Troop at Johns Hopkins Children's Center

Terrapin Base and Old Line Garrison were invited to send folk over to a hospital visit for the children at Johns Hopkins.  As you may know, Johns Hopkins is one of the premiere hospitals in the world for various things, and childhood illness is one of them.  One of the main reasons I joined the Rebel Legion was so I could go to these types of events to help make a kid smile for just one moment out of the rest of what is going on in their lives.  We were not expecting the day that we had before us.

Lucasfilms sponsors hospitals throughout the year and helps them with coordination with local Rebel Legion and 501st Legion.  This year's events are called Force For Change.  They also send the hospital a TON of toys to be handed out to the kids.  And I mean tons.  They had leftovers that I am sure will be handed out to other kids who did not participate in the event.  Johns Hopkins has an on-site media department that does CCTV broadcasts for the in-patients, and they followed us all morning.  We did some video leading up to the day's activities, and took tons of pictures with the kids during the opening event (as well as the big kids on staff).  After that was over, we ate lunch, and then went up to the floors to meet with kids who wanted to participate in the Star Wars Force For Change Day, but were too ill to leave their rooms.

We could not take our own pictures with the kids and we could not have pictures with the kids unless the parents signed a form.  It was a very formal event and we did have to sign hospital waiver forms as well.  The photo above with the young Jedi was taken by Johns Hopkins Media, and this was posted to their Facebook page.  The young boy did nothing but laugh and smile the entire time we were doing the pre-event photos and he made all of us at least get verklempt if not shed tears.  If you look closely you can see Stormtrooper tears.

There were times it was very emotional to go the rooms of some of these children.  If I did not already know it before this event, children under no circumstances should ever be sick.  Ever.  They are the wrong segment of society to have to carry that burden.  But if anything can make it bearable it is the staff of Johns Hopkins.  The entire staff every where we went from Doctors, Physio, nurses, janitorial - all had amazing attitudes and were so happy we came to brighten a kid's day.  There was even a doctor who asked if she could hold Joe's lightsaber!!!!  She totally made the afternoon and we all shared a laugh for about 5 entire minutes.

I love my Rebel Legion, 501st, Mando and Droid family.  We all do some amazing things during the year, and events like this are why I joined.  You do not have to be formally sponsored by Lucasfilms for us to come to your hospital, or really any event you would like an appearance by those from a galaxy far, far away.  Please contact me with any questions on how you can have us come to your next hospital, sporting, or private party.  I can get you in contact with those who can provide you the guidelines and rules for our attendance.

I did find out last night that Lucasfilms is going to send the 6 of us T-shirts for volunteering at Johns Hopkins yesterday.  We believe the shirts will be the same ones the staff had on, which had the Star Wars main logo and the words Force For Change under that!!!  And with all the seriousness that sometimes comes with doing what we do, we always find time for shenanigans!!