Radiation Oncology Program

Magic Castle Grants Wishes for Young Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Magic Castle Grants Wishes

The Magic Castle grants wishes for pediatric cancer patients who complete their radiation therapy.

For very young cancer patients, the process of daily visits to the hospital for radiation therapy can be an overwhelming experience. To help ease their fears, the staff of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center (UMGCC) has come up with a whimsical and fun way to encourage children through the radiation therapy required to treat their disease. Dr. William Regine, chief of Radiation Oncology, developed the concept for a Magic Castle that would grant pediatric patients’ wishes upon completion of their treatment.

At the start of treatment, each child is invited to write three wishes on a slip of paper and place it inside the castle. The child is then told that the Magic Castle princess will come after everyone has left and grant one of the wishes. On the final day of the child’s treatment, the department celebrates with a small party where the child receives the gift and celebrates with family members and staff.

While the idea for the Magic Castle is new, the concept of wish granting is one that Dr. Regine brought to the cancer center from Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital. At Saint Jude’s, patients are given gifts at the end of their treatment as a way to ease their stress. Dr. Regine felt that instituting the Magic Castle was not only important, but essential: “There is such a high level of anxiety in kids, and creating this concept has made the patients feel even better when they are finished their treatment.”

Magic Castle Celebration

Garrett Nelson (front left) and his twin brother Austin celebrate with Radiation Oncology staff on the day Garrett completed his radiation therapy.

Radiation Oncology marketing manager Jill Rosenberg has been instrumental in launching the Magic Castle project. She has worked closely with the Children’s Cancer Foundation, which provides the funding for the effort. Gifts have ranged from Ipods and Gameboys to TV/DVD players.

“We are extremely grateful for the support of the Children’s Cancer Foundation for turning patients’ wishes into gifts they previously only dreamed of owning. The castle provides a light at the end of the tunnel that gives the patients something to look forward to at the end of their treatment,” says Rosenberg.

She notes that an added benefit has been bringing the staff, and even other patients, closer together in celebrating each child’s accomplishment in completing treatment.

Dr. Regine and the Radiation Oncology staff hope that the Magic Castle will continue to make dealing with radiation therapy just a little bit easier for their pediatric cancer patients. As Dr. Regine says, “It makes a difference. Some of these patients may not have gotten through their treatment otherwise, due to the high anxiety level associated with this type of treatment.”

By: Katie Campbell

For more information on the Magic Castle, pediatric oncology services, or other programs and services of the Greenebaum Cancer Center, please call 1-800-888-8823.


This page was last updated on: March 14, 2008.

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