Ironworkers at Dana-Farber resume a beloved ritual, providing moments of joy for cancer patients

[Are_grits_groceries]

Their names immortalized
Eighteen-month-old Kristen Hoenshell has a rare and aggressive form of cancer. What began as a tumor behind her eye has led to surgery and 38 weeks of weekly visits to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she receives powerful doses of chemotherapy that leave her weak and occasionally sick.

Yesterday, when she showed up for another round of treatment, she was greeted by something special. As her cousin Megan Souza pointed out the window of a third-floor walkway, ironworkers perched on the sixth floor of a partially constructed building nearby hoisted a massive I-beam into place. It was emblazoned, in bright pink spray paint, with Kristen's name.

"Look out the window," Souza said, as she held Kristen in her arms. "There's your name up there. There's your name, Kristen." The girl, bald from her treatments, smiled shyly.

It has become a beloved ritual at Dana-Farber: Every day, children who come to the clinic write their names on sheets of paper and tape them to the windows of the walkway for ironworkers to see. And, every day, the ironworkers paint the names onto I-beams and hoist them into place as they add floors to the new 14-story Yawkey Center for Cancer Care.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1185143625/bctid13796845001

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/gallery/022309dana_farber_beams/

Good on them!

[Bluzmann57]

1. I bet they're Union guys

And I bet certain segments of society look down on them (the ironworkers) as rough and crude types of people. But it doesn't matter. They obviously have hearts of gold.

[billyoc]

3. Of course, those are my Local 7 brothers and sisters:

http://www.ironworkersdcne.org/default.asp

[billybob537]

5. Hi Billy

You know what that 537 is for!

[billyoc]

7. Sure do. I got stuck on a commuter train for 3 hours last month with a fitter,

Jack Sims. We had a great time cheering up the commuters! :rofl:

[blue neen]

2. K & R for the children and the ironworkers.

Bless them all...

[FSogol]

4. Nice story. n/t

[nc4bo]

6. oh my

:cry: :patriot:

[Gormy Cuss]

8. It's such a small gesture by the Ironworkers yet it means so much to a child.

Good on 'em for doing this.