Methodist Hospital and Methodist Healthcare Ministries Partner to Bring Cheer Home for the Holidays

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT:

To help make the holidays feel more festive, we incorporate holiday gift wrapping into our patients’ occupational therapy. Not only does it help patients work towards their goals of getting back home, but it also brings some of their holiday traditions to them in the hospital. We’ll ask our patients’ family members to bring items in to wrap and even our nurses bring gifts for their loved ones. It’s really fun and the patients love it!”

-Chelsea Real (OT), Jenifer Stein (RN), and Elizabeth Cruz (OT), Inpatient Rehab, Methodist Hospital

“We try to keep the spirit of Christmas alive on 5N. We love to decorate our unit for the holidays to make patients and families feel at home when they’re not in the comfort of their own. It’s important for us for our patients to know they’re with family with us even though they may not be able to be at home with theirs.”

-Arlene Vallego, Clinical Nurse, 5N Methodist Hospital

METHODIST HEALTHCARE PARTNERS WITH METHODIST MINISTRIES TO PROVIDE CHRISTMAS TREES TO FAMILIES IN NEED

For the past few years, hospitals within Methodist Healthcare have participated in Christmas tree decorating contests as part of the holiday celebrations. From most creative, best theme, most traditional, and best overall, staff from all departments come together to creatively create true works of art. Following the competition, nearly 200 decorated Christmas trees and holiday wreaths are donated to Methodist Healthcare Ministries to give to families in need. In December, families are invited to one of the Methodist Healthcare Ministries centers to enjoy some holiday treats and entertainment before selecting their own tree. It’s pure joy when families see the room full of festively designed Christmas trees and pick the perfect one to bring home to enjoy. Holiday traditions will carry on this year to continue our mission of serving humanity to honor God and help provide a special Christmas to those in need.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., is a private, faith-based not-for-profit dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured.