D.J. Alexis, 14, donates toys to Kennedy Hospital in Washington Township in memory of his brother Emmanuel who died in 2006.
Smiles on children’s faces and tears of joy filled Kennedy Hospital in Washington Township Monday afternoon thanks to D.J. Alexis, who played Santa for the day. The Sicklerville resident didn’t wear a Santa suit, but he and his parents brought Christmas spirit and delivered hundreds of wrapped toys. Children and adolescents from Kennedy Hospital in Stratford and Kennedy’s Behavioral Health program in Cherry Hill also received the toys.
It’s the fifth year the Alexis family has delivered toys to Kennedy Hospital. D.J. spearheads the toy drive, which came to fruition because of his younger brother, Emmanuel, who died in 2006 while being treated at Kennedy, a few months after being born. D.J. called Emmanuel “an amazing individual and a beacon of light.”
“He was here 10 years ago, and I want to honor him and respect all the kids that were here,” D.J. said. “It’s rough being a kid, especially when you’re in the hospital. I want to make sure all these kids have a Christmas so that all these kids are not forgotten.”
His mother, Lesli, is inspired by what her son does for those children and looks forward to giving back every Christmas.
“It’s a big deal to see him inspire so many kids,” she said. “It’s rewarding to know that you’re not just giving back, you’ve been where they are. There is nothing worse than seeing your child in pain except burying your child, it’s not natural. You have this amazing child that wanted to create a legacy for his brother in this way. You can’t be anything else but proud. It’s part of our holiday tradition.”
Lesli recalled the staff at Kennedy taking their time to console D.J. and be there for him at all times during Emmanuel’s stay in the hospital. She said the nurses and staff are part of their family.
“It was important for him (D.J.) to do this at Kennedy because they were wonderful,” she said. “The doctors would listen to questions D.J. had about his brother and they would take time to answer. They would cheer him on. He was only five at the time, and it meant a lot.
“When we were at the funeral, we looked up, there was a sea of nurses and staff and they hugged him and consoled him. It was beyond anything I could explain. Being able to be here to support what they do, it’s the least we can do.”
Businesses and organizations from South Jersey donate toys, including Jenny Craig, Vineland High School and D.J.’s alma mater, Friends School of Mullica Hill. D.J. has wrapping parties with his friends and family, and they recently started making handmade cards after he found out most of the kids don’t get to spend Christmas at home with their families. Classic Cake donates a cake each year in honor of Emmanuel’s birthday, which D.J. then gives to the hospital staff as his way to say thank you for all the kids they take care of everyday.
“Everybody is involved, everybody is celebrated, and everybody is smiling,” Lesli said.
When D.J. walked into Leslie Brown’s room to hand her a gift, a surprised look came over her face. As she opened it, which turned out to be an adult coloring book with colored pencils, a big smile appeared.
“This is surprising and feels good, it’s really sweet,” Leslie said.
“She loves drawing so this is the perfect,” her mother Liz said.
D.J. said this kind of reaction is one of the reasons why he donates year after year.
“It reminds me of him (Emmanuel); his positivity, his kindness,” he said. “It makes it all worthwhile.”
