Who Ya Gonna Call? Natalia’s Ghostbusters Gown Story

Program Impact

·Jun 8th, 2026

When Natalia was hospitalized, the scary things weren't the kind you could see.

She's eight years old and lives with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome — PANS — a condition where the immune system attacks the brain, triggering sudden, dramatic changes in behavior, mood, and thinking. One day, a child seems fine. Next, everything shifts, and there’s high anxiety, difficulty sleeping or moodiness. For families navigating PANS, the hardest part is often that the battle isn’t one most can see.

Natalia once spent 13 days in the hospital, facing the emotional challenges of childhood illness. She was sad.

Then the Los Angeles Ghostbusters showed up.

Natalia_Ecto-1 car experience children — Natalia scanning for nearby ghosts with the Los Angeles Ghostbusters.

Play Helps Children Feel Safe During Illness

Through Starlight, Natalia received a visit from the Los Angeles Ghostbusters — complete with a tour of the iconic Ecto-1 car. She sat in the driver’s seat and waved a P.K.E. meter to check for nearby ghosts.

The Ghostbusters also gifted Natalia a Starlight Ghostbusters-themed hospital gown with a proton pack design, letting her become a Ghostbuster herself. As Natalia played, she became a hero.

These moments of happiness gave her something to hold onto during the long, difficult days.

The Ghostbusters hospital visit gave Natalia permission to step into a world of fun and giggles. A world where she can grab a proton pack, climb into an Ecto-1 and feel like a hero.

“Natalia was feeling sad and scared during her stay. The Ghostbusters visit allowed her to be a kid and imagine a world where (fun) ghosts are real.”
- Adi, Natalia's Mom

Natalia With Mom_Ghostbusters Day — Natalia playing with her mom during her hospital stay.

Helping Kids Heal & Cope with Fear

Natalia is home now, after thirteen days in the hospital, and a long road of outpatient appointments ahead. PANS doesn't resolve quickly: it's managed, monitored, and lived with.

But she made it through those 13 days, and somewhere in the middle of them, she got to suit up in a Ghostbusters gown, sit in an Ecto-1, and just be a kid.

That's what Starlight makes room for — not just comfort to cope with fear, but also imagination and play that help kids heal.

Healing Begins with Happiness™, and Natalia's story is one of 3 million made possible by Starlight each year. And thanks to supporters like you, kids like Natalia can feel strong like their favorite heroes.

Want to help more kids feel brave with a little backup?

This Ghostbuster’s Day, be a hero for hospitalized kids.

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