Community Corner

Shriners Hospital Hosts Christmas Celebration for Children with Disabilities

The Veiled Prophet Foundation brought children at the hospital gifts, food and music in a special day of celebration.

Saturday morning, 13-year-old Katie Landlie stands smiling in a large room decorated with Christmas ornaments as Santa Claus and his helpers walk around giving presents to children with disabilities at Shriners Hospital in Frontenac, which specializes in orthopaedic and neuromusculoskeletal disorders and diseases.

Landlie, like the other kids in the room, has had difficult moments at a young age.

A year ago, Landlie chose to have her leg amputated so she wouldn’t have to undergo years of surgery.

“She’s always had a positive attitude, she’s always smiling,” said Susan Bland, one of the organizers of the event, in which the Veiled Prophet Foundation, a non-profit, donated gifts and their time to give children at the hospital a day of joy.

Landlie no longer has to stay in the hospital every day, like many of the other children in the room do. Her message of hope inspires both children and adults.

“There’s always a positive light to everything,” Landlie said. “It’s all part of God’s plan.”

Tom Cooke, spokesperson for the Veiled Prophet Foundation, said that his organization’s mission was to make St. Louis a better place for everyone, specially for children in need.

“But the gift today is not from us to them, it is from them to us,” Cooke said. “To see their smiles and to know that inspite of everything, they have a day to just be kids and have fun, it’s the best gift we can get this time of year.”

John Gloss, administrator of Shriners Hospital, said he was very grateful for the members of the Veiled Prophet and hospital staff for dedicating a special day for the children of his hospital.

“It’s great to witness them bring back childhood to these children that have to go through some very tough times,” Gloss said.


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