MedStar to take kids with medical needs trick-or-treating for 4th year

The children are picked up at home in an ambulance and escorted on a stretcher until their candy bags are full, all while receiving medical monitoring

October 13, 2016 09:42 AM

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

FORT WORTH, Texas — Trick or treating is usually out of the question for children who need medical assistance.

MedStar Mobile Healthcare wants to make sure they have a chance at the fun, so for the fourth year in a row the area-wide ambulance service is offering a door-to-door adventure.

They’re looking for two children for this year’s event.

The children are picked up at home, brought to the Pembroke-Berkeley neighborhood in a MedStar ambulance and escorted on a stretcher until their candy bags are full, all while receiving medical monitoring.

Matt Zavadsky, MedStar spokesman, said residents go all-out with decorations, chalk drawings and and signs made specially for the children. MedStar crew members get equally excited.

“The MedStar Team looks forward to this event every year,” Zavadsky said. “So often they deal with some of the worst tragedies imaginable, this event allows them all to participate in making a family smile, a child giggle and everyone in the Pembroke-Berkeley neighborhood beam with joy!”

Last year, MedStar picked up Debbie Mahan and her 7-year-old daughter Savanah, who has cytomegalovirus. Mahan usually dresses Savanah in a costume each year but going door-to door wasn’t a possibility because her daughter can’t be outside for long. Having medical personnel monitor Savanah made all the difference.

“It was awesome. It was an experience that we’ve never done,” Mahan said. They took the stress out, we had a wonderful night.”

A MedStar paramedic, emergency medical technician and safety clown accompany each child door-to-door and assist with collecting the goodies.

Mahan said said it was nice to go outside and not to be the one worrying about oxygen machines, pollen counts and ozone levels.

“They took care of everything. They monitored her all night,” she said. “Savanah was disappointed when it came to an end.”

To nominate a child for this event, which will be 6-9 p.m. Oct. 31, email Zavadsky at MZavadsky@medstar911.org or call 817-991-4487. Deadline is Oct. 21.

To be considered, the child and parents should live or be temporarily residing in the MedStar service area (Fort Worth and surrounding cities), be ages five to 15, and be willing to share the experience with media. MedStar makes the final determination of participants based on medical needs.