MONROE - Alexa Schmidt knows first-hand the daily trials experienced by patients at UW Children's Hospital in Madison.
The 16-year-old Monroe High School sophomore spent two weeks last year at the hospital for treatment for a spinal tumor.
So, when Schmidt was required to do a service project for 15 percent of her social studies grade, giving back to the facility that helped her through a difficult time was a no-brainer.
"I knew what the kids go through," Schmidt said. "I wanted to give back to them because of what they did for me."
Schmidt and six fellow students raised more than $800 from local businesses. On Jan. 4, they went to Super Wal-Mart in Monona, split into teams and bought gifts for every child in the hospital on that day, male and female, newborn to 19 years old.
"The students were amazing," said Sarah Domres, the students' social studies teacher. "They found so many deals and really put a lot of thought and care into what they purchased.
"The cashiers at Wal-Mart commented repeatedly on how great it was that the students were doing this."
Even greater than the buying was the giving.
After labeling the gifts, the students went room to room and handed the gifts to each child.
Schmidt didn't enter the rooms because it was too difficult for her to see the children; she understood their perspective too well.
"The other students really liked doing the program," Schmidt said. "I think everybody got a lot out of it."
Sophomore Tessa Frutiger, 15, did. She understands many of the kids are in the hospital for months, some a year or more.
"For them, it's nice to see someone different who cares about how they are doing, someone outside of their family," Frutiger said.
Frutiger said the visit put her life into perspective.
"For people, for kids who think they have a bad life, there's kids in that hospital who are 7 years old who may not live to be 15," Frutiger said.
One nurse at the hospital tracked Domres down and shared with her one mother's reaction to her daughter's gift. It was a LeapPad electronic learning system.
The family wasn't able to afford the LeapPad, but it happened to be the gift the students purchased for her.
Having such an effect on people has led Frutiger to think about doing other charity work.
"I would like to continue," Frutiger said. "It makes you feel good to make a difference in someone else's life."
The 16-year-old Monroe High School sophomore spent two weeks last year at the hospital for treatment for a spinal tumor.
So, when Schmidt was required to do a service project for 15 percent of her social studies grade, giving back to the facility that helped her through a difficult time was a no-brainer.
"I knew what the kids go through," Schmidt said. "I wanted to give back to them because of what they did for me."
Schmidt and six fellow students raised more than $800 from local businesses. On Jan. 4, they went to Super Wal-Mart in Monona, split into teams and bought gifts for every child in the hospital on that day, male and female, newborn to 19 years old.
"The students were amazing," said Sarah Domres, the students' social studies teacher. "They found so many deals and really put a lot of thought and care into what they purchased.
"The cashiers at Wal-Mart commented repeatedly on how great it was that the students were doing this."
Even greater than the buying was the giving.
After labeling the gifts, the students went room to room and handed the gifts to each child.
Schmidt didn't enter the rooms because it was too difficult for her to see the children; she understood their perspective too well.
"The other students really liked doing the program," Schmidt said. "I think everybody got a lot out of it."
Sophomore Tessa Frutiger, 15, did. She understands many of the kids are in the hospital for months, some a year or more.
"For them, it's nice to see someone different who cares about how they are doing, someone outside of their family," Frutiger said.
Frutiger said the visit put her life into perspective.
"For people, for kids who think they have a bad life, there's kids in that hospital who are 7 years old who may not live to be 15," Frutiger said.
One nurse at the hospital tracked Domres down and shared with her one mother's reaction to her daughter's gift. It was a LeapPad electronic learning system.
The family wasn't able to afford the LeapPad, but it happened to be the gift the students purchased for her.
Having such an effect on people has led Frutiger to think about doing other charity work.
"I would like to continue," Frutiger said. "It makes you feel good to make a difference in someone else's life."