Smirkus Makes A Difference
Laughter is the best medicine. During yesterday’s “jump,” (move from one town to another) a group of Smirkos paid a visit to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at the Maine Medical Center in Portland to share the healing power of laughter with some of the patients at the hospital. This visit is a tradition for Smirkos and patients alike.
Smirkos in front of Maine Medical Center
Trace Salter, from the Merriconeag Waldorf School, which will be presenting our shows in Freeport today and tomorrow, welcomed the Smirkos to the hospital with a moving story of a Make A Wish™ patient who had attended the hospital performance for several years and had recently passed away. At the child’s funeral, scrapbooks were displayed full of photos of the girl and the Smirkos and autographed posters from them. Needless to say, more than one trouper started the performance for the hospital kids a little teary-eyed.
And the performance was a blast for troupers and patients alike. It was moving to watch the Smirkos put smiles on the faces of kids, and provide a brief escape for children who otherwise face complicated and serious illnesses daily.
After the troupers performed, they handed out clown noses and stayed around to show the kids how to juggle, talk about what they like to do, and pose for some photographs. It just goes to show that Smirkus makes a difference!
Magnus and Anna being the clowns that they are!
One of the patients with the Smirkos
Best,
Alex
Tour Communications Intern
alex@smirkus.org