SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM CHILDREN’S PEDIATRIC PATIENTS RECEIVE SPECIAL SUPERHERO VISIT ON FOURTH OF JULY
To help lift the spirits of hospitalized patients at STHS Children’s, the Auxiliary to South Texas Health System invited a team of superheroes to spend the morning with them on Independence Day
Superheroes always answer the call when they are needed; this Fourth of July was no exception.
While most people throughout the country celebrated Independence Day, dozens of patients and their families at South Texas Health System Children’s couldn’t take part in the traditional festivities due to their hospitalization.
But they still had plenty to smile about, thanks to the Auxiliary to South Texas Health System.
The healthcare system’s non-profit organization invited Batman and Iron Man to surprise the pediatric patients at STHS Children’s. The duo took a break from their crime-fighting duties to go room to room and help lift the spirits of the hospitalized children, their parents and STHS Children’s staff who spent the Fourth of July at the facility.
Rodrigo Rodriguez, 9, could hardly contain his excitement when the famous crime-fighters came through his door.
“I read their books, watch their movies; my favorite one is Spider-Man,” Rodrigo said. “Meeting them was my dream come true.”
Rodrigo’s mom, Gabriela Ruiz, was especially grateful for the surprise visit, knowing the positive effect they can have on kids confined to a hospital room for an extended period.
“It’s great because they make the day a little better for the kids who are probably really bored, like my son was,” Gabriela said. “I’m grateful that there are people who take the time to come to make children happy, even for just a little while, and help them forget about what they’re going through.”
Among the other patients who got to meet the superheroes was Emily Montelongo, 8, who had been at STHS Children’s for three days after having her appendix removed.
Her familiarity with the superheroes mostly stemmed from her brothers, according to her mom, Monica Hernandez, but Emily clarified she was a fan of them as well.
“I do like them,” she said. “They’re big and they’re tall.”
The identity of the Dark Knight who was roaming the halls of STHS Children’s on Independence Day was not the famous Bruce Wayne, but instead Rio Grande Valley local Pete Torres, 44.
Torres has been visiting patients at STHS for approximately three years; and this week he was joined by his friend Daniel Leal, 42, who took on the Iron Man persona.
Torres has been making costumes and dressing up as superheroes for about 10 years. He builds the costumes from a mix of foam and plastics and models them after their live-action film versions.
“I wanted to bring them something that seemed almost real, so I built these characters to look like the movie characters,” Torres said. “A lot of these kids love it and to see smiles on these kids when they see the characters is kind of cool.”
“They get to go home and say they got to see Batman or Iron Man,” Torres said. “So, it’s exciting to see these kids and put a smile on their face, especially here at the hospital when they’re not feeling so well.”
The Auxiliary to STHS is a group of student and adult volunteers, helping staff provide quality, compassionate care to patients and their families. For more information on the Auxiliary and how to become a volunteer, please visit SouthTexasHealthSystem.com.
To learn more about the dedicated pediatric services at STHS Children’s, visit STHSChildrens.com.
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system's South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and six freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
