As a pediatric facility for sick children, Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital often provides fun distractions for hospitalized patients and their families. During one such opportunity, young girls were given the chance to dress up like princesses, while a six-year-old boy got to spend his birthday with a beloved superhero.
Princesses for a Day
Anna and Elsa, heroines of the hit movie “Frozen”, are two of Disney's most beloved and widely recognized characters. Recently, the two became a source of inspiration, as little girls hospitalized at Rambam Health Care Campus’s Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital donned costumes of the famous sisters and were instantly transformed into magical princesses. The activities were part of the Winter Festival organized by Rambam and sponsored by the toy store chain “Idan 2000” and “Simcha Layeled” – an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for disabled and seriously ill children in hospitals and rehabilitation centers throughout Israel. The festivities culminated in a screening of the movie “Frozen 2” in the hospital's Greidinger Hall.
Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital was transformed into a magical site, as little girls dressed up as their favorite princesses. Talia Chanukayev (age 4) dressed up as Elsa, and was soon dancing around the lobby of the children’s hospital with her golden braids wrapped around her head. “It’s so much fun to dress up like a princess,” said Talia, with a shy smile. Adele Vachnin (age 4), accompanied her little sister, currently a patient in the Joan & Sanford Weill Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation. Wearing a princess costume and a regal crown, Adele twirled around the red carpet, showering royal smiles in every direction. “The smiles say it all,” said Adele’s mother Anna.
“A hospital can be a challenging environment for both adults and children,” noted Tamar Shohat, Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital’s administrator. “In addition to medical care, we strive to provide the children and their families with emotional support and encouragement. This is a project of beauty and strength, like that shown by the two princesses in the movie, Anna and Elsa.”
In addition to the costumes, Idan 2000 also distributed toys to those children who were unable to participate. Tzion Chazan, one of the owners of Idan 2000, explained that this is a deeply personal commitment for him. “My son was severely injured in the Second Lebanon War and was cared for at Rambam. Since then, Rambam has a very special place in my heart. It is an honor to continue this wonderful annual tradition, and to bring a little joy to the children hospitalized at Rambam.”
Spiderman Spotted in Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital
In addition to magical princesses, Rambam also recently hosted a well-loved superhero – Spiderman! Raziel Amar of Kiryat Ata had been hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for weeks, fighting a severe infection, and is now undergoing physical therapy to help him walk. Hospital staff arranged a surprise visitor to help Raziel celebrate his 6th birthday. As Raziel stood by his bed, Spiderman suddenly emerged in a cloud of bubbles and proceeded to perform acrobatic feats, much to the young patient’s astonishment. Spiderman then presented Raziel with a beautifully decorated cake and the meeting of the superhero and the "small hero" ended with radiant smiles and laughter.
Paulina Gorban, a nurse, and Maayan Gilad, a social worker, initiated the event. Paulina said, "It is such a pleasure to bring joy to hospitalized children. We are like a big family, and we do everything that we can to bring smiles to our patients and their families—it is an inseparable part of the healing process. This child is the embodiment of a "hero"—all of our children are like this."
