Tag Archives: Children’s Colorado

Girl Scout Brownie (and cancer survivor) gives hope to patients at Children’s Hospital

More than two dozen Girl Scouts, family, and friends joined Girl Scout Brownie Elena V.  for “Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams” at Children’s Colorado on Saturday,  Feb. 10, 2018. Elena battled leukemia for four years and won! Now that she has been cancer-free for two years, she wants to give back to children who are still fighting.  While the crowd was smaller than expected, Elena’s dedication never wavered. When asked if she still wanted to host “Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams” even though it was cold and snowy, Elena said, “Cancer doesn’t care if it is snowing. Cancer doesn’t stop if it is snowing.”

Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams is designed to show patients and their families they are not alone. Pediatric patients shine flashlights from the hospital windows and look for community members standing outside the hospital to flash them back. It only takes a few minutes, but means a great deal to young patients and families.  Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams was created by the Beaumont Children’s Pediatric Family Advisory Council at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.

When asked why she wanted to do this event, Elena wrote, “Many children get diagnosed with cancer and when you get cancer sometimes you have to stay at the hospital. I remember when I had cancer and I had to stay in the hospital, I loved to play in the playroom with Play Dough. Sometimes when you stay at the hospital, you can walk around and go to the playroom, but sometimes, like when your fever is going up and down, you can’t even leave your room. It feels sad when you are stuck in your room or when you have to stay at the hospital for a long time. By doing this event, I want to support the kids that have cancer. I want them to know that they can get through it too. I want to give them hope.”