Virtual Santa visit, hospital toy store making spirits bright for sick kids

Community, hospital elves help bring holiday traditions to children at U-M Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

Author | Beata Mostafavi

No one wants to spend the holidays at the hospital–especially children.

But thanks to community donations, some of the season’s magic will come to the kids at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

Last week’s festivities included a virtual Santa visit at bedside and access to the hospital’s in-house toy store, which provides free, brand-new toys for patient families.

“Children and families who are at the hospital miss out on so many of the season’s traditions, such as seeing Santa,” said Luanne Ewald, FACHE, M.H.A., chief operating officer of Mott and U-M Health Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital.

“We’re so grateful for the incredible community support that helps us make this time of year special for our Mott families and brings them some holiday cheer during such a stressful time.”

Santa wasn’t able to visit the hospital in person this year due to the recent COVID-19 surge and visitor restrictions, but he found a socially distanced way to see Little Victors – visiting them from the North Pole via Zoom.

Child and Family Life staff took Mr. and Mrs. Claus room to room through an iPad, and children had the chance to share their Christmas list and even take a photo without leaving their hospital beds.

Meanwhile, the eighth-floor activity room was transformed into Santa’s workshop, with shelves lined with potential presents ranging from dolls and makeup to basketballs, stuffed animals, University of Michigan apparel and brand-name games, Legos and puzzles.

Families were able to pick up to five gifts for both the child being treated at the hospital and also their siblings.

The toy store began as an effort to distribute the overwhelming amount of toys and other items donated to the hospital during the holidays and throughout the year by community members.  

Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Featured News & Stories maps purple and blue
Health Lab
Real-time opioid overdose data improves safety response from community
To improve coordinated community response to opioid overdoses, University of Michigan researchers are placing near-real time data in the hands of public health and safety officers. The Michigan System for Opioid Overdose Surveillance, was created in 2016 in response to the opioid crisis through a partnership between the University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center and the Michigan High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.
smart watch on wrist
Health Lab
Clinical smart watch finds success at identifying atrial fibrillation
A Michigan Medicine research team developed a prescription wristwatch that continuously monitors the wearer’s heart rhythm and uses a unique algorithm to detect atrial fibrillation. The clinical-grade device, called the Verily Study Watch, proved very accurate at identifying atrial fibrillation in participants.
sketched out bacteria in a dish yellow and blue colors of U-M
Health Lab
This gross mixture has big benefits for the study of bacteria
Michigan Medicine researchers have found that growing bacteria on agar mixed with organs is an efficient and effective way to study infectious pathogens.
three pharmacists smiling
Health Lab
An innovative pharmacy service for pain management
An innovative service at Michigan Medicine offers pain management support for patients and care teams
patient giving paperwork and person saying no with hand graphic moving teal white grey navy orange
Health Lab
Why new patient paperwork isn’t just busy work
While it’s easy to overlook doctor's office questionnaires, that paperwork actually serves a vital role in better understanding how to treat you. Called patient reported outcomes, this information gives medical specialists insight into how treatments truly impact you as a patient.
family smiling togehter
Health Lab
Ketogenic diet helps 4-year-old live seizure free
Last year, a young girl experienced up to 40 seizures a week. Today, after nearly a year of working with the ketogenic diet team at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital – overseen by a pediatric neurologist and dietitian – she’s celebrating six months of seizure freedom.