She wears a crown adorned with pink and blue rhinestones,
epitomizing the sign “California princess” emblazoned
on the back of her red wagon. Natalie’s attendant carefully
guides her “carriage” through the hallways of the
Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, leading the 3-year-old to
the playroom.
The bustling room stands in stark contrast to the sterile,
almost quiet halls of the hospital.
Marilyn Clements, who is at the hospital as part of an art
program, greets her near the door. “You beautiful
girl,” she says with excitement.
Inside, the room is filled with music. Hanging costumes of lions
and princesses line the walls, and tables of crafts are spread
throughout the room.
Clements is a co-founder and executive director of Discovery
Arts, a program which brings music, art, dance and drama to
children with cancer, serious blood disorders and life-threatening
illnesses while they live in the hospital receiving treatment.
See more photos from this event and listen to Discovery Arts
director Marilyn Clements.
The nonprofit organization offers its entertainment services to
Mattel the first Wednesday of every month. Clements and program
director Mary Borkett also offer weekly programs in four other
hospitals in the L.A. and Orange County region.
“I think when a child can relax and get in a creative
environment, they can kind of transcend their situation and maybe
forget for a few minutes that they’re sick,” Clements
said.
She said she founded the program 13 years ago when she was asked
to direct a show as a professional choreographer at the Jonathan
Jacques Children’s Cancer Center in Long Beach.
After that show was over, she said she could not get images of
the children out of her mind.
“It was like someone was tapping on my shoulder,”
Clements said, adding that the experience prompted her to establish
the program.
Thirteen years later, the program is serving over 3,000
children.
One of the crafts offered for the day is the decoration of paper
hearts. The children are asked to write on their heart,
“Today I feel …” and decorate a paper doll afterward
to reflect their mood.
Nine-year-old Anthony Vosdoganis, dressed in a Spider-Man
costume, says he is feeling powerful and strong as he decorates his
heart.
Thirteen-year-old Felix Tronco says he is feeling super as he
transforms his doll into a Superman figure.
Natalie is dressed as a princess in a pink tutu and jeweled
shoes. Her mother, wearing a hat of leaves, asks her if she wants
to dance to a Christina Aguilera song playing in the
background.
She nods. As her mom picks her up and begins to shake her
daughter’s hips, Natalie starts to bob her head to the rhythm
of the music.
For a moment, she seems to forget the intravenous and nasal
tubes that alleviate her pulmonary and breathing problems.
“The children are usually pumped up in medicine and pretty
lethargic, but by the time they leave us, they’ve got
costumes on and they’ve been singing and dancing. The
difference they make in a day is what keeps me coming back,”
Borkett said.
Julie Vosdoganis, Anthony’s mother, said she sees the
difference having a few hours away from hospital life makes for her
son.
“I think it’s really good for the kids. It gives
them a break for the day, makes them happy, and gives them a little
bit more of real life than usual,” Vosdoganis said.
“(Anthony) really enjoys it. It takes his mind off of why
we’re in here.”
Traveling from Idaho so her son can be treated for liver
complications, Vosdoganis has taken time off work to live in the
hospital with her son. And for the first time since Anthony has
arrived at Mattel two months ago, he is healthy enough to wear
street clothes once again.
The faith Clements sees in her patients ““ an innocence
that goes beyond their illness ““ is a faith she said keeps
her heart in her job.
“They teach you in this situation and in many horrible
situations about tremendous faith, tremendous courage, and
they’re just beyond their years.
“They’re amazing and I feel blessed to be near
them,” Clements said.