New England

Super Bowl Tailgate for Pediatric Patients at Massachusetts General Hospital

There are plenty of parties and tailgates to attend this Super Bowl weekend, but one Boston hospital gave its patients a celebration they might not otherwise get to see.

"We really want them to still be themselves and to really experience things they might not be able to outside of these walls," said Gabrieal Bretton, a child life specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Friday, Bretton and hospital staff helped organize a tailgate party for patients in their Pediatric Hematology and Oncology department. Complete with games, crafts and food, families were treated to an afternoon that didn't focus on their treatment.

"This makes a huge difference for him. It really does," said parent, Stephanie Stark.

Her 4-year-old son, Liam, is constantly in and out of the hospital for an auto immune disease. For them, it is rare to get to focus on anything other than his illness.

"Liam loves Tom Brady. He takes this stuff seriously," Stark explained. "It really takes his mind of treatment."

While the hospital regularly hosts events for kids and their parents, enjoying Super Bowl weekend like any other family is something they do not take for granted. The only thing better than that might be a win for New England on Sunday.

"Everything is about the Patriots here, so it's awesome," said parent Justine Salamone. "We'll be yelling a lot on Sunday."

Contact Us