Children's Hospital hosts winter carnival for young patients

 The lobby of Children's Hospital was transformed into a winter carnival Wednesday.

Young patients facing illness that makes them wise beyond their years were reminded that they are still kids.

Jacqueline Perez, 13, of Waukesha didn't even know it was happening until someone knocked on her hospital room door and said she should come down and make a gingerbread house.

She was diagnosed with leukemia in September. She had managed to get home after some treatments, but she's back after a fever hit.

All she wants for Christmas are some white blood cells.

\"Hopefully I can to grow some to be with my family for Christmas,\" Perez told CBS 58 News.

This is an annual tradition for hospital workers. They set up various stations for arts and crafts. Ornaments for trees wound up on many IV stands instead.

\"It was unexpectedly that we came,\" explained Perez who dove into the festivities with her mother. \"But I'm glad we did.\"

She had to wear a mask to protect her from infection, but you could see the smile in her eyes.

Trevion Williams and his brother Alonzo are both in the hospital for complications from Asthma.

Their grandmother also recently died, but their mother says they still have to celebrate the season, even if it means in the hospital.

\"It's been rough,\" Sheila Williams admits. \"You have to be thankful regardless and celebrate. So, that's what I'm doing.\"

Olivia Gachk of Sussex is fighting cancer at the tender age of 11. She's already undergone a long list of procedures and faces her toughest battle in January when she has a bone marrow transplant.

\"We want to make it as best as we can for her,\" her mother Jennifer explained. \"So that she has something good and positive to hold onto when she goes through a more trying ordeal after the holidays.\"

 Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is the region's only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. 

The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wis., is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States.

 It is ranked No. 4 in the nation by Parents magazine and ranked in all 10 specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report's 2014-15 Best Children's Hospitals report. Children's provides primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. 

In 2012, Children's invested more than $117 million in the community to improve the health status of children through medical care, advocacy, education and pediatric medical research. 

Children's achieves its mission in part through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is proud to be a member of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.