Being hospitalized is especially hard during the holiday season, for both patients and families. But HUP’s annual tree-decorating contest helps to brighten the season, with staff “decking the halls” of patient-care units with festive and fun decorations. Thank you to the Abrahamsohn Christmas & Easter Committee of the Board of Women Visitors who not only sponsor the contest but choose the five winners amidst very stiff competition!
A Beautiful Day at Penn
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood,” sang Fred Rogers in every episode of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. And that was the basis for Dulles 4’s winning entry, ”A Beautiful Day at Penn,” a place where staff warmly welcome patients and families and treat them like neighbors.
“Mr. Rogers always thought of people as a neighbor, no matter where they lived,” said Lisa Spenser. “That’s how we think about our patients, who come from everywhere. We show our love, our appreciation. Over 56,000 patients a year trust us with their procedures.”
In addition to the large picture of Mr. Rogers peeking out from behind the tree, the decorations featured little red sweater ornaments and mini wooden peg figures painted to look like Mr. Rogers. Ornaments also include quotes from Mr. Rogers. Also from the “neighborhood” was a display that featured a train, with pictures of members of the Pre-op team in the windows. “Our train goes all around the world and the people on the train (eg, transporter, nurse, doctor] all come together to take care of our patients and for our community,” Spenser said.
With the help of a red sweater and slippers, Christopher McKendry portrayed Mr. Rogers. Like Mr. Rogers, he knows how important it is to make people feel safe. “Patients and families come in here scared and we do our best to keep them calm.”
Christmas in the City
Denise Coy, of the PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) on Dulles 4, got her inspiration for the “Christmas in the City” theme by combining two sources: the PM Experience panels on elevator doors and the lyrics “It’s Christmas Time in the City” from the song “Silver Bells.”
The BE Standards (compassionate, present, empowered, collaborative, and accountable) can be seen on decorations throughout the tree, many on little “holiday doors” Coy made and decorated with wreaths and glitter. And of course there are silver bells as well (sporting the Penn shield).
At the base of the tree are cardboard recreations of both HUP East (the Pavilion) and HUP West as well as a compass with W and E emphasized, representing not only the two hospitals but also the “WE” in working together.
Coy worked with Michael Ham, Sue Geyer, and Gina McCoy to pull together this winning display which clearly shows that the “BEs” are all part of the PACU experience.
Hats off to Dr. Seuss
The simple rhymes and drawings of Dr. Seuss books have brought smiles and giggles to young children and adults alike since The Cat in the Hat was published in 1957. The staff on Silverstein 11 decided to bring that joy onto their unit, but with a nursing twist. For example, patient room doors feature “re-titled” books, such as Horton Hears a Call Bell, Lorax has a Pneumothorax, or Fox in Fall Socks!
The tree featured a huge Cat in the Hat (thanks to unit secretary Julian Henry) with illustrations from many Dr. Seuss books. Felicia Gooden made all the ornaments on the tree, gluing the printed-out illustrations on cards and Christmas ornaments.
Audrey Tucker said they also chose the fun theme for the three-year-old girl they had “adopted” for the holidays. Her mother, who had been a long-term patient on the unit, had died only months earlier and she had lost her father earlier in the year. “We knew this time of year would be difficult for her.”
Reaching out to the girl’s grandparents – with whom she lives –they asked if they could make the little girl’s holiday a little happier by filling her wish list… and more. In addition to the list, they bought clothes, a bike and a scooter! Santa was on hand to give her the presents when she and her grandparents came to the unit.
The Giving Tree
In a literary tribute to yet another childhood favorite, the Second-Stage Recovery Unit on Ground White based their winning display on The Giving Tree. The book talks about the happiness a tree gets from helping boy throughout his life, by giving him parts of itself, for example, an apple to eat and shade while he sits under its branches.
The Giving Back theme is not only part of the tree’s dazzling silver and green ornaments—which includes a hanging apple in tribute to the book -- but also part of the unit’s holiday display. Two boxes invite staff to “help someone feel love this Christmas” by donating food and toys for the homeless.
Queen of Hearts Reigns Supreme
As a cardiac unit, Founders 10 wanted a theme that connected with their patient population. They found it in Alice in Wonderland, with the Queen of Hearts featured as the tree!
Their creative efforts can be seen everywhere: from Alice falling into the rabbit hole to the rabbit dashing away because “I’m late.” Decorations feature tea cups, flamingoes (used as croquet mallets), and even the caterpillar lounging on a mushroom (minus the hookah – it’s bad for your heart and your health!). A pre-transplant patient helped out as well, creating roses that turned from white to red in deference to the Queen of Hearts, who hated white roses! Jessie Boland led the effort but pulling together the entire display was a group effort, including a recreation of Alice’s tea party by nightshift nurses.
And, in keeping to the theme’s literary beginnings, the rabbit dashes along a path lined with books “retitled” with a cardiac theme,” such as Catheter in the Rye, A Tale of Two Ventricles, and For Whom the Call Bell Tolls.