Community holds light show with pediatric patients outside hospital
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WJBK) - Sometimes hospitals can be a lonely place, especially for a child during the holidays.
"We work in the hospital everyday and so we know first hand kind of how it can feel being stuck in there. It can be lonely, you can feel secluded, you can feel forgotten," said Amanda Lefkof, a child life specialist at the hospital.
So Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital created Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams to bring light to the pediatric unit. Each night in December around 8 p.m., people will gather outside the hospital to wave flashlights, glow sticks and more -- as the pediatric patients wave their flashlights right back.
The gathering lasts about five minutes as about 200 people show up to shine their lights, but crowds can swell up to 350 people. The short time is a small gesture that goes a long way, sort of like light in a dark place. It's brightening the holidays for dozens of pediatric patients at the hospital.
"I've been in both places. I've been outside shining the lights up and I've been and I've been up in the rooms with those kids shining back down and they get so excited and they think it's the coolest thing ever to see how many people are down here showing up for them," Lefkof said.
Beaumont reports throughout the month of December last year, more than 10,000 people came out to share the special moment with more than 700 children.
Anyone is welcome to attend on any night. Just bring a flashlight. You can sign up here.