Tucson, Arizona is witnessing a remarkable transformation as Diamond Children’s Medical Center proudly presents its brand new Play Zone. This expansive 7,200-square-foot area is a haven designed specifically for hospitalized children, offering them a chance to engage in therapeutic play and create lasting memories with their families outside the confines of the hospital room.

A Therapeutic Oasis for Hospitalized Kids

Therapeutic Play: A Distraction for Young Patients

For young patients like 14-year-old Jeremiah Boccardo, the Play Zone provides a much-needed distraction. His father, Steve, recalls how active Jeremiah was in sports before his cancer diagnosis last year. "We think it’ll help a lot of kids to just take their mind off what’s going bad, to think about something positive and just have a little normalcy in their life," said Boccardo. The Play Zone includes an art studio, sensory room, VR gaming area, and more, offering a diverse range of activities to suit every child's interests.

Natural Light and a Break from Hospital Noise

Hadley Trull, associate director of Diamond Children’s Child Life Department, emphasizes the importance of the natural light available in the play zone. "Having natural light be available is huge for a lot of our kiddos and actually stepping away from all of the beeping that’s on the units with the monitors on the IV pole," she says. This creates a peaceful environment that helps children feel more at ease during their hospital stay.

Community Effort: Hundreds of Donors Come Together

Creating this amazing space was a true community effort. Hundreds of donors and companies contributed to the play zone, with Jeremy Sharpe, Banner Health Foundation board member, highlighting that "400 donors gave to this space. It wasn’t five big families, it wasn’t five foundations. 400 people." This collective effort shows the power of community in making a positive difference in the lives of hospitalized children.

Winter Wonderland Holiday Shop: A Special Event

Later this month, Diamond Children’s will host their first ever “Winter Wonderland Holiday Shop”. "We’ll essentially create a Toys R Us experience and invite the caregivers to come down and shop for their patients and siblings. Whatever holidays they celebrate, we honor that," Trull said. This event will provide a special opportunity for caregivers to show their love and support for the children in their care.