Stony Brook Radiation Oncology Makes Holiday “Golden” for a Special Patient
Surprise party for Maria Golden, a patient with cerebral palsy, celebrates the season and completion of treatment
STONY BROOK, N.Y., December 26, 2012 – Smiles lit up the conference room of the Stony Brook Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology almost as much as its decorated “winter wonderland” theme when the doctors, nurses and staff surprised Maria Golden, 45, a cerebral palsy patient who uses a wheelchair, with a Christmas party to celebrate the season and her recent completion of radiation treatment. Golden grew up in foster homes and now lives in a United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Suffolk, Inc., residence in Ridge.
Inspired by Golden’s personal triumphs living with limited mobility and other disabilities, the staff decided to surprise her with a luncheon party and lots of gifts. Among them fleece blankets, warm socks, make up, stuffed animals, pajamas, and DVDs.
Around the holiday season, the Department of Radiation Oncology holds a party that is sometimes a tribute to a patient. As a contribution, the staff donates gifts to that patient and pitches in to decorate the party room with some of the patient’s favorite holiday themes.
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Caption: Maria Golden, center, holds onto a teddy bear, one of the many gifts she received at the surprise party held in her honor by staff of Stony Brook’s Department of Radiation Oncology.
© Stony Brook University 2012
