For most children the back to bethesda festival was all about fun and games, but for those staying at the Children’s Inn at the National Institute of Health, Saturday’s festival meant much more. 8-year old Matthew Devy, a relatively new patient at the Children’s Inn, has cancer, and flew all the way from Australia to Bethesda to begin treatment at the NIH. He says “you can never be bored” at the Children’s Inn and thats what keeps him so far from home. Although he doesn’t get to see his family as much, he says the children’s inn is very supportive and helps him during this tough time.
Surprisingly, the Children’s Inn isn’t just for children. 25-year old Eric Sartay, a Canadian patient has spent the last two years at the children’s inn. “The children’s inn is great” he says, “I’m 25 and I can still be there.” Sartay came from Canada when treatment options there failed and his doctor sent him to Bethesda for a transplant.
The back to bethesda festival offers visitors from all over the metropolitan area a day full of games and fun, but more importantly it offers the patients at the Children’s Inn a momentary break from a long struggle.
