Heartfelt Moments at Doernbecher: More Than Just a Costume

On November 10, our Chelsea’s Closet team brought a little magic to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. What began as a day of dress-up and play quickly became something deeper, a day filled with courage, connection, and the kind of joy that shines even in the hardest places. Join us as we share one special visit that reminded us why Chelsea’s Closet is truly more than just a costume.

The morning of November 10 was crisp and quiet as our team loaded up our trailer packed to the brim with Chelsea’s Closet costumes, toys, and accessories. We were headed to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, to the oncology floors where the halls are lined with courage, hope, and heartbreak all at once.

When we arrive, we roll our racks into the activity room. Bright colors and sparkly fabrics fill the space, a little corner of magic waiting to unfold. Families come in one at a time. Parents smile softly, but behind those smiles is a story no one ever wants to live. You can feel both their exhaustion and their gratitude.

Sometimes, our visits are beautifully sad. The laughter of a child mixes with the quiet tears of a parent watching them light up, even if just for a moment.

Parents often find their way to Alison Hicks, our founder, drawn by her warmth and her willingness to share her own story, her love for Chelsea, her loss, and how she turned unimaginable pain into purpose. When they realize she truly understands, their shoulders soften. For a few minutes, they are not alone.

Meanwhile, Christen Bolduc, one of our longtime volunteers and now our Program Manager, kneels on the floor beside a 5-year-old. He is hesitant at first, eyes wide, unsure if there is a catch to all this kindness. Christen does not rush him. She waits, smiles, talks softly. Then he spots it, a Black Panther costume.

A few minutes later, he is transformed.The same little boy who was hesitant and unsure at first is now racing down the hall, giggling under his mask, the sound of his laughter echoing through the hospital corridor.

That is the moment that stops you in your tracks, when you realize this is what it is all about. The costumes, the smiles, the stories, the connections.

Many of these moments live only in our hearts. Because of privacy and the sensitivity of each family’s journey, we do not always capture photos during our hospital visits. But every smile, every laugh, and every shared story becomes part of the unseen beauty that inspires us to keep going.

Chelsea’s Closet is more than just dress-up. It is hope stitched into every seam, love in every gesture, and the reminder that even in the hardest places, joy still finds a way.

Every visit, every costume, and every smile is made possible by people who believe in what we do. Together, we bring comfort, courage, and laughter to children and families who need it most. Join us in keeping the magic of Chelsea’s Closet alive, because hope and joy should always have a place, even in the hospital.