Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital is a second home to baby Kaleb.

“He has spent all of his first holidays in Children’s Hospital,” says Sarah Moreno, Kaleb’s mother. “These events are a perfect way for our family to spend time together.”

Children’s Hospital hosts several events throughout the year, including a party every Feb. 14.

On Valentine’s Day, the Moreno family joined more than 100 other children in the hospital for an afternoon of fun making Valentine’s cards. For the past nine years, the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Guild Inland Empire Chapter has planned the “Teddy Bear Valentine’s Party.”

Each child received a cuddly gift from the guild—a teddy bear. About 30 of the teddy bears came from the first grade class at Redlands Adventist Academy. They took a field trip to the Build-A-Bear Workshop® at Ontario Mills, where each student made a teddy bear, and gave it to Children’s Hospital for this event. In addition, Babies “R” Us donated the crayons for the kids’ big day.

Kaleb’s older sister, 3-year-old Rylee, got a bear, too.

“He’s a boy,” Rylee giggled as she embraced her new friend. After much thought, she and her mother decided to simply call him Teddy.

“I’m going to put him in my bed,” smiled Rylee.

“This is a wonderful diversion for kids to think about something else,” says Eloise Habekost, a board member and one of the founding members of the guild. “No matter how sick they are, they are ready to take part and pick up their crayons. It gives courage to us adults to see how resilient they are.”

According to Habekost, the guild used to serve tea and refreshments during the party. However, because many kids couldn’t eat the food, they decided to pass out Valentine’s Day activity books instead. Board member Carol Troesch made the books and decorated the heart-filled room.

Erin Pagel-Mohr, president of the guild, explained that volunteers took trays of art supplies and a teddy bear to patients who were too ill to come to the event. Then they helped the child make a valentine at his or her bedside.

Although baby Kaleb Moreno is too young to realize it, his parents and sister are making valentines to decorate his hospital crib.

“Children’s Hospital has been wonderful,” said Sarah Moreno. “They try to make it as close to home as possible.”

She looked over at her daughter who was obviously having a great time decorating her card. “We’re never going to get her out of here,” laughed Moreno.