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Pediatric patients trick-or-treat in hospital

A patient named Evan collects treats from costumed Upstate employees. Photo by Kathleen Paice.

A patient named Evan collects treats from costumed Upstate employees. Photo by Kathleen Paice.


Costumed characters from the Marketing department include Amber Smith, Rebecca Janowski, Stephanie DeJoseph and Jennifer Congel. Photo by Kathleen Paice.

Costumed characters from the Marketing department include Amber Smith, Rebecca Janowski, Stephanie DeJoseph and Jennifer Congel. Photo by Kathleen Paice.


Being hospitalized at Halloween is no fun, especially for children who would rather be trick-or-treating. So every year at the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, employees volunteer to inject a little fun into the day. I got to participate this year with some of my coworkers who dressed up and brought in candy and other goodies to distribute to the kids.

Pediatric patients who are able to leave their rooms donned costumes and walked through the hallways or were pulled in wagons by moms or dads, trick-or-treating at various stops along the way. Nurses and staff collected treat bags for the children who couldn't leave their rooms. A photographer snapped portraits of the costumed children for keepsakes.

I saw Pippi Longstocking (who braided her pig tails around wire,) Thing 1 and Thing 2, a man riding an ostrich, a peacock, a friendly witch, a hippie, a human woopie cushion and Lady liberty -- and that was just the staff.

Among the children, I was visited by Batman, a couple of princesses, a mermaid, Lightning McQueen, a ninja and an adorable Superman/Wonder Woman set of twins. Some were able to choose their own treats from my basket and looked in amazement at my lion costume. All seemed to enjoy the break that trick-or-treating provided. Almost as much as I did.

Check out the coverage from YNN




therese straigis

Therese Straigis from the Upstate Health Sciences Library handed out books to the trick-or-treaters. Photo by Kathleen Paice.


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