A heartwarming nightly ritual is illuminating the winter darkness outside a Michigan children's hospital, offering a powerful beacon of hope and solidarity to its young patients.
A Flashlight Salute Against Isolation
Each evening at precisely 8 p.m., a gathering of volunteers assembles outside the Corewell Health Children’s hospital in Royal Oak, near Detroit. For ten minutes, they raise their flashlights high, directing beams of light towards the paediatric rooms several storeys above. The event, known as Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams, is designed to remind children and their families that they are not forgotten.
"To be confined in hospital can feel incredibly isolating, particularly during the festive season when the outside world seems to move on," explained Amanda Lefkof, a child life specialist at Corewell. The initiative directly counters this loneliness, creating a tangible connection between the community and the hospital.
At 8:10 p.m., the crowd shouts "sweet dreams" in unison towards the windows. In a poignant response, many children inside shine their own torches back down to the well-wishers below, completing a silent conversation of light and care.
Personal Stories of Light and Recovery
The tradition holds profound meaning for families on both sides of the windows. Four-year-old Zoe Hostetter, undergoing chemotherapy, recently participated with her grandfather, Tim Schuele, by her side. "It's a big group of strangers, but the love sent by the lights is unmistakable," Schuele reflected. "They're here with just close family for days on end, so this matters."
For volunteer Kevin Barringer, the act is deeply personal. His son, Connor, spent two months at the hospital in 2020 recovering from a spinal injury, during which time they were recipients of the light vigil. "It gets pretty dark up there for the kids and parents," Barringer said. "Having people down here, sending their light up, means a great deal."
Stephanie McMillan, holding her three-month-old daughter Wren, shared the sentiment from inside a darkened room. "It helps those of us in here not feel so alone," she said, describing how the event allows the community to share Christmas joy with those who cannot leave the hospital.
A Community Effort Lighting Up the Holidays
Organised by the hospital since 2017, this year's Moonbeams event began on December 9. It runs through Hanukkah and continues each night until two days before Christmas. The gathering forms part of a broader holiday programme at the hospital, which includes parties, blanket-making, storytime, and visits from a volunteer Santa.
Attendance fluctuates from dozens to hundreds each night, influenced by the weather and day of the week. Participants have included high school groups, Scout troops, sororities, and sports teams. Lisa Muma, a registered nurse and event organiser, noted one youth hockey team even arrived with lights attached to their sticks.
For the paediatric ward, where days and nights often blur together, the Moonbeams event provides a cherished moment of anticipation and external connection. "This is a wonderful way to offer them a lot of love when they’re going through a hard time," Lefkof concluded, highlighting how this simple act of shining a light cuts through the clinical environment with a message of pure community support.
