Commencement Celebration Takes Place at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach

Long Beach, Calif., July 11, 2011 - Collaboration between Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach’s in-house school teacher, Angelica Nunez-Lindsay, music therapist, Laurel Terreri, child life therapist, Allison Singhi, and community partner, Discovery Arts, all worked as a team to recognize patients’ hard work throughout the school year while battling cancer.

The care team - and their extended family - surprised these three hospitalized teens with a graduation celebration. Blanca Casillas, Pablo Lazo and Maraiya Gomez all graduated from their respective schools but because of their conditions were unable to attend their own graduation ceremonies.

Miller Children’s team wanted to make sure these kids had a well-deserved graduation experience. The playroom was decorated with many colorful balloons, graduation decorations and music. A look of awe and smiles were on the kids’ faces as they walked down the hall and headed towards the decorated playroom that served as their commencement grounds.

“I had no idea what was going on,” said Maraiya Gomez, middle school graduate. “The nurses just told me they had something to show me, I was a little nervous and then I saw the balloons and I got excited.”

Discovery Arts, a non-profit organization that brings the healing power of the arts to children with cancer, serious blood disorders and life threatening illness while they are in the hospital receiving treatment, brought caps for the graduates to decorate. The kids were able to celebrate their graduation with their parents, talk about their future plans after graduation in the next chapter in life and just get a chance to be kids again.

“Having to adjust to completing school projects and finishing up homework while managing an illness is an incredible undertaking,” said Nunez-Lindsay, in-house schoolteacher. “We want to commemorate these kids and let them know we recognize their strength, admire their courageousness and applaud their accomplishments.”

“It speaks volumes that these kids can get up every morning, live everyday with their condition and still have the strength and eagerness to graduate,” said Terreri, music therapist. “They are an inspiration, they are heroes and they deserve a celebration.”