Children in costume look out the window of the ninth floor playroom of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital as Batman swoops past with a wave. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)
The four superheroes pose for a photo before they scale down the building. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"It's Batman, it's really Batman," Chef Kellen Nykamp reported to his mom and everyone else in the room. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)
Captain America and Batman wave as they get ready to go down the building. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Koen Karns, disguised as a hot dog, fully dressed with relish and mustard, waits for the superhero flyby of an upper floor of the children's hospital. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)
Captain America puts Thor's hair in a ponytail for him. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Batman looks out over Grand Rapids. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Thor climbs over the side of the building. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Kelli Nash holds her son, Andrew, as Batman appears on the other side of the children's hospital window. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)
The four superheroes wave to patients in their rooms as they propel down the side of the building. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Captain America gets ready to scale down the building. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Batman was joined by Captain America, Thor and Iron Man outside the windows of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)
Judah Peek, 4, left, his mother, Samantha, and 2-month-old brother Elijah, and 2-year-old brother Noah, watch their dad, Tom Peek, scale down the side of the building. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Batman, Captain America, Thor and Iron Man make their way down the big blue glass building, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Alaina Iford, 14, greets the superheroes after their journey down the building. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Thor, high-fives his son, Judah. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Kamrynn Mosley, 3, joined the Halloween party. It was the perfect opportunity to wear her 'Peppa Pig' costume. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)
Austin Coultes, 9, poses for a photo in his Pikachu costume with his mother, Adrianna Park. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Chef Kellen Nykamp smiles after getting his face painted. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Kamrynn gets her nails painted a bright yellow to accent her Peppa Pig pink costume. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)
Matthew Madej, 13, plays a keyboard along with the band during the Halloween party in the Balk Cafe. Matthew is being treated for shunt malfunction. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
“I’m trying to be patient,” she said, swinging her pink sneakers in excitement.
A flash of black appeared up high, a mask peering over the edge. A wisp of red cloak fluttered.
“I see Batman,” Madelyn cried. “I think that’s Superman!”
Her 4-year-old brother, Oliver, ran about, a pint-sized Batman with a super dose of energy.
“I see them! I see them!” he called.
And that’s when they descended—four superheroes, rappelling down the side of the gleaming 11-story building.
Kids, parents and staff gathered in the play area below cheered and clapped as Batman, Thor, Captain America and Iron Man made their way down, capes billowing in the breeze.
The superheroes turned to wave at the crowd. And they paused on their way down to wave to children inside the hospital, as well.
Their arrival kicked off a Halloween party in the hospital’s Balk Café.
Kids shopped for costumes, created Halloween crafts, ate pizza and posed for pictures with their favorite superheroes.
The event provided entertainment for young patients and their siblings. Madelyn and Oliver joined the fun with their father, Martin Jones, while they were visiting their newborn sister, Juliette.
Austin Coultes, a 9-year-old boy from East Jordan, Michigan, took a break from his hospital room to watch the superheroes with his mom, Adrianna Park. He wore a yellow Pikachu costume with a mask he’d just made that day.
Watching the superheroes’ descent was fun—and he especially was glad to meet his favorite, Thor.