Lilly Loding, 5, sits on Santa's lap during The Bottomless Toy Chest event at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. Lilly is being treated for Langerhans cell histiocytosis. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Ericka Hunderman, 9, laughs while she tells Santa Claus what she would like for Christmas. Ericka is being treated for meningitis. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Jack VanderArk, 4, picks out a toy during The Bottomless Toy Chest event. VanderArk is being treated for pancreatitis. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Max Smith, 8, waves to Santa Claus. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Ashley Leslie, program director of The Bottomless Toy Chest, helps children make Christmas-themed masks. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Vanessa Mushlock holds her 2-month-old son, Colton, at The Bottomless Toy Chest event. Colton is recovering from an emergency surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Tristan Mathews, 8, tells Santa what he wants for Christmas. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Patience, 1, waits in line to see Santa Claus. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Darcy Hoffman FaceTimes her 9-year-old daughter, Clarissa, who was unable to leave her room to pick out a toy. Clarissa will be done with chemotherapy in two weeks. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Clarissa Hoffman, 9, stands in the doorway of her hospital room to visit with Santa Claus. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Olivia Somero, 3, decorates a Christmas-themed mask. Olivia is being treated for appendicitis. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Meredith Veenstra, 6, sits on Santa's lap and tells him what she would like for Christmas. Meredith is being treated for retinoblastoma. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Patience visits with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa Claus visits with 4-year-old Tyler Bugai. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Bryar Johnston, 8 months old, meets Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Bryar is being treated for leukemia. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Mason Patton, 5, meets Santa Claus while wearing his monkey mask. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Jayden Pyle, 4, poses for a picture with Santa. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Mason Patton, 5, tells Santa Claus what he wants for Christmas. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Ericka Hunderman, 9, tells Santa Claus what she wants for Christmas. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
More than 350 donated toys were gifted to patients, who picked out a new toy for themselves and for their siblings.
“Something as simple as new toys will make the ordeal these brave children face every day just a little easier and can give them the will and strength to fight back,” said Mickey Guisewite, founder and executive director of The Bottomless Toy Chest.
Patients had the chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and share with the big man in red what they would like for Christmas. After their visit with Santa Claus, children picked out a stuffed animal and then decorated Christmas-themed masks, got their nails painted and played bingo.
“Today was so much fun,” said Ashley Leslie, program director of The Bottomless Toy Chest. “It’s always nice to bring lots of toys and joy to the holiday season, and we are so happy to put smiles on the patients’ faces and deliver empowering gifts.”
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