Patients Treated to Loving Hearts Loving You

By: Briana Pastrino

Community Writer

Photo Courtesy of:

LLU

Photo Description:

LLUCH patient, Emilio Sanchez, 12, makes Valentine’s Day cards for his family with a little help from Julie Rogers, a friend of the Big Heart for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild during the “Loving Hearts Loving You” Valentine’s Party at LLUCH on Monday Feb. 2.
The Big Hearts for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild treated patients at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH) to an afternoon of crafts and fun at “Loving Hearts Loving You” Valentine’s Party on Monday, Feb. 2. Guild members, along with the hospital’s child life services, created a therapeutic environment by allowing kids to create holiday crafts and read amazing books as part of the organization’s mission to enhance the patient experience for the precious children at LLUCH. Dixie Watkins, president of the Loma Linda Guild along with other Guild members, interacted with the children who attended the event in the hospital lobby in hopes of making their day a little brighter despite their individual circumstances. “We want to help these kids forget they’re sick or in pain if even just for a couple hours,” Watkins said. In hopes of prolonging that joy, Watkins said each child is given an age appropriate book of their choosing and a stuffed teddy bear. LLUCH child life services delivered goodie bags of items from the party to kids who were not able to leave their rooms or treatment areas so they could still enjoy the festivities. The Big Hearts for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild is committed to supporting the children hospitalized at LLUCH by developing programs and projects that address the critical needs of these children and their families. The Loma Linda Guild was founded in 1999 and was the first of what is now four chapters. Since its inception, the Loma Linda Guild has raised over $1.3 million in funds for LLUCH.