Young Adults in St. Mary’s Pediatric Day Healthcare Program Host Carnival & BBQ for Patients & Staff

St. Mary’s Patients, Families and Staff Kick off the Summer with a Day of Face Painting, Tug of Wars and Water Balloon Fights

Young adults in St. Mary’s Pediatric Day Healthcare Program (PDHC) kicked off the summer celebrations by hosting a full day of carnival activities and a special BBQ luncheon.

Patients, families, and staff enjoyed a day of face painting, tug of wars, water balloon fights, bubbles, dancing, BBQ, and lots more, all courtesy of the young patients in St. Mary’s PDHC program, a therapeutic, rehabilitative and recreational program designed for children 5-18 years of age and young adults from 18-25 years of age who have cognitive and physical disabilities. Patients in the program receive an opportunity to plan and participate in fun social activities such as talent shows, musicals, plays, field trips and carnivals, which helps promote their skills, confidence and independence, and encourages them to achieve their personal best.

The day’s activities and schedule of events were carefully planned by three young members of the program who remembered every detail to the tee, including recruiting a DJ for the day, putting up decorations, and designing the menu for the BBQ luncheon.
Patients and staff of all ages arrived at the carnival ready to party. With happy faces and dancing feet, everyone enjoyed the festivities and delicious food and thought it was a perfect ending to the work week.

“Young adults in the program are provided with multiple opportunities to help build news skills and enhance present ones in order to become as independent as possible in their community and develop every capability to his or her fullest, said Colleen Martin, Director of Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Activities, and Pediatric Day Healthcare Program. The patients worked for a few months making sure that all the pieces came together for today. This was an undertaking that was measurable, obtainable and most importantly successful.”