SAASS students bring smiles to Jackson Hospital’s youngest patients

Maj. David Lyle, a SAASS student, presents a young Jackson Hospital patient with a toy as part of a morale-boosting visit he and three other students made to the pediatric ward Nov. 4. Major Lyle began almost four months ago collecting treats for young patients facing blood draws and other "ouchies." (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

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SAASS students bring smiles to Jackson Hospital’s youngest patients

Three School of Advanced Air and Space Studies students – Army Maj. Demone Garner, Air Force Maj. B.J. Fry and Royal Air Force Wing Commander Shaun Harris of the United Kingdom -- delivered toys to young patients at Jackson Hospital Nov. 4 as part of a morale-boosting visit. They also restocked the treasure chest, a gold chest filled with toys in the room where shots and blood draws occur. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

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SAASS students bring smiles to Jackson Hospital’s youngest patients

Published Nov. 13, 2009
By Kimberly L. Wright
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Maj. David Lyle quipped that there are four goals for a treasure chest program he started at Jackson Hospital's pediatric department: "Smiles, smiles, smiles, smiles."

He and three fellow School of Advanced Air and Space Studies students - Army Maj. Demone Garner, Air Force Maj. B.J. Fry and Royal Air Force Wing Commander Shaun Harris of the United Kingdom -- delivered toys to young patients at Jackson Hospital Nov. 4 as part of a morale-boosting visit. They also restocked the treasure chest, a gold chest filled with toys in the room where shots and blood draws occur.

The treasure chest is a boon for children facing scary medical procedures, giving them something to look forward to once the painful poke is over. Each time children are stuck with a needle, they can pick out a toy from the treasure chest. "The idea is, if you're going to have to go through the painful experience, and needles are pretty ouchy, at least hopefully what we're going for is a smile afterwards," said Major Lyle. "You can't spend a better dollar."

A child at heart, he gave his suggestion for the best toy in the treasure chest. "The plastic spider rings are great."

The idea for the treasure chest came from seeing another treasure chest used at a pediatric intensive care unit in Hawaii, Major Lyle said. "The great thing about moving around a lot in the military is you go to some great places and see some neat ideas," he said. "In the same room where the kids get stuck with needles, blood draws and shots, they had the treasure chest. And every time a kid got stuck with a needle, he'd take a toy out of the treasure chest. I thought, man, what a great idea, easy to do, runs itself."

He was also inspired by his own childhood run-in with "ouchies" as a recipient of regular allergy shots. "I don't like needles myself either," he admitted.

A part-time musician who regularly plays at 1048 Jazz and Blues club and Dreamland BBQ in Montgomery, Major Lyle uses his tips to keep the chest stocked with loot, as he has for the nearly four months it has been operational. The SAASS students and families also pitch in with donated toys for the playroom.

"The treasure chest is purely supported by the tips at this point because only certain small toys that are suitable even for the youngest kids can go in there," said Major Lyle. "The good news is that the response so far has been great, and we've probably already collected enough to keep the chest going the rest of the year. The plan is to use future contributions to keep it going after I leave, and maybe to expand into other areas to make the kids' stay more enjoyable, like possibly getting some video game systems for the rooms."

SAASS students gather together once a month to visit the children in the pediatric ward "usually the afternoon after the tonsillectomies on Wednesdays," said Major Lyle. Some of the SAASS families have donated fun items such as books, stickers, crayons and toy airplanes that are given out to pediatrics patients during the SAASS students' visits. So far, about 10 students have taken part in the hospital visits, he said. The Nov. 4 visit was the third one SAASS students have made to the hospital.

Agatha King, director of Women's and Children's Services at Jackson Hospital, coordinates the visits and the treasure chest with Major Lyle. She is appreciative of the caring and support shown by the SAASS students. "We love to have them here," she said. "The kids are excited to see the men and women in uniform. Not only do they sacrifice for our freedom, they cheer up the kids."

The treasure chest and visits by SAASS students is a token of appreciation to the community from a thankful base populace, Major Lyle said. "It's a good chance for us to give back to a community that has supported air power since the Wright Brothers were here in 1910," he said. "It's something we can do though we're also really busy in school. We can do this, come out and visit, cheer the kids up and then keep the treasure chest going the whole time in the background."