Shopping for Starlight Deliveries

Celebrating holidays can be challenging and difficult for patients and families in the hospital especially when visitor restrictions continue limiting only two parents at bedside. Children worry about missing out on family traditions and time with siblings and family. Young children worry that Santa will miss them because they are in the hospital and will not receive gifts on Christmas morning. Providing comfort, reassurance, and a sense of
normality for Pediatric patience is a priority at LAC+USC Medical Center.

Each year the child life playroom and units decorate and acknowledge Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. This year’s theme will include Whoville and the Grinch. Decorations will be made in the playroom to decorate patient rooms according to the child’s wishes. Families are encouraged to bring in specific items from home to make the patient room feel more familiar and comforting.

With the many of toys received from the Starlight deliveries, every child is insured to receive several gifts. This year we will open a toy shop in the playroom where parents can wrap gifts for siblings at home. This helps parents who have not had the opportunity to shop or don’t have the means to purchase gifts. Providing gifts for siblings helps them to not feel left out and forgotten when the patient comes home with gifts received in
the hospital.

Nontraditional items received  throughout the year have been distributed on other holidays such as Halloween, Valentines Day, Easter, Birthdays, and other milestone celebrations.