Josephine's Garden is a beautiful place at HUMC for children with pediatric cancer to get outside and breathe some fresh air. The garden was the idea of a beautiful, vivacious, and strong little girl Josephine and her incredible mom Heidi. Before Josephine lost her precious life, she & her mom worked on the plans together for the Garden. Their plans included a play area, flowers, a warrior pole for all the warriors fighting the fight to carve their names & just a simple peaceful place to sit outside with their families and breathe in fresh air. Before the garden, there was no such place. The children did not have a chance to get outside. Volunteering at the Garden has brought me joy in so many ways. It keeps Josephine's spirit alive and vibrant. Today, money raised for Josephine's garden not only goes to the Garden itself, but also to pediatric cancer research. Josephine's Garden raised over $500,000 and The Josephine Elle Hartung-Rispoli Research Lab was created at Joseph Sanzari's Children's Hospital at HUMC, the only one of it's kind. Working with and watching Josephine's mother Heidi advocate for Josephine's Garden has been an incredible experience. Heidi is amazing. She is strong, brilliant, and extremely passionate about everything she does! She pours her generous heart and soul into it all!. While helping Heidi plant flowers one day, I was able to witness a young man being brought outside into the garden and the joy on his face is unforgettable. He was just so happy to be outside in the fresh air! What an amazing place Josephine & Heidi created for all of these children. Heidi is an incredible woman and has done amazing things for pediatric cancer research.
Where to begin? I had the amazing experience of working directly with Josephine… she was and is incredible. I feel her when I would take children out to the garden. This space does not only bring hospitalized children to life- it allows them to be them… it allows them to take a step away from their hospital room and simply be themselves. As a child life specialist this space has allowed me to truly learn who these kids are- despite diagnosis- and learn how to help them accomplish all they want, and establish how they want to be seen. This space allows patients to just Be… be who they are, think about how to accomplish goals, think about how to weave a cancer diagnosis into their already existing lives. Josephines garden is… special. It’s a place of acceptance, strength, imagination and life. It’s a place where so much therapeutic work happens, not only for the specialist, but the child and family. Josephines Garden will forever be a part of me it will remind me the value of how a space like this can impact a child experiencing trauma, stress or uncertainty… it can only help!
When I heard the story and meaning behind Josephines Garden I wanted to learn more. I wanted to know how this beautiful mother took her heartbreak for the loss of her sweet daughter and turned it into something extraordinarily beautiful for others. Others who were sick like her Josephine so they had an outlet outside of their sickness. When the doors opened and I walked out into Josephines Garden I felt something I can’t explain but knew there was a feel of love, compassion, connection, outlet, beauty, significant meaning and some kind of freedom. My heart is big for this nonprofit and will always be there to extend my hand to help. ♥️
Josephine’s Garden is an amazing organization . Josephine’s Garden is a roof top garden at Hackensack hospital that is a space for children to go to when they are hospitalized . Recently my grandson was hospitalized and was lucky enough to have a view of the garden. He was also able to visit the garden which made him so happy . Josephine’s garden also funded a pediatric research lab at the hospital . I can’t say enough positive things about this organization !