Ronkonkoma Teachers, Students Hand Paint Ceiling Tiles To Bring Joy To St. Joseph's Hospital Patients
BETHPAGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Some patients at St. Joseph's Hospital on Long Island are in for a treat when they look up.
"Unless you're actually laying on gurney being wheeled throughout the hospital you don't realize just how boring it is looking up at the ceiling," Chief Administrative Officer Drew Pallas said.
Now, hand-painted ceiling tiles have been installed in the hyperbaric unit and throughout the hospital thanks to students and teachers from Helen B. Duffield Elementary School in Ronkonkoma.
1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports
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Teacher Rosalie Singer came up with the idea after visiting her bedridden son in a hospital.
"Up above his bed was a ceiling tile," she said. "It gave (us) such a good feeling."
Teachers and students joined together to paint the bright and colorful tiles featuring beloved cartoon characters such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Flounder from the hit animated Disney film "The Little Mermaid" and Nemo from "Finding Nemo.
"When you look up you can see all different colors instead of one color and it can make them feel better and happy," said fifth grader Giavanna Moceri, 11, who helped paint the tiles to soothe patients.
Pallas said patients normally traumatized by being in a hyperbaric chamber are pleasantly surprised by the tiles.
"They now have these really beautiful paintings that they can look at," Pallas said.
What do you think of the project? Let us know below...
