Guests included both current and former patients being treated for hematology oncology, chronic blood disorder and chronic infusion and their families — in addition to Maimonides doctors, nurses and other health professionals as well as Maimonides Child Life organizational partners.

“These are chronic and life-threatening conditions for the children, so we try our best to make them happy,” explained Mahmut Celiker, attending physician,  pediatric hematology and oncology, at the Department of Pediatrics at Maimonides Cancer Center (MCC). “Our center is the only children’s cancer center in Brooklyn, and given the things that these youngsters have to go through — these are the times when we can bring real happiness to them, making things as easy and as pleasant as possible.” 

Shari Feinberg, lead nurse practitioner for the pediatric hematology oncology team  at MCC, was primarily responsible for organizing the holiday event.

 “We need to do a day to celebrate them, to have a kid be a kid, so, I figured, why not give them a party and make it all about them?” Feinberg told the Brooklyn Eagle. “My expectations are that the kids will have the time of their life today, and talk about it until next year’s party.”

Feinberg pointed out that Maimonides has also partnered with colleagues in “Child Life” — a program that helps children, siblings, parents, and families cope with their diagnosis and treatment. 

Alexis Ellis, Child Life specialist, said her job primarily consists of comforting kids, and distracting them during stressful procedures — “and we help with fun and bring them joy, like assisting with this party. We have a staff that includes, among other things, a music and dance therapist, and we work exclusively with Maimonides.”

“You see the energy in the room, the kids playing, it’s fantastic, It’s a really nice moment,” said Ludovico Guarini, director of pediatric hematology and oncology at MCC. He added that one key advantage to Maimonides is that children don’t have to go to into Manhattan to get care.

“Close to home is an advantage,” Guarini continued. “We treat kids with serious illnesses, and the fact that you don’t have to spend an hour going back and forth in traffic or if an emergency occurs in the middle of the night is a big plus. 

“Something like this (party) is a good way to remind the parents and the children that kids are kids,” he said.

This event, which the hospital has been doing since 2012, is important to both Maimonides’ patients and its health care providers. It is significant to Maimonides’ mission of supporting not only physical health for its pediatric patients, but also the kids’ emotional, social and developmental well-being.