Younger sufferers at St. Mary’s Hospital for Youngsters within the Huge Apple obtained stocking-fulls of vacation cheer when the NYPD stopped by for its annual vacation go to — bringing with them cute Okay-9s, carols and a desk stuffed with toys.
About 50 officers from varied models visited Tuesday morning, the place not less than 75 patient-residents obtained to satisfy Blue Santa Claus as he merrily handed out NYPD hats, and characters from “Frozen” and “Paw Patrol” doled out hugs.
“As we speak was so enjoyable! I obtained to see so many characters right here, particularly Olaf,” mentioned Olivia Zhang, 12, who was all cheers in an NYPD cap as she clutched a toy she grabbed for herself alongside one for her brother.
“I like ‘Frozen.’ I like to sing,” she gushed, earlier than bursting into tune.
The occasion was the NYPD’s twelfth annual go to to St. Mary’s, a practice kicked off by Fugitive Activity Power Det. Terry Brienza and his spouse in 2013 after an off-the-cuff dialog about how “horrible” the vacations should be for youths caught within the hospital.
“You possibly can’t have enjoyable the way in which the opposite kids are having enjoyable. So we determined to attempt to uplift these children and attempt to discover a method to go to a hospital, and attempt to convey some vacation spirit and alter that,” Brienza informed The Submit.
“Right here we’re 12 years later, doing it larger and higher yearly,” he added.
This 12 months’s attendees included Richard Del Rosario, an NYPD neighborhood affairs officer of 17 years whose 7-year-old daughter Lana has been a affected person at St. Mary’s since 2020.
“This positively hits dwelling,” he mentioned. “It’s nice that the police division places on an awesome present for the youngsters of St Mary’s.”
Jessica O’Hagan, a St. Mary’s leisure therapist of 18 years, mentioned the annual occasion is among the most particular moments of the 12 months for long-term sufferers.
“Having occasions like that is so necessary to our youngsters and households, particularly across the holidays, as a result of it actually provides them an opportunity of normalcy to have the ability to expertise one thing enjoyable and completely different, and to have the ability to pick a toy that they may not have the ability to get at dwelling on Christmas morning,” O’Hagan mentioned.
“And for our youngsters, it simply sort of takes them away from the day-to-day routine of the hospital. Let’s them have enjoyable, expertise seeing all of the characters and the vans and the law enforcement officials,” she added.
Because the occasion ended, the children have been introduced over to rows of tables piled excessive with toys and allowed to take no matter they wished and in addition seize some for the children unable to attend.
Little Olivia obtained a Crayola Mild Up tracing pad for herself, and a “Paw Patrol” truck for her youthful brother.
“He loves ‘Paw Patrol.’ He’s 6-and-a-half, nearly 7,” she mentioned. “I like to design attire. That’s considered one of my favourite issues.”
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