Thank you to all that contributed to the Ted & Clare Ziemer Society Toy Collection! Your support will mean so much to children who are in the hospital at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital Evansville this holiday season and throughout 2021. The smiles on their faces as they receive toys during their care will truly be priceless - THANK YOU!
Four year old Andrew Swiderski knows firsthand the importance of what a toy means to a child in the hospital. Last year, while visiting his grandparents between Christmas and New Year's, Andrew's younger sister, Caroline, became ill. She ended up at the Peyton Manning Pediatric ER at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville, where she was admitted to the pediatric floor overnight. Andrew was understandably upset that his sister was not feeling well and had to stay at the hospital. Caroline's nurse made sure that she received a toy from the toy closet shortly after arriving in her room, so she had something to play with if she felt up to it and to lift her spirits.
Andrew's mother explains, "We had taken a picture of Caroline smiling with the toy and showed it to Andrew to let him know that she was doing okay. Several weeks later after returning home, Andrew had mentioned that he wanted to, at Christmas, bring some new toys to Caroline's hospital in Evansville. He explained that the toy Caroline received made her happy, so he thought by bringing in toys for other kids that might make them happy too while they are at the hospital. He has been reminding us all year that he would like to do this."
