Inspired by the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the child life department at INTEGRIS Health Children’s hosted a special event for kiddos who had to spend the holiday in the hospital this year.
Inspired by the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the child life department at INTEGRIS Health Children’s hosted a special event for kiddos who had to spend the holiday in the hospital this year.
For the third year now, caregivers decorated “floats” and paraded through the hospital pediatric units. Madeline Klozik is the child life volunteer coordinator at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center. She came up with the concept as a way to make the children’s hospital stay a little more festive and fun.
“Nobody wants to be in the hospital over a holiday,” she declares. “We wanted to put on an event that everyone could enjoy, without ever needing to leave their hospital rooms. With the parade, all of our patients get a front row seat. They can just open their doors and watch the parade roll by. Patients and their families were also able to participate in the parade by decorating a turkey that was displayed on a special float! It’s the perfect celebration that is accessible for all of our patients.”
The parade is quickly becoming a crowd favorite and is appreciated by patients, families and caregivers alike. This year, there were 10 floats in all accompanied by the always popular therapy dogs.
