Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation: March 2014

Art is something that has always helped Rowan pass the time when he is in the hospital. So, we have donated art activities for Easter to the children's hospital the past couple of years. This year we wanted to expand that project though. We heard that they usually do an Easter egg hunt for the recovering surgical patients at the hospital, but that they typically have to limit the kids to 5 or 6 eggs each. We decided that just wasn't enough:) so we purchased 350+ filled Easter eggs for the 25 or so surgical patients that they expect to have over the Easter holiday!

Rowan and I also picked out Easter Baskets for them,

as well as stuffed Easter animals for 25 patients.

Rowan and I had a blast choosing art projects for 45 more patients of all ages

who will be staying on various floors of the hospital.

We also wanted to do something for the parents who will be staying with their children during the upcoming Easter holiday. During Christmas we purchased big fluffy pillows and soft pillow cases for the parents. This time, we chose to buy large soft towels and washcloths (with a special treat of chocolate truffles). As anyone who has had to stay in a hospital knows, the white towels and washcloths at a hospital are small, thin and scratchy from all the washings and extreme temperatures and bleaching that they need to use on them for sanitation purposes. One of the most wonderful gifts I received over the years, while in the hospital with Rowan, was just that...a big soft fluffy towel. (Thank you Aida!) That is what inspired us to donate these.

I have a feeling they are going to be a big hit!

And I just love the bright Spring colors...I hope they cheer the parents up too.

Since we were going to be making a trip to donate items anyway, we went ahead and dropped off enough laundry detergent for another 40 loads of laundry for the parents of patients in the hem/onc bone marrow transplant wing of the hospital. They were very grateful, once again.

Finally, with Child Abuse Awareness Month coming up in April too,

the hospital had plans for an event with young children.

They are going to hold a dinosaur dig/land of the lost themed party.

Rowan helped me find 100+ little dinosaurs, grow lizards, glow silly putty,

stickers, tattoos, etc. for their event. Should be fun, and it is definitely for a great cause.

It is always so fun to shop for and donate items to children, but it is even more fulfilling to be able to fill specific needs like this, especially at a hospital where we have spent many, many, days, nights, and holidays ourselves. The Child Life Staff is always so gracious and excited as well.

This time, Rowan was unfortunately undergoing his own surgery the day I dropped off the donations, so he wasn't able to hand the goodies over himself. I met with the Child Life Staff myself once he was in the recovering room following his central line replacement surgery.

I told him how happy and grateful they were when he woke up, and he smiled from ear to ear. He has spent at least 3 or 4 Easters at this very hospital himself, and understands how important it is to feel special and normal there, especially during the holidays.

Here are some pictures of Rowan during several different Easter holidays...in the hospital...