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1st appeared
16 December
1999 Kids With Cancer Inspire a Santa Andy Patt says it was watching the kids at UCSF as they lived through surgery and chemotherapy for cancer, that kept him going during his own battle with testicular cancer five years ago.
Patt chose a Christmas toy drive to give back some cheer to the children whose courage had inspired him. With social workers Anne Pearl and Beattie Lazar and nurses Robin Kramer and Janet Veatch of UCSF’s outpatient pediatric oncology clinic, he and Karen learned the names and needs of the clinic’s patients, and their brothers and sisters. With advice from the San Francisco Fire Department (the champions of toy drives with more than 50 years experience), he and friends and family began collecting toys -- more than 500 the first year, 1997. Patt dressed as Santa and delivered personally chosen wrapped toys to every child who came into the clinic for treatment or a checkup. This year, the flood of toys has outgrown the Patts’ garage. Andy’s supervisors at San Francisco’s Department of Public Works have donated space on Treasure Island for a "Santa’s Workshop" and given him flexibility in his work schedule so he can coordinate an outpouring of volunteer support from his co-workers. Friends and family have placed toy collection barrels all over town. Andy’s sister and brother-in-law, Vicky and Mike Chiechi, persuaded the Broadmoor Community Center in Colma to donate space for a toy-collecting party where friends and strangers drop in during Christmas shopping for an eggnog and a chance to drop off a toy. Their aunt, Mary Olds of Grass Valley, has made 16 quilts in various child sizes, with Power Rangers and other toys as themes. Nephew Mickey Chiechi designed a toy program website [www.dpwtoys.com]. The whole family pitched in for a giant toy-wrapping marathon. The toy giveaway has expanded to the UCSF pediatric dialysis clinic Christmas party, to kids at SF General Hospital, and to a Boy Scout troop that helps homeless kids and several other programs. "There always are more kids who need toys," Patt said. Still, the oncology clinic remains his first love. "This is the best day of my year," he said on Tuesday (December 14), as he watched a little girl tear the wrappings from her present -- a doll with its own doll-sized stroller. His "elves" for the day included Karen Patt and Debbie Bell, both part of pediatric nursing administration at UCSF, Betty Liao of UCSF pediatric surgery and John Kern of the San Francisco Department of Public Works. Pearl said that major strides have been made in treatment of childhood cancers in recent years, but the long ordeal of treatment and care, in the hospital and at home, is difficult not only for the child but for the whole family. Children pay regular visits to the outpatient clinic from Salinas, Santa Rosa and even greater distances in Northern California. "Some of these parents are under so much stress, coping with their child’s cancer, that these special gifts mean the world to them," Pearl said. For information about how to donate or volunteer for the Department of Public Works Toy Drive, call 415/641-2365, email (DPWSANTA1@aol.com) or visit the website [www.sfdpwtoys.com]. Links: SF Dept. of Public Works Toy Program Source: Janet Basu, News Services
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DAYBREAK | ARCHIVES | CALENDAR
| CAMPUS NOTES Copyright ©1999 Regents
of the University of California. All rights reserved. |
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Patt,
now 42, was treated by oncologist Eric Small, and cheered on by his
wife Karen, their two big families, and an army of friends -- including
fellow San Francisco city workers who donated nearly 3000 hours of sick
leave time to help him make it through his catastrophic illness. When
he was ready to give something back to the community, that same cheering
section was right behind him.