Young patients at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital celebrate Halloween

ALBANY — A dozen pediatric patients were able to get out of bed on Wednesday morning and be greeted by Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital employees to celebrate Halloween a few days early.

Employees from departments throughout the hospital were on the second floor to pass out candy and other favors to the 12 children, accompanied by their families, from the pediatric unit who were able to get out of their rooms.

“Some kids don’t have the chance to trick-or-treat, especially when they are sick,” said Mandy Lanier Fagiano, child life specialist at Phoebe. “We wanted to bring some fun to the hospital.”

Costumes were donated so that more children would have something to wear, and the employees — many wearing costumes themselves — were in higher numbers than they had been the previous two years.

“I am seeing so many new participants this year,” Fagiano said.

Lisa Renshaw was with her son, Colt Goodwin. Colt, 4, has autism and has become accustomed to spending time in hospitals. Health issues last year, including seizures, made it difficult for him to trick-or-treat last year.

“This was so different,” Renshaw said. “We never got to experience something like this.

“He still gets to be involved and not miss out because he is in the hospital again.”

When Colt is in the hospital, he essentially stays in his room with two windows to look out of. For the trick-or-treating, he was dressed in an “The Incredibles” costume and was able to have his IV taken out so he could walk around — and he responded to the experience well.

“He did great, he did really good … It’s nice (for him) to get out and walk around. It’s nice to see all the units participate,” Renshaw said.