Jordyn Perez was about to turn 8 years old when her mom suggested a new way to celebrate her birthday. "How about giving away your gifts to a children's hospital?" her mom said.
Jordyn thought about the idea. She already had everything she needed, and these kids in hospital were going through some difficulties. They probably needed gifts more than she did. "Okay, that sounds cool," she finally said.
Now a student in high school, Jordyn continues to bring joy to kids with serious illnesses. This year, she has made her eighth yearly birthday-gift donation (捐赠) to Baptist Children's Hospital in San Antonio.
Kids can be in the hospital for lots of reasons. In the US, asthma (哮喘) is a top reason for younger children. Whatever the patient's age or illness, a hospital stay can be stressful. Efforts like Jordyn's are sunshine during a difficult time.
Jordyn's gift-giving project begins each year in November. When she sends her friends invitations to her birthday party, she includes a list of gift ideas for kids at the hospital. For the youngest patients, gifts might include building blocks or toy trains. "And for the teenagers," Jordyn says, "it might be nail polish or books."
Natalie Gutierrez, a worker at Baptist Children's Hospital, has seen the influence of Jordyn's gift-giving. "She puts smiles on the faces of these young patients in our hospital and on our nurses," Gutierrez says. "They are all amazed at her beneficence at such a young age."
Jordyn's efforts to help kids in the hospital have influenced others a lot. Friends have given away gifts for their birthdays too. And Jordyn says her 11-year-old twin sisters help animals at the Humane Society.
"Giving to others, it's just a good feeling to have at the end of the day," Jordyn says. "I want to keep doing this as long as I can."
