Sometimes being a patient in the hospital can mean missing out on special family occasions.

But whenever possible, many Stony Brook Medicine staff members take it upon themselves to go above and beyond to ensure that illnesses don’t interrupt what’s really important in our patients’ lives. Here are just two of many stories.

At Stony Brook Medicine, even when your life’s on hold for medical reasons, good things can still happen.

Last April, a patient who was awaiting a bone marrow transplant wasn’t going to be able to attend her son’s wedding in Puerto Rico. To ensure she could participate in the festivities anyway, the Bone Marrow Transplant staff arranged a ceremony and reception for the family.

Chef John Mastacciuola and the hospital food service team created a beautiful wedding event complete with ‘champagne’ toasts, an artful cake to match the bride’s dress, and a dinner buffet.

And this past June, Stony Brook also helped a terminally ill mother who could not witness her daughter’s high school graduation. Using their own money and time, Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) staff members coordinated a graduation, complete with decorations and refreshments, and arranged for the school’s principal to perform a bedside diploma ceremony with the daughter right at her mother’s side.

Learn more about Stony Brook Medicine: https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/home

At the end of August, an assembly line of students from Stony Brook’s School of Social Welfare filled more than 100 backpacks with school supplies they collected as part of their Bachelor of Science with a minor in Social Work (BSW) service project.

The Undergraduate Social Welfare Alliance (USWA) presented the Long Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence with the backpacks that held supplies donated by students, faculty and staff from the School of Social Welfare.

Left to right: Jessica Esposito, intern, Long Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence; BSW seniors Casey Pinner, Christina Papa, Pat Hurley, Taylor DeNaro and Brittany Sloat; Charlene Rogers, educator, Long Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Professor Suzanne Velazquez, undergraduate program director, School of Social Welfare

The backpacks were then given to homeless and at-risk children in our local communities who returned to school with the basic supplies they needed.

The executive board and other members of USWA assisted with the project. USWA executive board members include BSW seniors Brittany Sloat, president; Taylor DeNaro, co-vice president; Casey Pinner, co-vice president; Amanda Maldonado, class senator; Christina Papa, secretary; and Pat Hurley, treasurer. Also lending a hand were BSW seniors Joseline Morales, Lisbel Collado, Hope Moore, Indre Zinkeviciute, and BSW student Chris Carlozzo.

Learn more about the School of Social Welfare: https://socialwelfare.stonybrookmedicine.edu/

Early in December the Stony Brook campus community came together for the 17th Annual Festival of Lights, an intercultural program that celebrates the diversity of religions through holiday traditions.

The program highlights various faiths, including Christmas/Advent/Three Kings Day (Christian), Hanukkah (Jewish), Ramadan/Eid-ul Fitr/Eid-Adha (Muslim), Diwali (Hindu), Winter Solstice (Native American) and Kwanzaa (African American).

The Festival of Lights  took place at the Student Activities Center’s Sidney Gelber Auditorium.

Hundreds of students, faculty and staff enjoyed holidays displays and ethnic foods. Participants were invited to make a variety of holiday crafts as part of the Festival’s “Make It, Take It,” activities.

Live performances in song, dance and poetry on the main stage were held at the free community event. Organized by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Interfaith Center, the Festival of LIghts has become a campus tradition, reflecting the diversity of the campus.

Learn more about the Office of Multicultural Affairs: http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/oma/

Learn more about the Interfaith Center: http://www.sbinterfaith.org/