MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach Patients Trick-or-Treat “Hospital Style” to Not Miss Out on Big Day

LONG BEACH, CA – On Monday, Oct. 31, MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach hosted a trick-or-treat event “hospital-style” for its patients so they wouldn’t miss out on this fun Halloween tradition. Miller Children’s & Women’s employees and members of the Long Beach Fire Department helped patients fill up their gift bags with Halloween themed gifts and toys.

The event took place in MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center’s conference room, which was transformed into a child’s Halloween paradise with jack-o-lanterns, skeletons and other Halloween decorations. Departments from both Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s each had their own booths decorated with different themes such as the Avengers, Harry Potter, and Snoopy to bring some festive fun to the pediatric patients.

Rachel Foust, a parent of one of the patients at Miller Children’s & Women’s, expressed her gratitude toward the hospital organizing this event for her daughter, Natalie.

“This event means everything to Natalie since she couldn’t go trick-or-treating while in the hospital,” says Foust. “It’s great that Miller Children’s & Women’s made this possible for kids in the hospital who can’t go out and participate in this fun Halloween tradition.”

Fun events like these are organized by the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach. The Child Life Program was developed to help make the hospital experience a more positive one for patients and families by giving them the developmental, educational, and emotional support they need during their hospitalization.

“The Trick-or-Treat event is always amazing for both patients and staff,” says Rita Goshert, director, Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program, MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach. “A lot of our patients are missing out on school or community events because of their hospitalization, so this is a good way for them to celebrate.”

Events like this help bring MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach’s departments closer together while supporting their patients. The support the hospitals receive from the community, like the Long Beach Fire Department, encourage both patients and staff alike.