With a smile that could light up a Christmas tree, a delighted Elizabeth Stucker was hoisted above onlookers in a boom lift on Friday, Nov. 17, to place the first enormous red ornament on the 85-foot-tall holiday tree in San Francisco's Union Square.
The 9-year-old hung the first ornament during a news conference on safe holiday shopping precautions in Union Square, a precursor to the 17th Annual Macy's Tree Lighting Ceremony, which will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving.
For the fourth year, UCSF Children's Hospital is the beneficiary of the sale of the lights that will illuminate the tree. For $10, contributors can sponsor a light and make a donation to the hospital. Last year, more than $205,000 was raised through the sale of tree lights for programs for children with life-threatening illnesses.
"We are so pleased to, once again, be the beneficiary of this great San Francisco tradition," said Kim Scurr, director of perinatal services and the Pediatric Heart Center at UCSF Children's Hospital. "Each light that will illuminate this tree represents a family and a child with a life-threatening illness who has been treated at UCSF Children's Hospital."
Stucker is one of those children. She suffers from a rare and difficult-to-treat form of cancer, recurrent neuroblastoma stage 4. Her parents brought her to UCSF from her home in Fort Worth, Texas, in August to be cared for by Kate Matthay, MD, director of pediatric oncology and hematology and a nationally renowned expert in neuroblastoma research and treatment.
Stucker is participating in a clinical trial led by Matthay that involves the use of meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) therapy, then high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell capture and bone marrow transplantation. Ronda Stucker said the treatment is promising.
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Photo/Cindy Chew, San Francisco Examiner |
But on Friday, Elizabeth's condition was the furthest thing from the child's mind - she was simply thrilled at the once-in-a-lifetime experience of placing an ornament atop the towering tree.
"Elizabeth told me, 'This is the best day ever!' when she got off the cherry picker," her mother said. "She was right in her element."
Also participating in the Safe Shopper news conference were representatives from Macy's, the city's police department, Municipal Transportation Authority and the Union Square Association. Police, traffic and street sweeping efforts all will be heightened during the holidays to ensure a positive shopping experience, they said.
"I'd like to wish everyone a safe holiday shopping season. And remember that this is an exciting time for children, so please keep an eye on them while you're shopping," Scurr said.
"The holiday season is a special time for family and friends to give thanks for all that brings joy to their lives. For children facing life-threatening illness, UCSF Children's Hospital is a beacon of hope," she said.
Those wishing to purchase a "beacon of hope" light still may do so by calling 888/689-UCSF (8273) or by visiting the UCSF Children's Hospital event
website.
