"Each day we do another one — at least one."
October 8, 2011 6:35 PM Subscribe
Patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital are finding messages written to them in huge letters when they look outside their windows. The Ironworkers Local 86 crew assembling the frame of the hospital's new seven-story expansion building next door have been spray-painting greetings to them on the steel beams. "The new building’s skeleton is alive" with more than 50 names: "greetings to Kitty, Colby, Kyle and Istvan. To Violet, Seth, Josh and Austin. To Rachel, Adam, Gillie-Jane and Christofer." Photo Gallery. Local television news segment. (Via)
So sweet!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:44 PM on October 8, 2011
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:44 PM on October 8, 2011
This is pretty goddamn awesome. More please!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:47 PM on October 8, 2011
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:47 PM on October 8, 2011
I have days when I feel like humanity isn't really so great. And then I remember it's a big world, and for every terrible thing there's usually an awesome thing. I'm so glad that today I got to find out about an awesome thing.
posted by custardfairy at 6:50 PM on October 8, 2011 [15 favorites]
posted by custardfairy at 6:50 PM on October 8, 2011 [15 favorites]
Here in the Boston area, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute regularly does one of those movie theater fundraisers where they pass a can around the audience after showing a short commercial, and for several years the spot they have used is about kids in the ward looking out at a construction project next door and the workers spray-painting their names on the beams.
posted by briank at 6:51 PM on October 8, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by briank at 6:51 PM on October 8, 2011 [6 favorites]
What is this liquid in my eyes all of the sudden?
posted by Dr. Zira at 6:54 PM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr. Zira at 6:54 PM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Once the building is finished (I assume) all those names will be covered up. Then when they tear that building down in seventy years, all those names will be revealed again! What a great time capsule!
posted by Hey Dean Yeager! at 6:54 PM on October 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Hey Dean Yeager! at 6:54 PM on October 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's always cool to have something to smile about just before bed. Thank you for posting this.
posted by Mooski at 6:55 PM on October 8, 2011
posted by Mooski at 6:55 PM on October 8, 2011
This is the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber ad briank referenced above.
posted by low_frequency_feline at 6:58 PM on October 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by low_frequency_feline at 6:58 PM on October 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
Hey Dean Yeager!: "Once the building is finished (I assume) all those names will be covered up."
The article says they'll probably only be visible until December, btw.
posted by zarq at 6:59 PM on October 8, 2011
The article says they'll probably only be visible until December, btw.
posted by zarq at 6:59 PM on October 8, 2011
Somehow this reminds me of a lovely short story by O. Henry - The Last Leaf. It's a worthwhile quick read if you don't know it already.
posted by twoleftfeet at 7:12 PM on October 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by twoleftfeet at 7:12 PM on October 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
One of the things I enjoy about working in architecture is getting to connect at times with people who make things with their own hands and sweat. I can say that this sort of thoughtfulness and desire to express compassion has broad roots in the industry. This feels like a good place for a call out of respect for everyone who puts in extra to give added meaning to the contributions they already bring through their work.
posted by meinvt at 7:12 PM on October 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by meinvt at 7:12 PM on October 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
That's fantastic...and makes me want to volunteer in a children's hospital. Those are some brave and awesome kids. And awesome steelworkers (who are also very brave to get up on those goddamn beams).
posted by bquarters at 7:16 PM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bquarters at 7:16 PM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Everyday ironworkers move a mannequin of the character Waldo so children looking out from the hospital can spot him in a daily game of "Where's Waldo?"
Aw, that's so awesome!
posted by bloody_bonnie at 7:19 PM on October 8, 2011 [13 favorites]
Aw, that's so awesome!
posted by bloody_bonnie at 7:19 PM on October 8, 2011 [13 favorites]
bquarters: "That's fantastic...and makes me want to volunteer in a children's hospital. "
The HHC now has a nice page of contact numbers for NYC area hospitals for anyone looking to volunteer. In the 90's, I used to volunteer at Goldwater on Roosevelt Island in NYC. That hospital has since consolidated and is now known as Coler-Goldwater.
posted by zarq at 7:27 PM on October 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
The HHC now has a nice page of contact numbers for NYC area hospitals for anyone looking to volunteer. In the 90's, I used to volunteer at Goldwater on Roosevelt Island in NYC. That hospital has since consolidated and is now known as Coler-Goldwater.
posted by zarq at 7:27 PM on October 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Pony request: can I infinitely favorite something please?
posted by salishsea at 8:04 PM on October 8, 2011
posted by salishsea at 8:04 PM on October 8, 2011
Something so simple can bring so much joy to the children. These guys have a heart of gold.
posted by JujuB at 8:39 PM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by JujuB at 8:39 PM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sometimes people can be just damned great.
posted by arse_hat at 10:50 PM on October 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by arse_hat at 10:50 PM on October 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
My younger sister was actually in Children's over the summer and had a window facing the construction site...though she was there before they started doing the names though, they had started Where's Waldo. She's a little older so she found it very blase, but my youngest sister loved it when we visited so she could look for Waldo.
tl;dr Children's is great, the people building (more of) Children's are great. :)
posted by clavier at 11:08 PM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
tl;dr Children's is great, the people building (more of) Children's are great. :)
posted by clavier at 11:08 PM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Thanks you --- I was having a shitty morning, but this brightened my day. (And all of a sudden my allergies are REALLY making my eyes water....)
posted by easily confused at 6:39 AM on October 9, 2011
posted by easily confused at 6:39 AM on October 9, 2011
Thank you for sharing this! This is such a sweet gesture. The Where's Waldo is also a nice touch.
That's fantastic...and makes me want to volunteer in a children's hospital.
Do it! I did in college and it was a wonderful experience. I hope to again when circumstances allow.
posted by wiskunde at 7:01 AM on October 9, 2011
That's fantastic...and makes me want to volunteer in a children's hospital.
Do it! I did in college and it was a wonderful experience. I hope to again when circumstances allow.
posted by wiskunde at 7:01 AM on October 9, 2011
We spent the month of March in Children's Hospital. Found Waldo quite a few times.
posted by gurple at 7:56 AM on October 9, 2011
posted by gurple at 7:56 AM on October 9, 2011
"Patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital are finding messages written to them in huge letters when they look outside their windows."
My spirits sank as I waited for what I was sure would come next. I've never been so glad to be wrong!
posted by ErikaB at 10:26 AM on October 9, 2011
My spirits sank as I waited for what I was sure would come next. I've never been so glad to be wrong!
posted by ErikaB at 10:26 AM on October 9, 2011
This is the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber ad briank referenced above.
Previous FPP: Steel yourself, folks.
Boston Glove video and slide show.
Dana Farber story: What's in a name? For Patients, A Piece Of History and video.*
posted by ericb at 11:33 AM on October 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
Previous FPP: Steel yourself, folks.
Boston Glove video and slide show.
Dana Farber story: What's in a name? For Patients, A Piece Of History and video.*
posted by ericb at 11:33 AM on October 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
Looking at this makes your face go all wet.
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 4:10 AM on October 10, 2011
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 4:10 AM on October 10, 2011
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posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:42 PM on October 8, 2011 [2 favorites]