April Loves Happy Wheels!

My journey into healthcare began when I was just 15-years-old, volunteering as a candy striper at Lexington Medical Center. That early experience sparked a lifelong passion for helping others, especially children. Since that time, I have worked as a phlebotomist, specializing in the NICU, PICU, and Children's Hospital, earned my Associate Degree in nursing, became a PICU nurse, completed my BSN and continue to teach clinical pediatrics at USC and MTC. 

I first encountered Happy Wheels in 2011, while working in the PICU. I watched as volunteers pushed a cart filled with new books and toys through the unit, bringing smiles to children who were scared and in pain. Inspired by their mission, I joined the organization and began volunteering for Happy Wheels.

With each visit, I get to knock on the door of each child's room and offer them the chance to choose a toy or book from the cart. Their tears dry up and their frowns turn into smiles. The simple act of bringing joy to these children's lives is the highlight of my week. It's the most heartwarming feeling in the world.

Happy Wheels isn't just about toys-it's about community. The volunteers who support the organization give freely of their hearts and time, creating an army of kindness that spans across the children's hospitals in Columbia, Greenville, and Charleston.