UC Davis Children’s Hospital celebrates spirit of Halloween

Little artist © UC Regents
The Halloween party included crafts and other activities.

Posted on Oct. 20, 2010

UC Davis Children’s Hospital celebrated the spirit of Halloween on Oct. 19, when patients transformed into little pirates, princesses, ninjas and superheroes.

The event — designed to allow pediatric patients to experience the fun of the holiday despite being hospitalized for serious illnesses — included face and pumpkin painting and other crafts. Children not well enough to attend the celebration received reverse trick-or-treat visits at their bedsides.

“It’s important for kids in the hospital to have fun,” said Courtnee Hoogland, UC Davis Health System child life specialist. “And it’s important for their emotional well being to have the same experiences as children who are not hospitalized.”


UC Davis Children's Hospital staff made sure all guests enjoyed this special event. The children's hospital received donated costumes and decorations.

UC Davis Children’s Hospital and its patients were the beneficiaries of free costumes and Halloween decorations from the 10 Sacramento region Spirit Halloween Superstores. The stores also are fundraising for the UC Davis Children’s Hospital Child Life Program, which provides a positive and healing environment for children during their hospitalizations.

UC Davis Children's Hospital is the Sacramento region's only comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children and adolescents with primary, subspecialty and critical-care services. It includes the Central Valley's only level 1 pediatric trauma center, which offers the highest level of care for traumatic injuries. The 110-bed children's hospital includes a 49-bed, state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit and a 16-bed pediatric intensive care unit. With more than 120 physicians in 33 subspecialties, UC Davis Children's Hospital has more than 74,000 clinic and hospital visits and 13,000 emergency room visits each year. For more information, visit www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/children.