CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For CAMC Women and Children’s hospital patient Franki Harrah, seeing Charleston Police, CPD mascot Chevelle and Santa march into her room at the Cancer Center caught her off guard but in a good way.
Harrah was among dozens of patients who received Christmas gifts as part of Operation Citation at the hospital. This was the 10th annual event on Friday in Charleston.
“This was cool,” Harrah said. “I mean it was very surprising but it puts me in a good mood.
“Every year sometimes kids don’t get presents and this pretty cool to get them excited for Christmas.”
Harrah, an Evans resident who has been in and out of the hospital recently, received a chess kit, tattoos, and stuffed animals as part of her gift.
She said being stuck in the hospital can be tough.
“I’m used to being stuck in hospital but it’s hard for my mom and dad sometimes. Because I feel like sometimes it can be sad, but half the time it’s okay because I am feeling better every time I get treatment.”
Operation Citation recognizes youth across the city, including inducting members into the “Blue Squad.” Austin Drake, 7, from Putnam County helped hand out gifts and was named an honorary member of the squad at the hospital.
Drake saved dimes for over a year to be able to buy some of the presents that were handed out to patients on Friday. The CPD also presented him with a “Blue Squad” shirt, over $100 in dimes inside a stocking and a certificate of being named an honorary member.
Other special guests that helped hand out gifts were Vietnam Veteran Charlie Ferrell and current US Marines. They help annually and contributed a large amount of the hundreds of toys.