Basking Ridge Teen Shares Hearts for Healing

Most children think of Valentine's Day as a time to share special notes and treats with their friends in school. For children in the hospital, however, the day may not be very special at all.

Some children must remain isolated from others, and getting treats may be out of the question.

This connection seemed to make sense to Rebecca Lipset, a 12-year old student at William Annin Middle School.

"She was born on Valentine's Day," said her mother, Shani Lipset. "But she was also born with a clubfoot, and needed corrective surgery immediately after she was born."

Rebecca had the surgery at Boston Children's Hospital and continued to go back to that hospital for follow-up visits over the next ten years. "Each time we would go, she would see the other kids at Boston Children's who were not able to walk out the door and go home."

The memory led Rebecca to send Valentine's notes for kids that were in the hospital. She shared the idea with friends and family and soon had over 200 heart-shaped greetings -- each decorated by hand with personal messages of inspiration.

In the weeks before Valentine's Day, Rebecca delivered the Valentine's to the Child Life Specialists at three area hospitals -- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, and Morristown Medical Center. Because many of the children required isolation, Rebecca was only allowed to meet the Child Life Specialists in the hospital lobbies.

"Everybody deserves a sweet Valentine's Day," said Rebecca. "Especially kids in the hospital."