Younger sufferers at St. Mary’s Hospital for Youngsters within the Large Apple bought stocking-fulls of vacation cheer when the NYPD stopped by for its annual vacation go to — bringing with them lovely Ok-9s, carols and a desk stuffed with toys.
About 50 officers from numerous models visited Tuesday morning, the place no less than 75 patient-residents bought to fulfill Blue Santa Claus as he merrily handed out NYPD hats, and characters from “Frozen” and “Paw Patrol” doled out hugs.
“Today was so fun! I got to see so many characters here, especially Olaf,” stated 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 love ‘Frozen.’ I love to sing,” she gushed, earlier than bursting into tune.
The occasion was the NYPD’s twelfth annual go to to St. Mary’s, a convention kicked off by Fugitive Job 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 can’t have fun the way the other children are having fun. So we decided to try to uplift those kids and try to find a way to visit a hospital, and try to bring some holiday spirit and change that,” Brienza informed The Put up.
“Here we are 12 years later, doing it bigger and better every year,” he added.
This yr’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 definitely hits home,” he stated. “It’s great that the police department puts on a great show for the children of St Mary’s.”
Jessica O’Hagan, a St. Mary’s leisure therapist of 18 years, stated the annual occasion is among the most particular moments of the yr for long-term sufferers.
“Having events like this is so important to our kids and families, especially around the holidays, because it really gives them a chance of normalcy to be able to experience something fun and different, and to be able to pick out a toy that they might not be able to get at home on Christmas morning,” O’Hagan stated.
“And for our kids, it just kind of takes them away from the day-to-day routine of the hospital. Let’s them have fun, experience seeing all the characters and the trucks and the police officers,” she added.
Because the occasion ended, the children had 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 bought 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, almost 7,” she stated. “I love to design dresses. That’s one of my favorite things.”
