This article was written by Amber Bhutta, class of 2019.
After months of preparation and last-minute scrambling to smooth out unforeseen circumstances in the form of Hurricane Irma, the Pre-Medical Society hosted its annual superhero party at the Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital for patients in the pediatric oncology unit.
“As one of our first events of the year, it’s definitely a lot of work, especially by all of the officers who spend the summer working to make the party a reality,” junior Sophia Ashiqueali, Pre-Med superhero party chairperson, said.
In order to make the party a reality, Pre Med members, primarily officers, worked to gather sponsors and donations during the summer to raise money to purchase party necessities, such as food and decorations.
“It definitely took a lot less time to set up this year than last year because we were a lot more organized, and it led to a good turnout and smiling patients,” Pre-Med co-president and senior Jasson Makkar said.
To give patients an optimal experience, the party included a variety of activities. Patients could play Just Dance and other video games on an Xbox console, play board games with each other and Pre Med members, partake in various arts and crafts, sit down for face painting or have a henna tattoo done. The club also made sure to make eating just as enjoyable, as in addition to pizza and cupcakes, a Ben & Jerry’s stand, paid for as a donation by Ray Dass Test Prep, visited the party and offered guests different ice cream flavors and toppings.
Games and food aside, the superhero party primarily serves as a precursor to Pre Med’s holiday party which it hosts in December. Amid the superhero party’s festivities, patients sit down with presidents senior Kelsey Chandran and senior Jasson Makkar and formulate holiday wish lists, with wishes ranging from games consoles to bikes. Patients then place the lists in a mailbox to be sent off to Santa.
Assuming the role of Santa Claus and armed with the costly wish lists of patients, Pre Med will dedicate the time between now and the holiday party in December to fulfilling patients’ wishes.
“At the holiday party, we have someone dressed up as Santa, a big Christmas tree, and have the patients sit in the hospital auditorium as we call them up one by one to present them with their gifts,” Pre-Med co-president and senior Kelsey Chandran said. “Watching the patients’ faces light up and smile definitely makes all of the work we put into this worth it.”
