The holiday party at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital burst with color—lights, treats, ornaments and toys.

But for the moment, 3-year-old Malachi Ostrander had eyes only for his new Paw Patrol fire truck.

Malachi picked out the toy as his gift at the party, which brought holiday joy to young patients and their siblings at the hospital.

Born with a condition called laryngeal cleft, Malachi has made many visits to the hospital—and undergone nine surgeries. He also is taking part in the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Intensive Feeding Program.

His mom, Sara Ostrander, figured after all the medical visits, it would be fun to visit the hospital just for a party.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect. It’s pretty legit.”

At the party, kids played Santa’s putt-putt mini golf game, decorated cookies, created ornaments and picked out toys and books. And they visited Santa.

“It’s nice,” Jason Ball said.

The event was a welcome break for his 8-year-old son, Declan, who has been in the hospital for more than three weeks.

“He really is enjoying the music,” Ball said.

Angel Standishvalley, 14, also enjoyed getting out of her hospital room to join the festivities in the Balk Café. She has been in the hospital since Tuesday receiving treatment for seizures, said her grandmother, Bobbie Valley.

Angel enjoyed decorating cookies and making an ornament.

“I think the best part is wrapping presents for your family,” she said.

Brianna Bentley, 20, wheeled into the party to enjoy the fun. She knows the hospital well—she has received 36 rounds of chemotherapy as she has dealt with Ewing sarcoma.

She arrived Monday for a new round of treatment.

“It’s nice to get out of the hospital room and to forget you’re in the hospital for a little while,” she said.