WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals brought holiday cheer and a sense of normalcy back to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital when they visited for the first time in three years Friday.
The players spent part of the afternoon with children and their families at the Lombardi Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic and put their arts and crafts skills to work decorating ornaments before hanging them on a Christmas tree in the lobby.
“Just anytime you can put a smile on the face of any kid that’s going through something that none of us wish upon anybody, I think when you see a smile on their faces and see they’re having a good time, it makes it all worth our while,” forward Dylan Strome said. “An hour out of our day is nothing to come to something like this for these kids.”
The holiday hospital visit was an annual event for the Capitals, but they’d been limited to virtual visits since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the players wore N95 masks and were separated into smaller groups for precautionary reasons, that did not dampen their spirits or those of the children.
“This is probably the third or fourth time we’ve seen the Caps and it’s different, obviously, with the restrictions and less people, but I think it’s just as special and just as fun as it’s always been,” said Robin Poullath, whose was there with his sons, Peter, 12; Daniel, 10; and Henry, 10. “To be able to go back to normalcy, especially for the kids, and the masks don’t bother them at all, we’re used to it, and we understand that if it means we get to see the Caps, it’s no problem at all.”
Peter Poullath, who returns to the clinic for annual checkups after going through regular treatments and a bone-marrow transplant in 2014, spent time with Strome coloring a gingerbread man cardboard cutout of a Capitals player.
“It was fun,” said Peter. “It was good seeing all the players and getting them all to sign things.”
When the Capitals arrived, goalie Darcy Kuemper presented Tracy Councill, founder of Tracy’s Kids art therapy program in the pediatric oncology unit, with a white Capitals jersey with her name and No. 31. The gift was in honor of her upcoming retirement after 31 years as an art therapist with the children.
“I had no idea. That was such a big surprise,” Councill said. “What I try to do is make this clinic a friendly, welcoming place where kids can be themselves and express their feelings and kind of move through what they have to do without it being too hard.”
To celebrate forward Alex Ovechkin becoming the third player to score 800 NHL goals, a milestone he reached against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, the children presented him with two gingerbread cardboard cutouts that they decorated to look like him. The children signed the back of one of the gingerbread men, and Ovechkin signed the other.
“Obviously, we missed lots of stuff with the pandemic happening, and we missed the kids and it’s nice to see them,” Ovechkin said.
Julian Toedtman, an 11-year-old who comes to the clinic periodically for treatments and follow-up appointments, offered his advice to Ovechkin and forward. Garnet Hathaway on how to color their ornaments.
“Julian has an artistic touch to him,” said Darian Toedtman, Julian’s father. “He really enjoys drawing, and for him to kind of give advice to the players about what he thinks they can do, different colors and different shapes, it’s a great interface with the players.”
Julian said, “I’m really enjoying this because it’s like a crazy moment to meet all of them.”
It was clear the enjoyment was mutual, though.
“It’s pretty inspiring how tough some of the kids and families are, and it’s cool this year we saw a couple of the kids from two, three years ago and they’re doing better,” forward Tom Wilson said. “They’re very courageous kids, and it’s a fun time of year when we get to come here and see them and hang out.”
Photos courtesy: Washington Capitals
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