If you've ever been hospitalized, you know how awful hospital food can be. Can you imagine being a child in the hospital, having a brain tumor and experiencing the common symptom of nausea from inter-cranial swelling and/or chemo? Suffice to say, most hospital food is not as child-friendly as one would hope. Many families in the midst of medical crisis face such financial difficulties that they cannot bring in outside food for their children or themselves.

Jenna's Rainbow Foundation has initiated a meal program that delivers a child-friendly dinner one night per week to patients at Beth Israel. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. In fact, one family who participated promised to independently sponsor another dinner for the rest of the entire floor. The food is served in the playroom, which encourages children and their families to get out of their rooms, get together, share a laugh and a nice meal - two important elements in healing.

We'd love to be able to deliver other meals to kids and their families. It would be great to see bagels, fresh fruit, cookies, and home-cooked meals on a more regular basis. If you or anyone you know can help make this happen (either by sponsoring a meal, cooking one, getting a restaurant to donate one), please let us know. It's amazing how little it takes to light up a child's day.