UCLA Mattel Children ’s Hospital helps kids trick-or-treat

Three-year-old Harmon Jones strutted in his “Black Panther” costume as he prowled the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital hallways and main lobby for treats. After watching a special magic show and playing some tunes led by music therapists, he wanted some Halloween candy.“My favorite part is the lollipops!” Harmon said. “I like to share them with my mommy and daddy!”For Heather and Shaw Jones, Harmon ’s parents, holidays bring some sense of the normal and community. Last summer, Harmon was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that forms in soft tissue — specifically skeletal muscle tissue or sometimes in hollow organs such as the bladder or uterus.“We have spent close to 64 weeks in the hospital,” Heather said. “This is all Harmon knows. The Chase Child Life team, our nurses, and the entire campus has come out in droves to make sure Harmon and other patients feel as if they are trick-or-treating in our home neighborhood.”The  Chase Child Life Program organized the celebration at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, ensuring that any children in the hospital who wanted to could experience some Halloween fun.It was a UCLA community effort, with nearly 65 campus departments and groups dressed up as characters from “Toy Story,” “Inside Out,” “Minions,” “Paw Patrol,” “Harry Potter,” among other outfits.“It really is so beautiful,” said music therapy intern Amira Gill. “The collective energy felt so electric, and we hope th...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news