The Bottomless Toy Chest visits young patients of Corewell Health

ROYAL OAK — Santa and his “Elf Squad” visited the Children’s Garden Room in the Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital Dec. 4 to surprise the pediatric patients with presents and holiday cheer.

Hosted by The Bottomless Toy Chest, Santa and his elves visited around 75 pediatric patients and their siblings for a holiday party. The kids had the chance to open presents, make crafts, eat holiday treats, and more with their friends and families.

“It’s hard being in the hospital any time of year, but I think during the holidays, it’s particularly difficult for kids, and the event helps really inspire positive feelings about being in the hospital, even though you might be going through something really difficult,” said Mickey Guisewite, founder and executive director of The Bottomless Toy Chest.

One special thing about the gifts is that they are all wrapped in cellophane. The cellophane helps to keep the presents safe for the children who open them, as a lot of the kids who are in the hospital have low immune systems.

Guisewite said that the special wrapping also provides a sense of control for the children.

“Another reason we wrap the toys in cellophane is that it gives children a choice in a hospital setting where so many choices are made for them,” she said. “It’s giving the child an ability to be in charge and be in control.”

Five-year-old patient Stella Campbell, from Newaygo, Michigan, chose dolls from the toy bin.

“It helps the kids; it gives them something to look forward to,” said Becca Campbell, Stella’s mother.  “And just watching her have joy, it helps me.”

Rose Freigeh, child life specialist at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, emphasized the hardships the children deal with while being in the hospital over the holidays.

“They’re away from their friends and from all of the activities they normally would be participating in or doing when they’re not in the hospital,” Freigeh said.“Something as simple as a new toy can really help them cope with their hospital stay, and it just brings joy and happiness during such a difficult time.”

During the party, children of all ages from the pediatric ward were able to visit the Garden Room, choose a toy and celebrate together. Freigeh said that the hospital invited back previous patients to come and enjoy the party, even if they were not hospitalized recently.

Gifts were also delivered to the children in the pediatric ward who were unable to attend the party due to medical reasons or isolation precautions.

“We’re so grateful for organizations that want to give back, especially during this time of year,” Freigeh said. “So we’re very thankful to Bottomless Toy Chest for this opportunity for our patients and families.”

The Bottomless Toy Chest is in its 16th year of operation and visits 15 hospitals in Michigan, and it also visits 15 different states. The program visits hospitals that have hematology and oncology, according to Guisewite.

“We are a weekly toy experience program. So I always say, ‘Like cancer and critical illness do not end when the holiday lights come down, so we are somewhere every single week of the year,’” she said. “I always say, ‘We can’t cure cancer, but I think maybe what we’re here to do is cure a tough day, or help make a tough day a little bit better.”

For more information on The Bottomless Toy Chest, visit bottomlesstoychest.org.