Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Highway patrol gives gifts to children in intensive care

Highway patrol gift-giving

Cydney Cappello

State trooper Bobby Borchardt presents a gift to Danielle Peach, who is held up by her grandma Donna, and mother Corrie.

Highway Patrol Christmas gifts

Shella Salazar and her son Angel Manuel Salazar receive gifts from highway patrol at Sunrise Children's Hospital Intensive Care Unity Wednesday. Launch slideshow »

The Nevada Highway Patrol lifted the spirits of children in the intensive care units of two hospitals Wednesday during its 11th annual toy giveaway.

Troopers visited Sunrise Children’s Hospital and University Medical Center’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with little red wagons full of gift bags containing dancing Santas and matchbox-car-like cruiser replicas.

“When police do this, they show they care about people they don’t know,” Shella Salazar said.

Her son, 1-year-old Angel Manuel, was at Sunrise and was so excited about the dancing and singing Santa that his bouncing nearly knocked the toy of the bed -- twice.

Money is taken out of the paychecks of employees of the Nevada Department of Public Safety to pay for the toys. About 30 troopers make up the group of gift-givers.

“You see kids that are not doing so well and you give a gift to them and they get a sparkle in their eye or it might make their day,” trooper Bobby Borchardt said. “My son was hospitalized here a couple of years ago and it was pretty neat that people came in and brought things ... It lets him know people are thinking of him.”

One child Borchardt delivered toys to was 5-month-old Danielle Peach, who is recovering from open-heart surgery. The visit from the highway patrol might have been more therapeutic for Danielle’s mother, Corrie, than for the happy baby.

“This makes me believe again, makes me believe that there is compassion left in the world,” Peach said. “It’s a good distraction from the upset mood that you’re in to begin with.”

The 100 gift bags were split up -- 50 to Sunrise and 50 to UMC, though UMC only had 37 patients.

“We just want to help people and give back to the community, especially children, around the holiday season,” trooper Charles Lee said. “Just let them know we’re not giving tickets out all the time, we hand out toys, too.”

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