News & Public Information

	Raina Ruelle, Executive Director of Little Smiles, and six-year-old Jesse Carillo, a patient at Lakeside Medical Center, play with the new toys delivered by the children's charity.

Pediatric patients at Lakeside Medical Center will have plenty to smile about after a children’s organization provided the hospital with toys, books and other gifts to help inject a bit of fun into  a child’s stay at the hospital.

Little Smiles, a local children’s charity, delivered toys, books, videos, crayons, socks, underwear and portable DVD players to Lakeside Medical Center on June 17.

Raina Ruelle, Executive Director of Little Smiles, delivered the carload of toys to the hospital, accompanied by Lakeside Medical Center nurse and Little Smiles board member Lynn Farmer, RN.

“Our mission is to help children escape their everyday pain and allow them to be a kid again, even if it’s for a short period of time,” said Ms. Ruelle. “We help put a smile back on the faces of children who need it most.”

Six-year-old Jesse Carillo, a patient at Lakeside Medical Center that day, was overwhelmed and had a hard time deciding which toys he liked best.

Back row, from left: Brian P. Gibbons, Jr., Hospital Administrator; Raina Ruelle, Executive Director, Little Smiles; Robbie Siera, RN; Patty Hood, RN, Pediatric Nurse Manager; Lynn Farmer, RN.  Front row, from left: Jesse Carillo; Charles N. Azan, MD, Pediatrician.

Patty Hood, RN, Nurse Manager of the Pediatric unit, was at a loss for words as they unpacked the gifts.

“They certainly put a smile on Jesse’s face,” said Ms. Hood. “These toys will touch the lives of many children at Lakeside Medical Center.”

The hospital also received a Nintendo Wii and DVD players, along with a pledge of a computer center for the playroom.

Little Smiles is a non-profit organization that provides toys, games, DVDs, computers, VIP outings, celebrity meet-and-greets, concert, sporting event and theme park tickets, fun food runs, nerf gun wars and more for children in local hospitals, hospices and shelters. The Florida Chapter is the founding chapter of the Little Smiles organization.