‘Once Upon a Room’ surprises USA Health pediatric patients with room makeovers
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — A team with Los Angeles-based group Once Upon a Room surprised pediatric patients at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital with room makeovers.
Once Upon a Room is a not-for-profit agency that recently launched its first Alabama chapter on the Gulf Coast.
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They brought in new blankets, pillows, banners, games, posters and toys for patients.
“This is the best day ever,” a 10-year-old patient said with a grin as he noticed football posters, wall decals and a new soft blanket.
“During the initial visit in Mobile, one teen girl saw her hospital room transformed with garlands of cute puppy dog faces, a larger-than-life French bulldog light, new bedding, decals, and pillows, all with a canine-focused theme that made her cover her eyes with her hands and squeal when she saw it,” the release said. “In a room down the hall, another makeover happened in more hushed tones as volunteers quietly placed stuffed trucks and pillows around a sleeping 3-year-old.”
USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital is the first hospital in Alabama to take part in the surprise makeover program.
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“When we were approached about this opportunity, we knew it would be something wonderful for our patients and their families,” Kim Thompson-Yates, who leads the child life program at Children’s & Women’s Hospital, said. “Seeing the sheer surprise and happiness on the kids’ faces today was overwhelming in a good way.”
The program came to Mobile through a partnership with the Mapp Child and Family Life Program.
The idea came from a former nurse in the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit. A current nurse visited a friend in Las Vegas and participated in a room makeover at a Nevada hospital and wanted to bring it back to the Gulf Coast.
More plans are in place for local volunteers with Once Upon a Room to continue decorating pediatric hospital rooms at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
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“Once Upon a Room was created to enrich the lives of hospitalized infants, children and teens who are fighting serious illnesses and long-term health issues, organizers said,” the release said. “At nearly two dozen locations around the U.S., volunteers work with hospital child life staff members to create a design for each room based on a child’s likes and needs.
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