Adopt-a-Patient’s Family Inspires
True Holiday Spirit

For many, sitting down to a holiday meal with family and friends or anticipating the look of joy on a loved one’s face upon receiving a much-desired treasure is taken for granted. Unfortunately, some patients face the holidays coping with a devastating illness and its often-attending loss of income, fearful that providing their families with even the rudiments of holiday cheer will be impossible.

To help these families in need, each year the UCLA Medical Center Auxiliary recruits hospital departments and individuals to Adopt-a-Patient’s Family for the holidays, matching caring sponsors with UCLA patients who need assistance and their families.

“We have patient families with needs that often include basic necessities — such as bus vouchers, grocery gift certificates, or a blender to prepare medications to ingest — to more substantial needs, including a hospital bed or a dialysis machine,” explains Helen Levin, vice president of the Auxiliary Board.

“Last year we assisted 419 individuals. Among the requests was a skateboard. With his cardiologist’s assistance, we provided the boy with not only a skateboard, but plenty of armor and padding as well. As a bonus, the exercise afforded by his new passion for skating also helped to improve his health,” adds Ms. Levin.

“The best part of Adopt-a-Family is delivering the gifts to the patient’s home,” recalls Marina Lawson, senior administrative analyst of Human Resources and Marketing. “Remember, many of these families really have very little. Last year, seeing the joy on the children’s and the gratitude on the parent’s faces meant a great deal to us. To show their appreciation, this family had dressed in their best clothes and offered us homemade tamales. We were honored and touched since this family had very little for themselves, let alone for others. This experiences brings so much more back than what is given,” explains Ms. Lawson.

Any assistance is appreciated and directly benefits our patients and their families. Consider bringing joy to a patient’s life this holiday season. For more information, please email Helen Levin at HutchLevin@aol.com or call 310-573-1733. The deadline to adopt a patient’s family this year is December 8th.