By: Taylor Christensen | Royal Oak Review | Published December 11, 2024
ROYAL OAK — It’s that time of year again to light up the windows of the young patients of Corewell Health and spread the love as the holiday tradition Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams begins for its sixth year.
Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams is an event dedicated to the children in the hospital during the holiday season and lights up their nights Dec. 9-23. The event is located at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital at 3601 W. 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak.
For 10 minutes each night, starting at 8 p.m., people of all ages use flashlights to beam up light to the windows of the pediatric unit. Patients inside the hospital return the glow with flashlights of their own.
Lighting up the windows of the most vulnerable patients in the hospital gives them the joy and excitement of connecting with the community, which is a normal part of the holiday season for most.
“It’s such a simple thing that’s happening, but you can kind of see the impact it has on our patients and families just in that they’re stuck in a hospital or stuck in the building during what is kind of the busiest hustle and bustle time of the year,” Amanda Lefkof, one of the leaders of the Moonbeams initiative, said.
Lefkof participates in the event almost every night. She said that when the patients look outside to see the people there to support them and be there for them, the reactions are “incredible.”
“It really, really makes a huge impact on them just to feel like you’re still connected and still considered,” Lefkof said. “It means a lot for them to feel like they are still thought about in a time when it can feel really isolating and lonely to be stuck in the hospital.”
Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams has been a tradition since 2017 and was started by nurses and child life specialists at Corewell Health Children’s in Southeast Michigan.
Lefkof said that the goal was to create a simple gesture that is accessible and meaningful to everyone involved.
“We’re asking people to travel and to come and stand outside at night in Michigan in December, you know,” she said. “It’s really about just something powerful and for our families that are in the hospital.”
On Dec. 8, Corwell held a sensory friendly night dedicated to families who have loved ones with special needs.
The sensory friendly night on Dec. 8 provided a support table with stress balls, fidget toys, ear plugs and colored paper to cover flashlights with.
“Moonbeams aren’t just about flashing lights and booming sounds. It’s about creating connections,” said Kathleen Grobbel, Moonbeams co-leader and manager of the Child Life program at Corewell Health Children’s. “If we can make small changes to accommodate members of our community who might not otherwise be able to participate, as caregivers, it just makes sense for us to do so. This part of our community has so much to offer.”
The program also welcomes donations of new, specified toys from the Beaumont Child Life Wish List at amazon.com. Items can be delivered via Amazon or in person at the event. There is a drop box located inside the Medical Office Building.
Attendees are asked to arrive by 7:45 p.m. to leave time for parking. Participants gather on the sidewalk near the Medical Office Building located across from the East entrance; wayfinding signs are posted around campus.
Parking is available in the small parking lot across from the North parking deck, and just east of the Medical Office Building campus. Additional parking is also available near the Coolidge Highway entrance and at the Neuroscience Center.
Participants are not allowed to bring laser pointers or drones to the event and are instructed to only use the restrooms located in the Medical Office Building, according to the press release. It also says do not attend if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, cold or flu. For more information, visit beaumont.org/moonbeams.