Oklahoma Children's Hospital Creating Art In 'Get Well Sooner Camp'

A great piece of art can brighten the darkest day and bring smiles, and that is exactly what the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital is hoping will happen.

“It’s called "Get Well Sooner Camp", and it’s an annual camp that we do for all of our kids that are stuck in the hospital,” said Monica Lantz, Child Life Specialist with Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.

Since kids want to enjoy summer camp, the hospital has a week of activities for the patients and their families.

“We had our pro wrestlers that came, and we had the zoo come and they got to help us conquer our fears with scary animals,” said Lantz.

They even have special guests all the way from Georgia.

“The Foundation for Hospital Art is a global organization that paints art with the community and then donates that art to hospitals and health care facilities,” said Meghan Black, Artist and Event Leader with Foundation for Hospital Art.

In 2024 the group selected six facilities to participate in the art fest fun.

“This is part of the paint fest that we are calling the [Interstate 40] paint fest, where we are painting at different hospitals along [Interstate 40],” said Black.

Hospital patients, staff and even family members are all taking part in the fun.

“Like people won’t know that I painted it, but I will. So, when I walk past, I can be like, whoa, I did that,” said 15-year-old Traylynn.

Traylynn is visiting his nephew in the hospital and the creative time away helps keep his mind off of things.

“It was pretty fun, I was just over here painting, in my own world basically,” said Traylynn. 

Each of the smaller paint by number canvasses will combine to make multiple big pictures that will proudly be displayed in the childcare center once complete.

“Just having an opportunity to be expressive through painting and through art, especially when are kids are stuck here in the hospital and they don’t always get to do fun things,” said Lantz.

The hope is the art will not only provide an escape for the patients, but it will also bring joy once it is displayed.

“Because they are looking at something beautiful, then they actually get to heal faster. So, it just has a huge impact on everyone involved,” said Black. 

They hope to have the mural complete and on display in about a month, you will also be able to see it on the hospital’s social media pages, @Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health on Facebook and Instagram.