CHICAGO (CBS) — The hospital is no place for a child to spend the holidays, but a Chicago organization – Holiday Heroes – is doing its best to make it more comfortable for children.
Christmas is just around the corner, but there’s no place a certain elf would rather be than at three-year-old Finley’s side.
“He’s in the hospital right now and has been here for 15 days or so. Somewhere in there. I’ve lost count,” said his mother, Jessica Edgar.
Holly traveled from Santa’s workshop at the North Pole to provide warmth to Finley and other children at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. For kids like Finley, the days in the hospital are a blur, but his mother will remember the moment an elf who was just doing her job for Holiday Heroes brought Finley a little Christmas cheer.
“It’s amazing. Our mission is simply to spread joy among the pediatric patients at the hospital,” said Lynn Reckamp, executive director of Holiday Heroes. “We just take their mind off what they’re going through and bring some happiness.”
“You know, we’re very busy at the North Pole this time of year. We’re working on all kinds of things,” Holly said.
Holiday Heroes brings gifts for children in the hospital, such as activity boxes, sensory bags and other supplies.
“It’s a lot of squishes and stress balls and things that make weird noises, because of course we’re elves. I mean, you should see us drinking a whole gallon of syrup,” Holly said.
Holiday Heroes brightens the days for brave children at 18 different hospitals across Chicagoland. They all visit four times a year.
Elf selfies and dance parties in hospital rooms are free for families or hospitals.
“Yes, visits from elves are great. That’s cool. That’s unexpected,” said mother Nicole Sivek.
“I feel like you can never have too many great things, right?” Holly said. “I think we bring them memories. I think we’ll give them something else to take home from the hospital.”
But the greatest gift an elf can give is comfort and joy.
Since 2009, Holiday Heroes has brought joy to more than 54,000 children and their families.
