Halloween comes early at Phoebe
Phoebe holds trick or treat parade for pediatric patients
By Brad McEwen
ALBANY — A group of children who otherwise might not have gotten to enjoy Halloween got a special treat Wednesday when Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital held its annual trick-or-treat parade for pediatric patients.
“Today we’re taking our pediatric patients trick-or-treating throughout the hospital,” said Phoebe Child Life Specialist Mandy Fagiano. “We’re going around the second floor, and different departments will be lining the hallways and passing out candy.”
Fagiano said roughly nine children currently spending time in the hospital’s pediatric wing for various health issues got to dress up and tour various departments, where Phoebe doctors, nurses and personnel handed out treats.
“It’s a way for us to bring normalcy to the hospital and for (the children) to experience what normal kids should experience,” added Fagiano. “The ones that can’t go with us today, we have different people who are collecting the candy for them and will bring it back to them so they can still experience it.”
Thanks to the generosity of the community, which donated costumes, every child who participated in the Halloween parade was able to dress up, and the candy they received was supplied by hospital staff.
“It’s just a way for the hospital to come together and just have fun, take away the stress from the everyday workplace,” Fagiano said. “The hospital staff, they’re all going to be dressing up, too, so it’s going to be neat to see different staff members wearing costumes and passing out candy.”
This is the third year the hospital has hosted the trick-or-treat event, which Fagiano said was a big hit with the children staying at the hospital.
“They are so excited right now,” she said. “A lot of them have said they have never been trick-or-treating before. They’ve been dressed and ready to go since 8 this morning.”
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