Compassion isn’t a passive state.  It’s an act of will, an act of courage;
the courage to cope with every parent’s worst nightmare,
the courage to be emotionally honest, the courage to
risk having your heart broken, the courage to care enough
to push yourself to do what’s scariest.

- Dr. Fred Epstien
Author, “If I Live To Five”

The Marshmallow Launchers:  A Short History

The marshmallow launchers were created in 2001 for the kids in isolation on the oncology unit at The Children’s Hospital as a means to relieve tension, while away the long hours in isolation, and have some fun in the midst of very difficult circumstances. They proved to be a big hit with the kids on the unit, and surprisingly, even a bigger hit with the medical staff that recognized immediately “Good Medicine” when they saw it. The launchers provided a fun way for these little patients to exercise their lungs. The doctors told us that any form of deep breathing, done regularly, would help rid the lungs of built up fluid, and this was definitely something the kids loved to do regularly. Best of all the launchers produced laughter!

At Kelsey’s Kids, we saw them as a way to fund further research of childhood disease, a means of supporting families as they journey together along this difficult path, a way to supply assistance to the many institutions and foundations that are working hard to meet the needs of these families during difficult circumstances, and most importantly, as a way to bring joy to the lives of those little people struggling with a life threatening illness.