Children’s Medical Center Dallas celebrated the start of December with its annual tree lighting in the courtyard on Monday, December 2. Despite the 50-degree weather, young patients arrived with IVs, in wheelchairs and even in red wagons to see the mammoth tree decorated with Santas, reindeer and angels.
To ward off the evening’s chill, there were blankets, heat lamps and unicorns surrounding the tree. Kicking off things, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher/Children’s Dream Team member Clayton Kershaw and his family (wife Ellen Kershaw and kids Cali Kershaw and Charley Kershaw) took their places on the stage in front of the tree with Santa’s helper Abbie Maynard. Clayton said he heard something, but all was silent. For a second time Clayton smiled and repeated that he’d heard something. This time he was right. It was the jingle of bells announcing the arrival of Santa to the delight of the children and adults.
Without hesitation, Santa got on with the show and invited patient Hayley to the stage to pull the lever lighting the beautifully decorated tree. With a countdown, the blast-off resulted in an array of lights coming to life on the tree and faux snow falling on the crowd.
Then it was back to the Butterfly Atrium for pizza and face painting