Girl Scouts deliver activity bags for youth patients at Aberdeen hospital
Inspired by the treatment one of their own received at the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen, members of Girl Scout Troop 2178 showed their gratitude on Friday by donating 60 activity bags for young patients.
Matilda “Tilly” Martin, 11, created the idea for the activity bags after recovering from appendicitis at the hospital in mid-October. “All I could do was watch TV,” she said.
In the following months, Girl Scouts of Troop 2178, based in Havre de Grace, began working toward their Bronze Awards, one of the highest awards in Girl Scouting. To earn this award, the troop had to coordinate a service effort that would “fill a gap” in their community. The gap they chose was the lack of engaging activities for young patients during hospital stays.
The Girl Scouts, most between the ages 9 and 11, arrived at UMUC’s Medical Center Friday evening after spending weeks preparing the 60 bags, which were filled with a variety of goodies including fidget toys, origami creations and cards with “get well soon” messages.
“This is awesome because now all of the kids when they come for visits, will have something to do,” said Dr. Lisa Thomas, chair of emergency medicine. Thomas accepted the bags from the troop alongside Evelyn Olson, who was Tilly’s nurse during her recovery four months ago. “[Tilly] is a reason I do what I do,” Olson told the troop.
While earning their Bronze Awards by visiting the medical center, members of Troop 2178 also qualified for their First Aid badges. Thomas and Olson spent time answering the girls’ questions about careers in the medical field; later they were given a tour of an ambulance by paramedics. One paramedic, Jennifer Schiavone, demonstrated how a heart rate monitor works and showed many Girl Scouts their pulse readings.
Girl Scouts Troop #2178 of Havre de Grace delivered activity bags to young patients at UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen. While visiting the hospital, the Girl Scouts received a tour of an ambulance and were given the opportunity to ask questions about working in the medical field. Scouts Landry Keasler, left, and Matilda Martin, right, present Dr. Lisa Thomas, chair of emergency medicine, an activity bag. (Brennan Stewart/Staff)
Girl Scouts Troop #2178 of Havre de Grace delivered activity bags to young patients at UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen. While visiting the hospital, the Girl Scouts received a tour of an ambulance and were given the opportunity to ask questions about working in the medical field. EMT Jennifer Schiavone demonstrates a heart ratem machine. (Brennan Stewart/Staff)
Girl Scouts Troop #2178 of Havre de Grace delivered activity bags to young patients at UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen. While visiting the hospital, the Girl Scouts received a tour of an ambulance and were given the opportunity to ask questions about working in the medical field. EMT Jennifer Schiavone, left, shows the girl scouts the ambulance. Dr. Lisa Thomas, chair of emergency medicine, is at right. (Brennan Stewart/Staff)
Shena Matsos, right, Director of Marketing and Communications at UM Upper Chesapeake Health, presented a certificate of Appreciation to the Girl Scouts. Dr. Lisa Thomas, chair of emergency medicine is at left. Girl Scouts Troop #2178 of Havre de Grace delivered activity bags to young patients at UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen. While visiting the hospital, the Girl Scouts received a tour of an ambulance and were given the opportunity to ask questions about working in the medical field. Scouts Landry Keasler, left, and Matilda Martin, right, speak with Dr. Lisa Thomas, chair of emergency medicine. (Brennan Stewart/Staff)
Girl Scouts Troop #2178 pose for a photo in front of an ambulance with the Certificate of Appreciation presented to them from hospital officials. Girl Scouts Troop #2178 of Havre de Grace delivered activity bags to young patients at UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen. While visiting the hospital, the Girl Scouts received a tour of an ambulance and were given the opportunity to ask questions about working in the medical field. (Brennan Stewart/Staff)
A Certificate of Appreciation presented to Girl Scouts Troop #2178 of Havre de Grace them from UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center hospital officials. Girl Scouts Troop had delivered activity bags for young patients at the hospital in Aberdeen. While visiting the hospital, the Girl Scouts received a tour of an ambulance and were given the opportunity to ask questions about working in the medical field. (Brennan Stewart/Staff)
Girl Scouts Troop #2178 of Havre de Grace delivered activity bags to young patients at UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen. While visiting the hospital, the Girl Scouts received a tour of an ambulance and were given the opportunity to ask questions about working in the medical field. (Brennan Stewart/Staff)
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Girl Scouts Troop #2178 of Havre de Grace delivered activity bags to young patients at UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen. While visiting the hospital, the Girl Scouts received a tour of an ambulance and were given the opportunity to ask questions about working in the medical field. Scouts Landry Keasler, left, and Matilda Martin, right, present Dr. Lisa Thomas, chair of emergency medicine, an activity bag. (Brennan Stewart/Staff)
Shena Matsos, director of marketing and communications for UMUC Health, also presented the troop with a framed certificate of appreciation signed by Dr. Thomas and CEO Elizabeth Wise. Hospital staff also took photographs with the Girl Scouts outside the ambulance before the tour began.
Karen Gonano-Martin, troop leader and Tilly’s mother, said the photographs and certificate will be submitted to Girl Scouts of the USA. The troop expects to receive their Bronze Awards sometime this week.
Have a news tip? Contact Brennan Stewart at bstewart@baltsun.com, 443-800-5902, or @BrennanStewart_ on X.
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