“Thank you for hosting such a great event! It’s always nice to see the kids running around and to visit with the staff and their families. We look forward to it every year!”
The sixth annual Pediatric Transplant Center Family Celebration Day was held on Sunday, Oct. 7 at Kimball Farm. Initial weather forecasts predicted cold temperatures and rain, but as luck would have it, all 280 attendees (72 transplant recipients and 208 family members and Boston Children’s staff) enjoyed a day of beautiful fall weather.
As always, the event was free for all transplant recipients and their immediate family. At this year’s event, our new “Recycle Yourself” T-shirts were sold with proceeds going to this event.
The day started with medical arts and crafts provided by our child life specialists. Patients and siblings were given a new stuffed animal that needed a “check-up” at the Stuffed Animal Transplant Clinic. Kids of all ages participated in medical play-acting as a transplant doctor or nurse, taking temperatures, checking blood pressures and even performing surgeries. (Though the players were young, many were convincing in their roles—having lived through these procedures themselves.) In addition, patients and siblings participated in a medical art event by creating doctor’s bags with construction paper, crayons, Band-Aids, gauze and more. Transplant recipients also had the opportunity to sign the Transplant Wall of Fame.
Homemade ice cream and food were two of the many highlights of the day. Attendees had many options at our American BBQ buffet, including egg- and nut-free selections. Before and after lunch, attendees took part in many of the fun activities available at the farm: face painting, miniature golf, bumper boats, arcade games, a golf driving range, batting cages and much more. Pediatric Transplant Center director, Dr. Kim, ran a golf clinic for patients that proved to be very popular among kids of all ages.
The event created a bit of social media buzz as well. Here’s a few comments left by attendees on the Pediatric Transplant Center’s Facebook page:
“Thank you for such a great time! Nicole loved her golf lesson with Dr. Kim! What a great day, the weather even cooperated!”
“So much fun – it was great to have 5 lung transplant families there.”
“Thank you for hosting such a great event! It’s always nice to see the kids running around and to visit with the staff and their families. We look forward to it every year!”
“It is great seeing people I haven’t seen in a while.”
“I get to see the animals and do bumper boats.”
“It’s cool to see the doctors as a normal person.”