Patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa Get "Trick-and-Treatment" During Special Halloween Parade

Pediatric patients traded in hospital gowns for costumes and spent the afternoon trick-or-treating throughout the hospital

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St. Joseph's Children's Hospital

Oct 31, 2017, 18:37 ET

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Superheroes, pint-sized princesses, video game characters and friendly monsters invaded the hallways of St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa today. Some came on foot, others arrived in little red wagons and wheelchairs, and all were in search of Halloween goodies.

The holiday fun was part of St. Joseph's Children's Hospital's annual Halloween parade, which is organized by the hospital's Child Life team.

Pediatric patients spending Halloween in the hospital loaded up on treats and fun during a special parade at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017.

Five-year-old Lucia Ferlita, a patient in St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s Chronic-Complex Clinic, meets Fretta, one of the hospital’s friendly UnMonsters during a special Halloween parade on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017.

"Halloween is a favorite holiday for many kids. Being able to trick-or-treat while in the hospital brings about some normalcy, which is truly important for our patients and their families," said Hadley Trull, child life supervisor at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.

During the event, costumed team members manned more than 50 decorated tables as pediatric patients, joined by siblings and other family members, went trick-or-treating throughout the hospital hallways.

"This event is a great way for the hospital staff to interact with and encourage our pediatric patients," Trull adds. "Many of the hospital departments go above and beyond with their table decorations and treats, making this a wonderful experience for everyone involved. The kindness, imagination and generosity of all involved are a great example of the special dose of humanity our staff brings to all they serve."

To see photos from the Halloween parade, visit St. Joseph's Children's Hospital's Facebook page: Facebook.com/StJosephsChildrens.

About St. Joseph's Children's Hospital
As Tampa's only dedicated children's hospital, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital is committed to providing everything needed for the health and well-being of children. Part of the BayCare Health System, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital provides more acute medical and surgical pediatric care than all other hospitals in Hillsborough County. From the tiniest baby to the high school quarterback, patients are cared for by doctors who specialize in treating children, in surroundings designed exclusively for kids.

About BayCare Health System
BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 14 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit www.baycare.org.

SOURCE St. Joseph's Children's Hospital