Local Boy Donates Toys to Hospital Playroom

A year ago, 6-year-old Noah Andrunas impressed the staff at Fountain Valley Regional Hosptial's pediatric unit wth his bravery. Earlier this month, he returned to inspire them with his remarkable generosity.

When Andrunas came to the unit last year to have a biopsy performed on a small mass in his neck, he asked doctors to forego the usual sedation because he didn't like the way it made him feel, and so that he could go home right away after the procedure. Doctors decided to grant Noah's request, and performed the biopsy in the unit's playroom while Noah watched videos on his father's cell phone to distract him from the pain.

Noah returned to the hosptial earlier this month with a huge load of toys for the unit's playroom, all of which had been donated at his request in lieu of gifts for his sixth birthday.

"I was amazed at Noah's ability to demonstrate true empathy at such a young age," said Adrienne Feilden, a child life specialist at the hospital. "He explained his act of kindness with a smile as if it was no big deal, and by talking about his own fun memories in our playroom. In talking with him, you are truly able to tell that the generosity did come from his own heart."

Noah's dad, John Andrunas said Noah also spent some of his own savings to personally select items from the playroom's wishlist to add to the toys collected.