MIKEY'S WAY FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES
Past Activities of the Mikey's Way Foundation, Inc.
- The first Mikey's Way Day was held Friday, December
9, 2005 at Buffalo Women's and Children's Hospital,
Buffalo, NY. More than 40 electronic and hand-held video games
were distributed by Michael to hospitalized pediatric cancer
and chronically ill children ranging in age from 8 weeks to
19 years old. In addition, the foundation donated two laptop
computers, two color printers and two digital cameras for the
hospital playroom.
- A second Mikey's Way Day was held Thursday, January
19, 2006 at Yale New Haven's Children's Hospital,
New Haven, CT. Electronic hand-held games, DVD players and movies,
iPODs with itune gift cards, leap pads and digital cameras were
distributed by Michael to children on the oncology floor. Two
Playstation 2 consoles with games, and an XBOX console, with
games, were donated to the hospital playroom.
- We had Mikey's Way Valentine's Day at Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center on February 14, 2006
and gave out gifts to to over 35 kids and young adults who are
currently admitted cancer treatment patients. The most popular
among the teens and young adults were the ipods, DVD players
with movies, and digital cameras. The younger set choose leap
pads with games, and those in between choose Sony PSP's with
games and movies.
- On March 3, we had a Mikey's Way Day in Denver,
Colorado at Denver Children's Hospital. First,
we went to the outpatient side where there were over twenty
kids in one large room receiving infusions for the day.
We certainly caused a welcome stir when we walked in with
several red wagons full of great gifts. Many of the children
seemed instantly relieved at the sight of a new PSP or DVD
player or LeapPad or whatever they wanted. One little girl
in particular was upset about having to take a couple pills
but as soon as she saw her brand new LeapPad, she couldn't
wait to just take the medicine and start playing. After, we
went to the in-patient floor. I was able to visit with many
kids in transplant and recovery. The PSP was a popular item,
as many of the kids were teenagers. It seemed as though they
temporarily forgot about their ailment and their hospital
stay as they passed time having fun. The mission of the Mikey's
Way Foundation was fulfilled.
- On March 7, there was another Mikey's Way
Day at Minneapolis Children's Hospital. This
time, we set up in the playroom. We unloaded all the gifts onto
tables and the kids lined up to come in. Their eyes widened
as they saw the spread of the usual Mikey's Way games and electronics.
They were very appreciative and the nurses couldn't stop saying
how they've never seen the kids so excited. We did visit a couple
kids in their rooms who had been in the hospital for a long
time, or were going into transplant soon. We wanted them to
have some good stuff to pass the time in transplant, which is
usually about a month in the hospital. One child who the nurses
said doesn't smile that often was definitely smiling about his
new PSP.
- On May 18, 2006 the Mikey's Way Foundation
visited the Alfred I. Dupont Hospital for Children,
Wilmington, DE. The first stop was the day hospital distributing
gifts to children in for daily treatment. We visited with children
from age 2 to 19. The most popular gifts were iPods, leap pads,
and Sony PSP's. We then visited all the children on the in-patient
floor. There were chidren ranging in age from 3 days old to
22 years old. Since there were several infants on the in-patient
side, the baby bear with the taped sounds of the mother's womb
were particularly popular. It was gratifying to see children
get up out of their beds to meet us with the Game Cart. For
some children it was the first time their families have seen
them smile in a long time.
- The Mikey's Way Foundation made a second visit to Women
and Children's Hospital Buffalo, NY, on June
14, 2006. At that time Mikey had the honor of presenting
Judge Jospeh Mattina (Ret.) with the Wishmaker 2006 award, presented
by the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Western New York.
- In July, 2006, the Mikey's Way Foundation
visited Schneider Children's Hospital, New
Hyde Park, NY. We were able to put many smiles on the faces
of children in treatment and their caregivers.
- In September, 2006, The Mikey's Way Foudation
got a request from PCMH Regional Rehabilitation Center,
Greenville, North Carolina, for games and activities for their
playroom. Mikey shopped with a friend and sent over $1200 worth
of Playstation 2s and games, DVD players and movies, and more
new electronics to entertain children.
- Mikey and his family paid a visit to Yale-New Haven
Children's Hospital on December 24, 2006.
The kids and their families were very happy to see Mikey, and
be able to chose gifts, at this difficult time. The Foundation
also donated an XBOX 360, and games, to the playroom of the
oncology/hematology floor. Mikey's visit put smiles on many
faces this holiday season.
- In honor of Michael's 18th birthday the Mikey's Way Foundation paid a visit to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, March 20, 2007. Mikey was able to make many children happy with their new gifts, but even more importantly, he was able to give hope to families in distress.
- On May 11th, 2007, the Mikey's Way Foundation paid a visit to the Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAMs), Bronx, NY. We were able to spend time with many of the children and their families and make their time during treatment a little more pleasant.
- November 16, 2007, we paid a visit to The Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston MA. Mikey's Way donated three laptop computers, a digital camera and printer, three potable DVD players and numerous DVD movies and games for various game systems. The donations were made to the Jimmy Fund Clinic, the out-patient clinic for pediatric oncology. The gifts will be used by patients coming in for day treatments.
- On December 20, the Mikey's Way Foundation visited Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital. It was the third time the foundation visited the hospital just before the holidays. We were able to meet a lot of children and their families and explain that Mikey had also been a patient on the same floor in March of 2004. Everyone was so happy to meet Mikey and see how well he was, how far he'd come, and how he was helping others.
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