Festive evening honored young patients’ courage and resilience with personalized gifts, a magic show, and a visit from Santa
Brooklyn, NY—On Thursday, December 18 at the Maimonides Cancer Center, children receiving cancer care and their families came together with clinical staff for the annual “Oh, What Fun!” holiday party, a heartwarming gathering that honored the strength and bravery of young patients.
The Cancer Center came alive with holiday magic as children enjoyed a photo booth, face painting, festive food, and a magic show by Looney Louie. Santa Claus delivered personalized gifts to each child, selected from wish lists created earlier this fall through Maimonides Health’s Operation Gift Giving program, which pairs patients with staff members who help fulfill their holiday wishes. Little Golden Light, and Toys for Hospitalized Children donated additional toys.
“Our kids spend so much of their time being brave—through appointments, treatments, and long days that most children never have to face,” said Dr. Ludovico Guarini, Chief, Pediatric Hematology & Oncology at Maimonides Health. “This night is about giving that bravery a break. It’s about letting kids be kids, even in the middle of something very hard.”
“This night is made possible by an incredible group of people who show up for our patients in so many ways,” said Shari Feinberg, RN, MSN, Nurse Practitioner Team Leader, Department of Hematology/Oncology Pediatrics at Maimonides Health. “Our clinical staff and partners gather to make sure our pediatric patients feel supported during treatment and moments of holiday joy.”
Each year, the celebration is made possible through the support of Eugene Zitwer Foundation, which helps fund holiday programming both in the Cancer Center and inpatient unit. The organization covers the cost of food, personalized gifts, decorations, as well as the magic show—helping make the holidays a little brighter for patients and their families.
The evening reflected the family-centered approach that defines pediatric cancer care at Maimonides and reinforced the Cancer Center’s commitment to caring for the whole child, supporting emotional well-being alongside compassionate medical treatment.
View photos of the event here and download using PIN 6088.
About Maimonides Health
Maimonides Health is Brooklyn’s largest healthcare system, providing more than 1 million patient visits each year through the system’s three hospitals, 1,800+ physicians, and more than 80 community-based practices and outpatient centers. Our system is anchored by Maimonides Medical Center, one of the nation’s largest independent teaching hospitals and home to centers of excellence in numerous specialties; Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital (formerly New York Community Hospital), a 130-bed adult medical–surgical hospital; and Maimonides Children’s Hospital, Brooklyn’s only children’s hospital and only pediatric trauma center.
Maimonides’ clinical programs rank among the best in the country for patient outcomes, including our Heart and Vascular Institute, Neurosciences Institute, Bone and Joint Center, and Cancer Center. For additional information, please visit www.maimo.org and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.