Hi! My name is Anna and I am 19 years old. I am a recent kidney transplant recipient, have Lupus Nephritis, and am Cancer free since February 8th 2023. The idea for this project came to me when I was stuck in the hospital during my Lupus onset in December 2017. I was only 11 years old, very sick, and very disappointed to be spending Christmas in the hospital. Through the efforts of friends and family we were able to bring many Christmas decorations to brighten my room and spread some holiday cheer! I was in the hospital for two weeks and to my surprise all the nurses and doctors that came into my room said that they loved the decorations and that nobody else had done this before! I thought about all the other kids unexpectedly stuck in the hospital during this time and felt sad that there was no time for them to decorate their rooms the same way. I decided then that I wanted to make a Christmas kit for next year so that no kid would have to go without a decorated room for Christmas! 

In November 2018, we asked all our friends and family to spread the message and donate if able so that I could make this dream a possibility. So many people came together and I was able to donate 40 kits to UC Davis Children's Hospital. I continued my project for the next 3 years increasing the amount donated each year until I was dropping off 72 Kits which covered the whole pediatric floor! 

Then in March 2022, I was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma. I would have to go through a year of Chemotherapy with week long stays in the hospital along with Radiation and surgery. Although it was no longer Christmas, I still brought decorations to make the hospital room feel more of my own. I brought my own blankets and pillows, stuffed animals, fairy lights so that I wouldn't have to use the blinding hospital ones, a diffuser to cover the medical smell, and wall decorations to bring some color to the room. Once again every nurse and doctor that came into the room was surprised by what I had done.  You could see them instantly relax when they stepped into my room and they would all say that they wish they could stay! This only furthered my desire to continue my project and continue dropping off kits. That year, with the help of our community, I was still able to drop off all 72 kits to the hospital even while undergoing chemo! In 2023, I added Sutter Midtown increasing our total kit drop of to 110! 

In February 2025, I received a kidney transplant (from my mom!). Both Lupus onset and the cancer treatment caused damage to the my kidneys, leaving me with only 9% function. I have since recovered and am now ready to take on an even bigger challenge and add another hospital to our list! I'm so excited to say the we will be delivering to Kaiser Roseville this year! I am grateful to everyone who has shared my story or donated to my cause. Because of you, I have been able to make so many Christmases just a little bit brighter and I hope to continue to grow this project each year <3