April 13, 2007

The delights of spring

In celebration of the coming of spring, close to 20 young patients and their families enjoyed the MassGeneral Hospital for Children's (MGHfC) annual Spring Egg Hunt April 15 in the Howard Ulfelder, MD, Healing Garden, located on the eighth floor of the Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care. The children — who are receiving treatment in the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center and Spaulding Rehabilitation Center — roamed the garden in search of small plastic eggs containing springtime trinkets and treats. A costumed Spring Bunny was on hand, giving hugs and high-fives and posing for photos. After all the eggs had been collected, the party moved indoors, where cake and refreshments were served. Pediatric patient Gabby Cunningham, right, with her sister Elly and the Spring Bunny

The children's parents enjoyed the festivities as well. Bettina Handberg, whose family had come from Denmark for her son's treatment at the MGHfC, remarked, "The hospital has been fantastic. They do so many good things — events like the Egg Hunt make a very big difference."