Special Events

2008

Passport Party - NYC

The PediDome transformed into New York City as the Child Life Program and Volunteer Services hosted a special Passport Party for patients and families. NYC-themed games, caricature artists, and "street" musicians were on hand to make the PediDome feel like the Big Apple. Pizza and candied apples rounded out the day of fun.

Kim's Place 5th Anniversary Party

Players from the Houston Comets visited and played games with patients from the Children's Cancer Hospital at M. D. Anderson to recognize the 5th anniversary of Kim's Place. Kim's Place is a special hangout for teens and young adults at M. D. Anderson created in memory of Comets guard Kim Perrot.

Camp A.O.K.

Every year, patients and their siblings come to the Children's Cancer Hospital's Camp A.O.K. to spend a week playing sports, fishing, riding horses, canoeing, working on crafts, trying their hand at archery and the list goes on. To top of the week, they spend their last night getting dressed up in tuxes and formal dresses to attend a special Camp A.O.K. prom full of music and dancing at a nearby country club.

 Christmas in July

Patients from the Children's Cancer Hospital at M. D. Anderson celebrated "Christmas in July" with Race Across America team members. The cycling team raced in a tough 3,052-mile race from California to Maryland in nine days to raise money for neurofibromatosis and cancer patients at the Children's Cancer Hospital.

FOTOFEST2008

Each week pediatric patients participate in art and writing classes at the Children’s Cancer Hospital. In conjunction with FOTOFEST2008, the patients’ creative self-portraits along with their written poetry are exhibited at the History of Printing Museum, representing a collaboration between the Children's Cancer Hospital, Writers in the Schools, and the Houston Center for Photography.

Mardi Gras Parade

New Orleans came to M. D. Anderson on Fat Tuesday this year as pediatric patients paraded through the hospital being decorated with beads from the numerous employees lined along the hallways. Along their parade path, they kept in beat with tunes played by the Dixieland Band and followed Volunteer Services’ famous dancing crawfish.

Ski Trip

Patients from the Children’s Cancer Hospital and their families embarked to Utah for the 27th annual rehabilitation ski trip. The trip is designed for patients with amputations or physical challenges from cancer treatment. During the week-long adventure, patients learn how to conquer the slopes, overcome their fears and have fun. The trip is funded by the Children’s Art Project.

2007

Holiday Musical Program

The 3rd Annual Children’s Cancer Hospital Holiday Musical Program was held for all employees and visitors to hear at M. D. Anderson. Patients, faculty and staff from the Children’s Cancer Hospital performed a variety of holiday songs for a large crowd in The Park. Patients and their families then filed upstairs to enjoy a holiday party in the PediDome.

Fall Festival

M. D. Anderson became a spooktacular place on October 31 as pediatric patients participated in the annual Fall Festival. Patients weaved through the hallways receiving treats from employees stationed throughout the institution. Following their trick or treating, there was a festival with activities booths for the young patients to enjoy.

Pep Rally

To kick of the holiday season, the Children’s Art Project held a pep rally for the 2007 designers, all current or former patients from the Children’s Cancer Hospital. The day was filled with cheering, dancing, eating and a performance from a local high school’s bagpipe band.

Cultural Dinner

Children from around the world are treated at the Children’s Cancer Hospital. In September, several mothers of patients from the Middle East prepared a feast of their native food for everyone to enjoy at the Children’s Cancer Hospital. The night was an educational night full of treats for all who attended.

Houston Astros Event

In coordination with National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, the Children’s Cancer Hospital and the Houston Astros teamed up for a special night at Minute Maid Park recognizing pediatric patients from the Children’s Cancer Hospital before the baseball game.

Camp A.O.K.

Each August, current and former patients and their siblings pack their bags and head off to Camp A.O.K. (Anderson’s Older Kids) for a week of fun. Each day brings the regular camp activities, and each night has a different themed event, including a special prom on the last night.

Greeting Cards Showcase

Every year patients from the Children’s Cancer Hospital at M. D. Anderson create artwork that is featured on greeting cards and gift items from the Children’s Art Project. At the beginning of the school year, the Children’s Art Project hosted a card announcement to showcase the new cards and their designers for the season.

Cookie Decorating Project

Patients from the Children's Cancer Hospital had a sweet treat in July. The children made cookie trains and jewelry with the help of staff from the Cookie Jar Bakery. Many of decorated treats were eaten before the icing even had time to dry.

Rockin’ in the Rainforest Camp

For those who weren’t able to attend Camp Star Trails this summer, the Child Life staff and Smart Multimedia joined forces to host the Rockin’ in the Rainforest Inpatient Camp. Patients had daily lessons about the rainforest and created a variety of jungle-themed craft projects such as spider hats, wooden snakes, Model Magic poison dart frogs, masks and rainsticks. The camp’s faux campfire will be the center of attention when it’s snack-time.

Annual Education Trip

Each year our pediatric patients and survivors pack their bags for a fun educational trip to San Antonio. While in San Antonio, patients visit the Alamo, SeaWorld and the Institute of Texan Cultures. The trip is free to patients through funding from the Children’s Cancer Hospital and the Children’s Art Project.

Texas 4000 Visit

The PediDome was covered in burnt orange when students from The University of Texas paid a visit in May. Members of the student group Texas 4000 for Cancer came to meet the patients that they would be raising awareness and funds for during their summer 4,500-mile bike journey up to Alaska.

Dr. Seuss Day

The Cat in the Hat was where it was at for pediatric patients from the Children’s Cancer Hospital. In recognition of the 10th annual Read Across America Day, pediatric cancer patients joined celebrity guests and local community members to read story time favorites and perform a play in honor of Dr. Seuss’s 103rd birthday.

Chili Cook-off

As groups were gathering at Reliant Stadium for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo cook-off, our patients were putting their cooking skills to work assisting our staff and faculty with the Children's Cancer Hospital’s annual chili cook-off.

Mardi Gras Party

The band was playing as patients paraded through the halls of M. D. Anderson receiving Mardi Gras beads and goodies from staff and friends. The parade ended in the PediDome, but the party continued with Cajun treats and festive activities for our patients and families.

A Texas-sized Painting

In celebration of the annual Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, patients painted two large boots to be displayed on the rodeo grounds during the following weeks. Boots were donated by the Poultry Committee of the HLSR and the Marketing Department at M. D. Anderson.

Aeros Visit CCH

There was no ice or snow in Houston, but patients at the Children’s Cancer Hospital didn’t care when they tested their hockey skills against hockey players from the Houston Aeros and their mascot, Chilly.