Panda Express and The Coca-Cola Company Give A Little Aloha This Holiday Season

Celebrate the season with family and friends at Panda Express and help kids treated at Kapi`olani Medical Center For Women & Children!

Every day of the year, Panda Express guests and associates help kids here in Hawaii by rounding up their meal purchases at the register at their favorite Panda Express. Donations directly help Kapiolani’s Child Life Services.  The Child Life Specialists manage the play therapy program and the Playroom, a dedicated space where pediatric patients can play in a safe haven and forget about being hospitalized. To learn more about supporting Child Life, please view this wishlist.

And this year, from Nov. 25 through Dec. 28, 2019, guests can also help through the Get a Coke & Give Good Cheer initiative. Purchase any Coca-Cola beverage and Panda will donate holiday cheer to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals up to $250,000*.

It’s a great way to inspire hope and spread joy to children and families like Lily, Kapiolani’s 2019 Champion,  this holiday season.

In late 2011, an MRI scan at Kapi‘olani revealed a tumor at the base of her brain. Lily had medulloblastoma. The then 6-year-old was rushed into surgery that same week—it was necessary to ensure this type of cancer wouldn’t return. After surgery, the little girl was transferred to the Pediatric Ambulatory Unit and Wilcox Pediatric Unit for follow-up care.

“I remember, every time I got a shot or something I would cry,” said Lily. “So, I just try to keep a smile. Even if there is a lot of pain, I just try to get through it.”

“Lily went through a lot,” said Dr. Medeiros, Lily’s pediatric oncologist. “Both the radiation therapy and some of the chemotherapy medicines that Lily received can cause problems with hearing and she had pretty severe hearing loss.” Hearing aids weren’t enough, so Lily returned to Kapi‘olani for cochlear implant surgery.

Regular visits with Kapi‘olani pediatric audiologists are helping Lily adjust. The surgery is the first part of the process, then the Kapi‘olani team works to customize the cochlear implants to meet her needs. “We program it for different hearing levels and we code it so that it allows her to hear the sound that it picks up from the environment,” said Ann Narimasu-Phomenone, Lily’s audiology therapist.

“At Kapi‘olani we’re fortunate enough to offer auditory verbal therapy, which isn’t offered anywhere else in the state,” said Kimi Perez, her speech language pathologist. “It takes an oral approach to learning how to speak and listen and it takes away all of the visual aids. Kids have to rely on their ears alone, which ends up with a higher success rate in speaking and hearing.”

Staff and specialists supported the Lymans through Lily’s treatment, and the family is grateful for the comfort and welcoming atmosphere they received.

“What I didn’t realize for a long time was that Kapi‘olani is a not-for-profit,” dad Christopher said. “I think when you go to a store and they’re asking for donations for Children’s Miracle Network, you don’t see it—but being on the receiving end of it, it’s huge.”

“I think Lily’s going to be a great champion because her positivity is so effortless,” mom Misty said. “There’s something magnetic about it, you want to be around people like that and you want to help people like that.”

Visit your favorite Panda Express today and help make a difference in lives of kids treated at Kapi`olani Medical Center For Women & Children.