TCH and abc13 team up to bring Holiday Cheer to Kids
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- From the cast of carolers, to the young patients and parents, the Christmas spirit fills the air at Texas Children's Hospital. Tasha Williams' son Elijah is recovering from neck surgery.
"He loved it. I just surprised him," she says.
He's been here four months.
"My Christmas hope is that he will actually feel Christmas, because he was really down at first," Williams explains.
It doesn't matter where, the holiday can be felt in a hallway. The lights on the tree are lit in time for the grand entrance of Santa Claus.
John Nickens, Executive VP at Texas Children's Hospital says, "You know with what is going on with them each and every day in the hospital for them to just get a moment and take a break and just celebrate. It's a lot of fun for us and the employees as well."
One by one they step up and place their orders with the jolly man in the red hat.
Mom Sonis Smith says, "It's a long day. We got here at 7:30am and we just got released and came downstairs to watch Santa come through. It's a long day but a good day."
The work to spread holiday cheer isn't over. Tina Dooley, President of Texas Children's Hospital Auxiliary says, "This is a very busy time of the year for the hospital, for volunteer services, and for everybody in here. Our goal here is to make the time for our patients a little more tolerable by spreading some of the joy of the season."
Some of the children will be home in time for the holiday. Sherry Briscoe's daughter is one of them. "She's still here with me, I thank God for that," she says.
Sometimes the biggest wish isn't one under the tree.
Kayla Briscoe wants her sister to wish for "anything she wants for Christmas and hopefully it comes true."
As part of our partnership with Texas Children's Hospital, we'll bring you stories each week to inform, inspire, and help keep your kids healthy. It's all part of the "Promise abc-13" campaign. For every dollar you donate to Texas Children's Hospital, abc-13 will match it up to $100,000.
