Mar. 14, 2023 By Ethan Marshall
Kids and young adults from St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children embarked on their first field trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, attending a Long Island Nets game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum March 7.
Photo by St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children
“There is nothing better than seeing the joy on a child’s face when they get to enjoy a special experience like this field trip, which we haven’t been able to offer our inpatient children for the past three years due to COVID-19,” St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children Therapeutic Recreation Lead Carlos Sanchez said. “We are so grateful to the Long Island Nets for generously including our patients and staff in this incredible event!”
Photo by St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children
In addition to inpatient kids from the Healing Arts and Therapeutic Recreation Program attending the event, young adults from St. Mary’s Medical Day Healthcare Program also made the trip. The Nets, hosted their Annual Education Day game, ended up defeating the Motor City Cruise 114-102, giving the kids from St. Mary’s a lot to cheer about.
Photo by St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children
St. Mary’s is the only provider of pediatric long-term and rehabilitative care in New York City. They provide high-quality care to New York’s most critically ill and injured children, regardless of the kids’ family’s ability to pay.
Photo by St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children
St. Mary’s Healing Arts and Therapeutic Recreation Program offers medically approved recreational activities for its patients. Trained therapeutic recreation specialists design activities to help these patients develop interpersonal relationships, socialize effectively and gain the confidence to participate in group activities. The programs are tailored to each child’s specific needs and capabilities in an effort to better assist them in coping with symptoms, stress or traumatic experiences. The Medical Day Healthcare Program for young adults provides the participants with therapeutic and rehabilitation services that focuses on generating life skills and improving independence in the community, improving their overall quality of life.
Photo by St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children
Since the 1870s, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children has been the primary provider of long-term and rehabilitative care for New York’s most critically ill and injured children. It is one of only a handful of organizations across the United States dedicated to providing intensive rehabilitation, specialized care and education to children with special needs and life-limiting conditions.
The Long Island Nets are the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets. They have been hosting their home games at Nassau Coliseum since the team was founded, in 2016.