MetroFamily Magazine November December 2025

Hope, Healing & Holiday Cheer

The Joy of Christmas campaign brings holiday magic to Oklahoma’s only pediatric rehabilitation hospital

A t Bethany Children’s Health Center, joy is more than a holiday theme — it’s central to the hospital’s mission of care and healing. During the Christmas season, that joy is amplified through the annual Joy of Christmas campaign , which invites the community to help make the season brighter for children who cannot be home for the holidays.

The Joy of Christmas campaign Annually, from November through December, the Joy of Christmas campaign brings together individuals, businesses, churches and volunteer groups to provide gifts for children spending Christmas at the hospital. Teachers, nurses and therapists create department wish lists with items such as toys, books, art supplies and therapy tools. Community members can shop the lists online and have gifts shipped directly to Bethany Children’s, making it easy to take part. In 2024, the campaign provided more than $10,000 in patient gifts and over $85,000 in therapeutic and educational supplies . Gifts are delivered to patients — complete with a visit from Santa Claus — creating moments of joy that children treasure. Recoveries and stories of impact The impact of this giving extends far beyond the holiday season. In March, patient Kobe Devot was discharged after a long recovery

A hospital filled with hope For more than 125 years, Bethany Children’s has provided expert care for children with complex medical needs. As Oklahoma’s only inpatient pediatric rehabilitation hospital, it is known not only for medical excellence but also for creating an environment where children can grow, learn and celebrate milestones. Patients attend school year-round with special education teachers, take part in events like prom and are surrounded by staff who bring encouragement and positivity each day. The hospital’s goal is to ensure every child experiences moments of joy and normalcy, even during extended stays. That same spirit of innovation is shaping the hospital’s future. Construction is more than halfway complete on a new outpatient center of excellence , designed in collaboration with former Disney Imagineers at Storyland Studios, set to open in 2027. The expansion will provide even more opportunities for children to heal, learn and thrive.