EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — A bit of holiday cheer came to El Paso in the middle of summer as El Paso Children’s Hospital celebrated its annual “Holidays in July” Parade on Thursday for young patients and their families.
The hospital said the parade featured festive summer activities, including costumed characters, decorated units and mid-year holiday-themed fun designed to brighten the hospital stay for children currently undergoing medical treatment.
El Paso Children’s Hospital said the event aims to lift spirits for patients and their loved ones.
“It’s just a really exciting time to be able to have that mid-summer fun for all these kids. Our departments all dress up as different holidays. We have community partners. This is just that really exciting opportunity to bring a little smile and happiness to these kids,” said Daniel Veale, Director of Marketing at El Paso Children’s Hospital.
According to Veale, the hospital began celebrating the parade several years ago to allow patients to celebrate multiple holidays during the summertime.
“We want them to have fun before they hopefully get to go back to school and just bring that excitement and happiness to these kids.”
He added that the event also helps bring a sense of normalcy for kids at the hospital.
“It does bring that sense of normalcy that maybe they don’t get to experience being here inside the hospital. So it does bring that sense of happiness, that sense of joy. The parents love it. Siblings that are here with them love it and it just brings that, it just takes a little bit of time out of their mind of thinking about being in the hospital to just be happy and enjoy the moment,” Veale said.
For one child at the hospital, Camilo Soto, the parade helped him feel happy.
“It made me feel happy and excited to see it and it was awesome… It makes me feel good and happy to not get distracted about other things, to make me feel sad. So, it makes me happy and glad to see the parade,” Soto said.
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