December 23, 2005

Santa's stockings make children smile

In an effort to make as many sick children as possible happy this holiday season, MGH Orthopædics teamed up with Radiology to create more than 50 stuffed stockings for patients in the MassGeneral Hospital for Children's Pediatric Hematology and Oncology unit and at the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center. Linda Comeau, of MGH Orthopædics, spent more than 80 hours sewing each stocking by hand, using many types of material, patterns and themes to personalize them. Each stocking also came with a tree ornament.

The idea for the stockings originated after the Orthopædics staff hosted a trick-or-treating event for the patients during Halloween. "Seeing Dr. Raskin give out candy and laughing with the children reminded my colleagues and I of Santa Claus, so we decided to do something special for the children for the holidays," says Cris Moore, (above, right, with Comeau) also of Orthopædics.

On Dec. 19, Kevin Raskin, MD, an orthopædic oncologist, dressed up as Santa Claus and delivered the stockings to eager children at the clinic. MGH staff donated gift certificates, toys and money to buy the stocking stuffers.