Ayden Lopez, 7, from Nebraska, was born with arthrogryposis, a rare condition that causes multiple joint contractures at birth.
On Monday, she and her mom, Anissa Padgett, visited Shriners Children’s Twin Cities Hospital for the first time, consulting with orthopedic and hand surgeon, Dr. Van Heest, whose name the two said in unison, prompting Lopez to cast a jinx spell on her mom.
“Your joint’s kind of grew a different way than everybody else’s, didn’t they,” Padgett said after Lopez released her from the spell by saying, “mommy” twice.
In honor of the 75th anniversary year of “Peanuts,” created by Minnesota native Charles M. Schulz, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Shriners Children’s Twin Cities in Woodbury hosted Paintfest, a paint-by-number mural event for patients and families to create together, in between appointments.
The six-panel canvas piece featuring “Peanuts” characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and crew, was donated by the Foundation for Hospital Art, a national nonprofit that donates “joyful Peanuts-themed murals to hospitals around the world.” Many children participating in the event have orthopedic conditions that can affect hands and arms and make joint movement challenging, but it doesn’t stop them from getting in on the fun.
“In child life, we’re focused on helping kids cope with their medical conditions, and help them to see that their physical bodies don’t have to limit what they’re capable of doing,” child life specialist Audrey Haugen said. “They can do anything they set their minds to.”
‘I’m having so much fun’
The 102-year-old hospital transitioned to an outpatient clinic in recent years and moved from its original Minneapolis location to its current Woodbury-based facility in 2020.
The pediatric, orthopedic hospital specializes in a variety of services, including burn injuries, craniofacial conditions, spine care and spinal cord injuries, and sports medicine. On Monday, one of Shriners’ hands and arms visiting specialists was on site to see patients in need of upper extremities care, ranging from injury, illness-related conditions, to functional or appearance differences, Haugen said.
While painting “Peanuts” character Lucy, Lopez would say out loud, “I’m having so much fun,” and “this is so fun.” She and her mom are making a trip of their visit to Minnesota, Padgett said. They have plans to shop at the Mall of America, and little artist Lopez is especially excited for the Crayola Experience.
Other patients also traveled from outside the state, like the Kagemann family from Iowa and the Kraft family from Wisconsin.
Five-year-old Theo Kagemann was born with three fingers on his left hand and a webbed thumb, his mom Jessica Kagemann explained. They came to Shriners, Monday for a consult following surgery Theo underwent for his thumb to provide a better range of motion.
“It’s pretty exceptional here,” Jessica Kagemann said about Shriners.
‘Not so much about just being a doctor’s visit’
Their family has visited the hospital for the past two years for Theo’s condition and each time they try to make the visit, which consists of a four-hour drive, which Theo emphasized, more like a vacation. In the past, their family has stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge, visited the Mall of America and other attractions, but Monday’s “Peanuts” event was a welcome surprise they hadn’t planned for.
“It makes it not so much about just being a doctor’s visit,” said dad Tyler Kagemann. “It’s something fun to do with the kids, and that’s what we like to do when we make the trips up here, too, make it fun.
Theo’s seven-year-old sister also enjoyed the “Peanuts” mural event as she waited for her brother to return from his appointment. By the time he appeared, she’d already moved on to her second canvas, arms covered in paint and Snoopy a lovely shade of fire engine red.
Their family had never watched or read the cartoons together, but they will after this event, they said. After all, it is the season for “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” and Theo was especially excited to stream the classic at home.
Paintfest mural
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Fourteen-year-old Abby Kraft and 17-year-old Zeke Kraft, however, who both visit the hospital due to their genetic bone conditions, are no strangers to the “Peanuts gang,” they said.
The Gen Z Wisconsinites grew up with the characters and chuckled when seven-year-old Ayden said that when she heard the name Snoopy, she thought only of rapper Snoop Dog.
Once fully painted, the “Peanuts” mural will hang on the walls of Shriners in Woodbury, making it the first Paintfest mural created by the hands of patients, families and staff. It’s also the hospital’s first cartoon-style mural, marketing manager Lauren Elm said.
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