Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) hosted a dedication ceremony for Maria’s Garden, a 20,000 square foot outdoor area near the entrance of the hospital Maria’s Garden was created through the vision of Brenda and John Fareri, the hospital’s founding benefactors, and made possible by 100.7 WHUD and the radio’s CEO James J. Morrell and his family.
Construction on the garden began in 2016 and took several months to complete. The dedication ceremony occurred last Monday, May 14. Named after John and Brenda’s late daughter, Maria Fareri, the garden serves as a place to enjoy the outdoors and unwind for patients and families under the hospital’s care. The landscaped garden includes walkways, seating areas, a life-size chess/checkerboard, a giant teddy bear, and sculptures of Maria playing ball with her dog.
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Michael Gewitz, MD, physician-in-chief, and chief of pediatric cardiology, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center said at the dedication, “This is a very special place. It continues in the tradition of making this hospital a healing place without being a fearful place. This garden allows kids and their families to come out, take a respite from all they’re going through during some pretty intensive treatments and have a minute to be out in the fresh air to contemplate things, to play, and to have a moment away from being inside and treated.”
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Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, located in Valhalla is a 136-bed advanced pediatrics facility specializing in cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, hematology and oncology treatments, organ transplants, and other specialty pediatric services.
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