COVID Can’t Stop Caroling—Or Frosty Fred

Musical merriment could be heard throughout the pediatric units December 23, 2020 as staff from the Music Therapy and Speech Therapy departments at Massachusetts General Hospital, led by Lorrie Kubicek, MT-BC, sang holiday carols for patients and their families. COVID-19 infection control protocols limited annual celebrations, but elves on Ellison 17 and 18 found special ways to spread holiday cheer. Child life specialists ushered joy and festivities into patient rooms hosting events such as hot cocoa and pajama day, Chanukah games and the much-anticipated cookie decorating.

At the start of December, Frosty Fred slid down the Trustees Room fireplace to kick off his mischievous musings. Throughout the month, patients followed his daily appearances—finding him soaking in suds and baking cookies for jolly Ol’ Saint Nick—before he jumped on Santa’s sleigh and returned to the North Pole.