Gourd Vibes Only: Patients and Staff Enjoy Terror-ific Halloween Fun at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health

Doctors, nurses, therapists, hospital staff and volunteers at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford all went the extra mile to give patients the ‘BOOst’ they need to feel better this Halloween.

Young patients and hospital staff who were dressed as superheroes, forest creatures, Minions, and Super Mario took to the hospital’s annual Trick-or-Treat Trail. The Dawes Garden transformed into a spook-tacular festival with more than 50 different trick-or-treat booths. Each had a different theme from Sesame Street to Disney Villains, bringing smiles to the little trick-or-treaters. Healthy Humor’s clowns provided entertainment to those making their way to each stop.

For more than 30 years, the Halloween event has been a welcome distraction for kids — and their families and friends — to enjoy and experience the Halloween fun even while being hospitalized. Molly Williamson has been at the hospital since September as her 7-month-old son Harvey is being treated. It was his first day outside after surgery and he gets to celebrate with his siblings.

“This was more than we could have expected. My oldest son was really worried about missing Halloween, so they’re all having a really good time. We’re from Missouri, so it’s very nice to be able to do this as a family even though we’re so far away from home,” she said.

Inside the hospital, Child Life Specialists and care team members walked the halls of the units with decorated carts delivering Halloween treat bags to patients who could not physically attend the event.

Nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) prepared something sweet for newborn babies experiencing their first Halloween. This year, they donned costumes featuring cupcakes, ice cream cones, and candy bars as the unit turned into a sweets shop. Hannah Ramthun, a nurse in the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital NICU, dressed up as an ice cream scoop to match one of the patients she cares for.

“It’s just a good bond we have together,” Ranthum said. “We get to celebrate his first Halloween and he’s been here for 8 months so it’s a big celebratory day. It’s extra special that we get to normalize being here and celebrate the small milestones and the big ones as well.”

The entire Stanford Medicine Children’s Health community also participated in the fun. Several clinics participated in a costume contest and transformed their offices with ghostly fun decorations. Nearly 20 Stanford Children’s pediatric clinics participated in the 10th annual pumpkin decoration contest. This year’s theme featured children’s books with the talented teams of medical staff painting, bedazzling, and drawing on pumpkins to recreate beloved tales like Where the Wild Things Are, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The most fa-boo-lous team wins bragging rights.

The effort to bring joy across the Stanford Children’s community is recognized by patients and families.