January 4, 2008

Spreading holiday cheer to MGHfC patients

Thanks to the generosity of 15-year-old Carina Comer, a former patient of the MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC), (left) young patients receiving treatment at the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center enjoyed a bounty of gifts — including toys, dolls, games and treats — that Carina delivered to the children as a holiday surprise Dec. 20. A young cancer survivor herself, Carina knows exactly what the patients receiving treatment are going through at the hospital — seven years ago, she underwent life-saving treatment at the MGHfC for a brain tumor.

To thank the doctors, nurses and social workers at the Proton Therapy Center for their care and to brighten the young patients' days, each year since 2002, Carina has raised thousands of dollars to buy gifts for the children, who she meets when she delivers the toys and games each holiday season. "It makes me feel good that their holidays will be at least somewhat brighter," she says. "I hope that these gifts can help to comfort them when they have to be away from their families, friends and homes."

"It's become a wonderful holiday tradition for all of us to see Carina," says Evelyn Malkin, LICSW, clinical social worker at the MGHfC. "It's not only fantastic to see the children's faces light up when Carina arrives with gifts and toys, but it's also so remarkable for us to see how Carina herself has grown each year. She's come such a long way since she was treated here. Her giving spirit truly touches and inspires us all."

This past year, Carina baked more than 8,000 cookies for her bake sales, which helped to raise more than $4,000 to buy the gifts.