Super heroes bring smiles to pediatric patients

For the third straight year a team of caped crusaders proved that even superheroes have to do their chores. On August 2, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman, Thor and Captain America literally swung by to clean windows and bring smiles to pediatric patients at Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s KGH site.

The grime-fighting team from Elite Window Cleaning volunteered their day to visit patients and families on our inpatient pediatric unit as well as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Staff on those units also went all out to welcome the superhero visitors, dressing up, decorating the spaces and serving superhero themed snacks.

“This has become a real tradition for KHSC and is something we look forward to all year,” says Kerri-Lee Bisonette, Manager of Pediatrics. “Our staff get so excited to do all this work to make the day special and it’s absolutely worth it to when you see the smile on the faces of our patients. It’s so nice to help them forget they are in the hospital, even if just for a few minutes.”

The day is always a highlight on the calendar for the team at Elite Window Cleaning as well.

“This is our favourite day of the year,” says Chris Stoness, Owner of Elite Window Cleaning. “It brings our crew together and gives us some real perspective on life. It’s so rewarding to be able to bring a smile to these children who are spending time away from their homes."

While the event has grown a bit each year, the main focus remains the same.

“We know it can be stressful to be sick and in the hospital for both the kids and their parents,” says Bisonette. “So it’s nice to be able to have fun like this to help ease that stress. We want our young patients to remember that superheroes don’t just exist in the movies, that there are real-life superheroes everywhere.”