Christmas sparkles at the Children’s Hospital
The Love Therapy Zero association celebrated, Friday evening, the illumination of two trees for patients in the pediatric sector of the HUG.
–In total, the action will have required two kilometers of garlands and 500 plexiglass hearts, which act as Christmas balls.
LAURENT GUIRAUD
The holiday magic had a bit of a head start on Friday night at the Children’s Hospital. To the tunes of “Vive le vent” and “Petit Papa Noël”, two trees were lit up with a thousand lights to bring a little Christmas spirit to hospitalized children.
At 5 p.m. sharp, in concert with the urban lighting, the first tree, located in front of the entrance to the pediatric sector, lights up while Gaëtan, a Swiss singer, tours the rooms with his ukulele. A festive moment offered by the Genevan, singer-songwriter for the youngest. Outside, about forty of them, parents, children, hospital workers and volunteers, observe the twinkling tree with stars in their eyes.
Then the small group moves behind the building, in front of the entrance to the Pediatric Emergency Department, to sing a happy countdown. From ten to one. Applause resonates as the second tree lights up. The holiday season is officially open, even at the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG).
Voluntary association
This is the second year in a row that the Love Therapy Zero association has coordinated the installation of decorations for the little ones, hospitalized or passing through the Children’s Hospital. But behind this structure, which has existed since 2019, are volunteers who have worked in the pediatric sector for more than ten years. “All year round, we organize creative workshops for children,” says Barbara Walter, one of the founders. We created the association because we needed a structure to organize these illuminations. ” Love Therapy Zero, which now has more than thirty volunteers, receives the support of generous donors and HUG, delighted by the initiative.
While everyone feasts on hot chocolate and cookies generously prepared by the pastry chef at HUG, some children happily dance to Christmas carols. A young girl, from her hospital room, waves to those outside who may enjoy the party. During the holidays, she will be able to see, from her window, the large Christmas tree and the little plexiglass hearts hanging from its branches.
Léa Frischknecht is a trainee journalist for the Geneva section. After a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Geneva, she obtained her master’s degree from the Academy of Media and Journalism of the University of Neuchâtel.
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