Events

“This is my Christmas. I’m not happy, and I don’t have the Christmas spirit until I do this,” affirms Roberto Calderon, a captain for United Airlines. Calderon has delivered Ben Flyin Adventure Bears to patients at By uclahealth • January 3, 2020

Kevin Luzande, an accomplished chef and friend of a nurse at the Mattel Children’s Unit at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, decided to brighten up the holiday season for families in need of some good cheer.  Luzande, with donations from several prominent restaurants including Citizen Sprout, [...]

“I came into the emergency room last night, and they told me they had to remove my appendix,” mentions 12-year-old Marco Bledo, a patient at the UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, who received some surprise visitors.

“My baby is two months old, and he’s been here since he was born,” says Laporsha Manning. Laporsha came with her family to the annual UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital holiday party.

“My brother’s been through a lot of bad things. He’s had surgery in his nose,” explains 10-year-old McKennan Griffith about her 11-year-old brother, Jack.

“Santa comes in on the fire truck, and we wrap gifts and pass them out,” smiles Laila Ramji, the Child Life Manager at Mattel Children’s Hospital, Santa Monica.

“When Santa connects with the child, you see their eyes light up and their heart open, and it’s just a sweet moment,” reflects Bob Anger, who has been wearing the red suit as Santa Claus for more than 25 years.

“I always come to the annual holiday party because I love visiting all of my friends,” gushes Barbie, who joined the party at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.

“It’s really nice to have people come here and show their love and support,” believes Evelyn Rodriguez, mother to five-month-old Aria Arce.

“We host art workshops every quarter on different units of the hospital”,” explains Talya Katzman, supervisor for volunteer services at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. “It’s a fun, creative way to get patients out of their [...]