Children at two Alaska hospitals are treated to generous Easter surprise
Providence Alaska Medical Center, Alaska Native Medical Center
Anchorage, Alaska
Nathan Yuill posing with the baskets he and his mother distributed. Photo courtesy of Providence Alaska Medical Center.
Two hospitals in Anchorage, Alaska, received a special delivery of kindness from a local 12-year-old who gifted more than 100 Easter baskets to young patients.
Nathan Yuill, who lives with stage 4 Hodgkins lymphoma, came up with the idea after spending weeks undergoing chemotherapy at a hospital in Seattle. Inspired to give back to kids facing similar challenges back home, Nathan partnered with his mom to make it happen.
Together, they raised funds through family, friends and Facebook, then filled baskets with coloring books, candy and stuffed animals. They handed out the gifts to children at Providence Alaska Medical Center and Alaska Native Medical Center, delivering a bit of joy during Easter week.
“Even while immersed in his own cancer battle, Nathan Yuill chose not to focus on himself, but on lifting others. With the support of his brother John, his family, and our incredible community, he delivered more than 100 Easter baskets to children receiving care at Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital,” said Nikki Thurwanger, R.N., Nurse Manager of Pediatrics. “Seeing this act of both kindness and bravery is a true inspiration. Nathan’s courage, kindness, and generosity turned his own fight into a powerful gift of joy for others.”