Prisma Health Children’s Hospital and First Responders to brighten spirits of hospitalized kids with Good Night Lights

COLUMBIA, S.C.—Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Midlands will help brighten the holiday season for patients and their families with this Sunday’s Good Night Lights event on the Columbia hospital campus.

The Good Night Lights event, to be held this Sunday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., helps light up the night – and hearts – of young patients and families. During the event, first responders will parade around the hospital campus to shine lights toward patients’ windows to help send well wishes, positive thoughts and holiday cheer as the children “answer back” with their own flashlights.

“Being in the hospital is hard for children and their families, especially so during the holidays,” said Caughman Taylor, MD, medical director of the Children’s Hospital in Columbia. “Good Night Lights is a heart-warming way to send bright beams of well wishes find a way we know helps the children in their healing and families in their ability to get through difficult times.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the event will not include public participation. Instead, Santa, the Columbia Fire Department and other first responders will parade around Children’s Hospital to shine love to children from their flashlights and brightly flashing trucks. Local radio station B106.7 FM will be on-hand to play Christmas music as a backdrop to the parade spectacle. Children will receive holiday treats and Children’s Hospital flashlights and the parade will begin at 7 p.m. To end the night, patients also will be treated to a bedtime story pre-recorded for them by the hospital’s medical director. 

A similar Good Night Lights event also will be held at the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in Greenville.

The event presents a unique opportunity for children to enjoy some holiday excitement, said Taylor. “Children’s Hospital specializes in healing the ‘whole’ child, including mental and social factors, beyond their physical symptoms,” said Taylor. “Initiatives like Good Night Lights create joyful moments for children and families during this season, and community support means so much to these families and our care teams year-round.”

Children’s Hospital also is encouraging gifts to the Wish List, especially those items noted as high-priority by our Child Life Specialists. For more information visit PrismaHealth.org/Wishlist. In addition, Prisma Health Midlands Foundation invites donors to contribute $25 online to provide a child with the Children’s Hospital mascot, Buddy the Bear, plush animal. Visit Give.PrismaHealthMidlandsFoundation.org\Buddy to donate.

About Prisma Health

Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 hospitals, 2,984 beds and more than 300 physician practice sites, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually. Its goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.