St. Mary’s Kids were Cupid’s Little Helpers on Valentines Day

Patients of St. Mary’s Hospital for Children Deliver Red Roses and Host Valentines Day Sale to Celebrate the Day with Staff & Caregivers

Young adults and after-school kids in St. Mary’s Pediatric Day Healthcare Program (PDHC) were cupid’s little helpers on Valentines Day, spreading the “I Love You’s” and “XOXOX’s” to staff and caregivers at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, one of the region’s premiere providers of post-acute pediatric care for children and families with special needs.

In the few weeks leading up to the world-wide holiday of exchanging gifts, flowers, and candy in the name of St. Valentine, St. Mary’s patients were taking special orders for red roses to be delivered to a Valentine of choice.

When the special day finally arrived, patients traveled throughout St. Mary’s flagship facility in Bayside, Queens and even visited offices in New Hyde Park to hand deliver the roses, along with a special Valentines greeting.

Continuing on with the festivities, later on in the day, staff, patients, and families were invited to the PDHC’s first Valentines Day sale featuring hand-made jewelry, heart shaped key chains, refrigerator magnets, and red and pink frosted baked goods, all created by St. Mary’s kids.

The Valentines Day project and celebration hosted by St. Mary’s kids were part of the therapeutic and rehabilitative efforts the PDHC program encourages, teaching St. Mary’s kids life-building skills such as money management, and communication and organizational skills.

St. Mary’s Pediatric Day Healthcare Program offers therapeutic and medical after-school, weekend, and summer camp programs for children 5-18 years of age and young adults from 18-25 years of age who have cognitive and physical disabilities. Through dynamic therapies, workshops, and projects that encourage independence and promote everyday skills, PDHC children and young adults learn to heal, grow and thrive, and reach their fullest potential.

All proceeds raised from Valentines Day will continue to help create recreational activities and therapeutic projects that help St. Mary’s kids overcome the challenges associated with their disabilities and achieve their recovery goals.