Kids at Children鈥檚 National Hospital got a big surprise recently when a life-size dinosaur visiting from the circled the block outside.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a real one! It鈥檚 a real dinosaur,鈥� one of the youngsters exclaimed.
鈥淢agical鈥� is how a staffer described the children鈥檚 anticipation and reaction as the 25-foot triceratops passed by repeatedly — coming into view from their rooms鈥� windows or the outdoor healing garden, where some were gathered.
鈥淲e also had some dinosaur characters — well, (people) in inflatable costumes — walking around and greeting the kids,鈥� said Shannon Powell, an activity coordinator at Children鈥檚 National Hospital.
鈥淭hey were having so much fun, seeing the dinosaur on the street and also the dinosaur in the garden. Also, there was the whole ambience — the music playing, the bubble machine going. Honestly, they were transported to a cool jungle land where dinosaurs roam free,鈥� Powell said with a giggle.
Powell regularly schedules activities in the garden that鈥檚 nestled between two intensive care units.
鈥淲hen patients and families and staff step outside into the fresh air, you see the change,鈥� she said. 鈥淧atients come out in wheelchairs, or in beds from the ICU and some of them aren鈥檛 even used to feeling the sun on their faces.鈥�
Powell regularly schedules garden activities that might include, for example, slime, arts and crafts, music, movies, games and bubbles.
鈥淚t truly is incredible to watch. What the garden does for children is it allows them to be themselves, to be the 鈥榝ree child鈥� despite whatever they鈥檙e going through. And, to just enjoy,鈥� Powell said.
