie reminisced, smiling. “He was so happy.”
He loved the set because it added a festive touch to his room, and he could build it with his family. But more than anything, it made him feel special and seen.
“For this patient, it wasn’t just about the gifts and having something to do in the hospital. It was about feeling remembered and celebrated.”
- Kelsie, Child Life supervisor at Kapiʻolani
Thoughtful gestures and gifts can make all the difference when kids feel uncertain and isolated, especially during the holidays.
"By helping kids feel special, we can lift their spirits and bring something joyful they can hold on to,” Kelsie shared. “It builds their confidence, supports their emotional well-being, and helps them feel seen, which is just as important as tending to their physical care.”
Strengthening Family Bonds
In Hawaiʻi, many families are multi-generational, so it’s common for siblings and relatives to visit, especially during the holidays.
The Kapiʻolani Child Life team gives holiday support for kids and families in another way – delivering gifts to patients’ siblings. They even ask patients what gifts they think their siblings would really like.
“It gives them an opportunity to not think about their hospital stay and talk about something they find fun and interesting,” Kelsie explained.
When patients and their siblings get gifts together, it helps them create meaningful moments together.
“They can talk about a craft or something they’ve done together and hang it up in their room. They’re able to enjoy and open gifts together,” Kelsie said. “We can create a memorable moment that allows them to bond and connect, not talk about the things they can’t do.”
You Make Happiness Possible
This holiday season, thousands of children will be hospitalized across the country. Starlight is preparing to deliver toys to as many of them as possible.
You can give the comfort and cheer kids and their families need this holiday season.
“Your support creates shared experiences, and that brings happiness and fuels connection. These are memories that our patients, families and staff members remember long after a patient leaves the hospital. It’s something our families continue to talk about.”
- Kelsie, Child Life supervisor at Kapiʻolani
Donate to deliver Starlight toys today.
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