Caring for minors under the weather

Islamabad All the 120 children either suffering from cancer and thalassaemia or recovering from surgeries and other diseases had a big smile on their face after a group of young volunteers accompanied by parents distributed Eid toys and goodies to them at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

They thanked donors for the act of kindness and generosity and wished them success in life. Volunteers were also very excited over the event.

"I was sad to see children admitted to the hospital for various health problems but became when they smiled on getting toys and snacks. I said Eid Mubarik to them," Shanzeh Qizilbash told 'The News'. The little volunteer said she liked it the best when a boy, who was just sitting all sad, opened the bag I gave him and started playing with the stuffed puppy.

"He was all smiles." Alishpa felt bad for the children unable to go home on Eid but said she got happy after giving them at least some toys to play with on Eid. Suleman said he loved to play with his toys but was happeier to see those toys cheer up children saddened by their health issues. Among other volunteers were Hamza, Alizey, Moeen Battla, Fareesey, Amama, Dua and Jibraan.

Nazish Abbas, who began the ‘Eid Toy Drive’ last year, said she took the initiative to teach her children the true spirit of Eid i.e. sharing joy with the less privileged ones by giving away toys and light food. “This time around, our group donated Eid goodie bags to 120 children and Eidi (money) to the lower staff members at the PIMS Children Hospital’s emergency department,” she said.

She said a little looking really miserable with his sickness had a big smile on his and his mother’s face after he pulled out a beautiful cricket bat and ball from a big goodie bag.  “It was a warm feeling for me, too,” she said in an emotional tone.