Easter Bunny Pays Visit to Hospitalized Texas Children

SAN ANTONIO --

A specially equipped vehicle that normally responds to major incidents in and around Bexar County pulled up in front of Methodist Children's Hospital on Friday with an Easter entourage led by the Easter Bunny and the H.E.Buddy bearing gifts and good wishes.

"We go out and take care of the firefighters, take care of our first responders. We're taking care of children here," said Robert Briggs, director of operations of Bexar County Emergency Services Rehab.

Briggs said this is the eighth year that ESR has paid visits to University, Santa Rosa Children's and North Central Baptist Children's hospitals.

"We get a lot more out of it I think than the kids do, but we sure do get a lot of smiles, happy faces," Briggs said.

Yet, Lilly Cruz and Arturo Alvarez of Laredo, whose 4-year-old son Arturo Jr., a cancer patient, said the visit brings "a little sunshine" despite the "big cloud" in their lives.

"It means a lot. Thank you very much," Cruz said. "Very much," Alvarado said.

Ann de la Torre, whose son Sebastian also is in the oncology unit at Methodist, said, "He's my hero. My strength is from him."

De la Torre held her son in her arms as both the Easter Bunny and H.E.Buddy handed out high five's, hugs and toys.

"People come up and take time and do this for the kids. It means a lot to me, my family and Sebastian," De la Torre said.

Jennifer Hipsley, who led the visit through the oncology unit, said the visits do wonders for the patients.

"They get to feel like a normal kid again. They get to do the fun things," Hipsley said.

At age 14, Gilbert Guzman is older than many of the young patients at the hospital, yet he said the Easter Bunny and H.E.Buddy were "very cool."

Gilbert said his four-day hospital stay has been "kind of boring, but once I see these guys, it gets my hopes up."

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