The Charlotte Chapter enjoyed its first For a Day event and visit to Levine Hospital, Charlotte, NC. Our visit took place on September 12 as part of their participation in September pediatric cancer awareness month.
We planned for 24 children. We hosted 6 and gifted 12 that were too sick or on restriction to visit with us.
As our guests (queens and super heros) entered the room there were tables covered in purple and gold silk table cloths. One table held makeup (lip gloss, eye shadow, blush) and a variety of bright colored nail polish. A large light up crown sat in the middle of the table with a queen’s cape draping down to the floor.
Our second table was covered in a satin table cloth of bright purple. This table included superhero masks (excellent variety) and capes, cups of bright multi colored fabric markers, and 3 types of fabric bags -mermaid tail, unicorns, and super hero. Included enhancements to the masks ( and capes) were the adhesive glitter stars, letters to spell out their names on their mask or cape.
The box holding the tiaras was a beautiful white basket with a satin liner. It opened like a treasure chest bringing importance and drama to their tiara choices.
We had two photo backdrops, superhero banner with a standing 4 foot batman model and a streamer curtain of gold and “throne” covered by the queens cape and a scepter available to hold.
I had 2 spectacular volunteers, a nurse practitioner, Deb Lagaly, and Sheila Smiggen (my sister). They were excellent with the children, very engaged and adored by their new friends. Carrie Keuten remained in the room to tend to any of our needs and encourage patient visits.
Our dearest friend of the day was a 17 year old patient. She was the perfect guest for Queen for a Day as she loved to model and she knew everything there was to know about make-up and style. She spent 1 ½ hours deciding between 3 crowns, snap chatting friends to get their input. We let her leave with 2 crowns one for her and one for her cousin. While applying her eyeshadow she taught all three of us (volunteers) the correct way to apply to enhance our eye colors. At one point she was called back to her room by her nurse to change her meds and end her visit- After tears and a discussion with her Nurse practitioner she was given the ok to remain to the end. With 2 bags decorated,(hanging from her IV pole) filled with nail polish, blush, eye shadow, lipstick and 2 crowns, she left our event adorned in her crown, nails painted and a stack of pictures we all modeled in together. Her nurse said that was the happiest and most engaged she has been in weeks.
The daymaker for me was the engagement with a 10 year old boy. Every craft he finished and every gift he received he asked if he could have one for his brother. He decorated 2 bags with the help of Sheila (volunteer) and we provided him with one extra of everything in anticipation of his brothers visit that afternoon. He loved sharing his journey through his illness, stories of family and exactly what he liked and didn’t like about everything. So engaging. His best picture was with the Superhero backdrop and his arm around batman!
A very shy 4 year old visited and would not leave the side of his amazing nurse despite her encouragement. I quietly came to him with a great Batman mask and cape and he transformed in front of us into a superhero. He tried every activity and had his picture against the superhero backdrop with a Hulk doll from the playroom
Although we never met in person, one of our guests came to us by facetime through her mom’s phone. We showed her all the crowns, she made her marker and bag choices, makeup, lipstick and nail polish- all by facetime. Her mom was having so much fun she stayed for an hour. We loved them both.
A highlight for me was the reaction of all the nurses to our foundation and our event. We had comments like “this is amazing,” “I’m bringing all my patients down here” “I wish they all could enjoy this event.” Extremely rewarding was the invite to return from Carrie. I look forward to many visits at this beautiful facility with a National Ranking in 7 children’s specialties (pediatric cancer among the highest) by US News and Report.
