Past and present patients recently filled the Grand Rapids Public Museum to watch the 24th annual Christmas production put on by Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Pediatric Hematology and Oncology staff. This year's theme: Voldemort’s Very Scary Merry Christmas.
Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital staff from the pediatric hematology-oncology department put on their holiday production, called Voldemort's Very Scary Merry Christmas, for past and present patients at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Ulrich Duffner plays the keyboard. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
The Harry Potter-themed production was performed three different times for friends, family and patients to enjoy. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Clinical pharmacy specialist Diane Sinsabaugh, aka Bellatrix Lestrange, an evil witch from Harry Potter, checks her makeup in the mirror. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Alissa Ashley hugs Child Life specialist Rhys Vandemark as they pose for a photo together. Alissa had medulloblastoma brain cancer when she was 5 years old. Now, at 14, she is considered cured. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. James Fahner, playing a sugar plum fairy, waits behind stage. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Lilly Vanden Bosch, 11, waves to her dad as she rides the carousel at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Lilly was diagnosed with aplastic anemia at age 7, a rare autoimmune disease that only affects 2 out of every million people each year. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Ulrich Duffner poses for a photo with 16-year-old Maddie Tomasko. Maddie has survived relapse acute myeloid leukemia and underwent two bone marrow transplants. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Clinical pharmacy specialist Diane Sinsabaugh, playing Bellatrix Lestrange, sits back stage. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
People gather for the Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital pediatric hematology-oncology Voldemort's Very Scary Merry Christmas party and production at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa, played by Dr. Al Cornelius, appears on stage during the performance of Voldemort's Very Scary Merry Christmas. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Child Life specialist Rhys Vandemark poses for a photo with 5-year-old Eli Jackson. Eli is currently in remission from neuroblastoma. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. James Fahner, playing a sugar plum fairy, throws confetti out to the crowd during the performance. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. David Dickens plays Severus Snape. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Elias Jose Estrella, 12, poses for a photo with Diane Sinsabaugh, aka Bellatrix Lestrange. Elias was treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is now in remission. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Julie Steinbrecher, RN, playing Santa's elf, dances to the song 'Watch me Whip, Watch me Nae Nae' during the performance. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Beth Kurt, center, playing Ron Weasley, listens to Dr. Jessica Foley, playing Hermione Granger, during the play. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Singer Holly Workman, RN, sings in between set changes. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Jenny Gies, left, Tom Mitsos, and Rhys Vandemark pose for a photo together. Mitsos is a 14-year survivor of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. David Dickens, playing Severus Snape, stands on stage during the play. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Richard Axtell, playing Professor Albus Dumbledore, performs on stage during the play. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. James Fahner, playing a sugar plum fairy, and Dr. Al Cornelius, playing Santa, wait back stage. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Matt Pridgeon, playing Harry Potter, and Child Life specialist Rhys Vandemark, playing Draco Malfoy, perform on stage. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. David Dickens, playing Severus Snape, stands back stage during the play. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Jessica Foley, playing Hermione Granger, Dr. Beth Kurt, playing Ron Weasley, and Dr. Matt Pridgeon, playing Harry Potter, perform on stage. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Patients, friends and family give a standing ovation for the pediatric hematology and oncology staff. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Doctors dressed as wizards, nurses dressed as elves and a very pink and glittery James Fahner, MD, dressed as a sugar plum fairy.
Together, they completed the perfect equation for a successful annual Christmas play, if you ask any pediatric hematology-oncology patient.
Past and present patients recently filled the Grand Rapids Public Museum to watch the 24th annual Christmas production put on by Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hematology and Oncology staff. This year’s theme: Voldemort’s Very Scary Merry Christmas.
For this Christmas production, Santa and his elves visit the Slytherin House, where he had a mix-up of milk and cookies with a dark potion and a visit from Voldemort.
Roars of laughter erupted from the crowd and whispers of children pointing out their clinical team could be heard between bouts of exclamation.
Fourteen-year survivor Tom Mitsos made his way back to visit and watch the production.
“We are so happy you came,” Child Life specialist Rhys Vandemark said as he kept his arm around Mitsos.
Oh that sounds fun, as a past patient that would have been fun for my son to come!
Merry Christmas to you all!
We always thoroughly enjoy these holiday parties. It’s so fun to see the doctors and nurses away from the hospital and being silly.
Thanks Meg! Great to see Lilly there and doing so incredibly well. 🙂
Fantastic !