Publication: The El Paso Herald-Post March 10, 1995 Issue
Article: "Flowers, Happiness Bloom At Thomason"
Author: Deborah Martin, Herald-Post Arts & Entertainment Editor


"Molly Pedraza's little mouth popped open and her eyes widened when she saw the balloon.

She watched it float beside her, then began batting it around energetically, the pneumonia that sent her to Thomason Hospital forgotten.

The 1-year-old child and her neighbors on Thomason's pediatric ward were just a few of the beneficiaries of a local artist and a pack of volunteers Thursday morning.

The volunteers distributed the balloons as well as red carnations paid   for by the Annabel Livermore Flower Fund, which Livermore, an artist, set up five years ago through the El Paso Community Foundation. Once or twice a year, organizer Janis Keller summons a small group of volunteers to distribute flowers to bedridden patients throughout the hospital.

About 180 patients received flowers on this outing. They were delivered in bud vases with a small not from Livermore attached, reading, "With this little gift, I wish you health and happiness."

The fund was inspired by the artist Matisse, who once covered a hospital room in bright colors in an effort to speed the healing process. The idea behind the   flowers - and behind the first floor meditation room Livermore also designed for the hospital - its to bring a dash of color into the patient's lives.

Vivian Ortiz, manager of volunteer services at the hospital, said she can tell that the flowers make a difference.

"They love it, especially some of the patients that don't have a lot of family visiting. And we don't do it during visiting hours, so the patients are alone in their rooms at that time," she said.

Keller said she is moved by the altruism behind the flower fund.

"I don't know anybody else who would just do something like this," she said.


Read more:
Martin, Deborah. "Flowers, Happiness Bloom At Thomason." El Paso Herald Post. March 10, 1995.