NGO opens its heart to ailing kids on Xmas Eve
The children’s ward in Escorts hospital beat the usual sombre look with decorations of ornamental stars, bells, baubles and ribbons in pre-Christmas celebration on Saturday.
The children’s ward in Escorts hospital beat the usual sombre look with decorations of ornamental stars, bells, baubles and ribbons in pre-Christmas celebration on Saturday.
Volunteers and professionals from Uday Foundation held storytelling session and played music to entertain children suffering from heart diseases.
“Storytelling has been well researched for its therapeutic effects with children. While storytelling is entertaining, it provides metaphors to life situations, often helping children deal with their current emotional states and find alternatives for the challenges they face,” said Rahul Verma, Founder and CEO, Uday Foundation. The pediatric ward has patients few-day-old to teens. Even though the very young ones could not understand the hustle bustle around, the celebration came as a confidence-boosting measure for their parents.
“Today’s event helped me forget what we are going through for a few hours at least. It has been a tough month otherwise,” said Rachna Kumar, mother of 20-day-old Ravi who has been operated for the hole in the heart. She has come with her husband from Ludhiana a week ago.
Mohammad Akram, 12, from Karachi got a colourbook from the Santa who distributed gifts to all the children there. “I will go back with nice memories of today. I am happy to have received the colourbook,” said Akram who will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow after having been operated thrice for heart diseases.
The volunteers narrated stories which generate hope and help children understand their world better.
Pallavi Tyagi, a volunteer who passed out of school this year, has been involved in such activities for the last one year. “I aspire to be a doctor. This exercise helps me be sensitive to children. Such celebrations indeed bring smile to their faces which look tensed always,” said she. The two-hour programme also had music session in which Tushar, another volunteer, played guitar to the kids.
