Tony

SUPERPOWER: Making it easier to be in the hospital  

Tony Gajak wants to help. He’s the kind of guy who pulls over to assist a stranger changing a tire. Called to serve, his career included stints as a Marine, an EMT and a police officer. Now retired, he spends one day a week volunteering with the Child Life team at Children’s Health.   

Volunteering with Child Life allows Tony to repay a bit of the care and comfort his family received nearly 30 years ago when his baby daughter, Taylor Brook, was at the hospital fighting an aggressive brain tumor before she passed away at just 6 months old.  

“Being in the hospital with a sick child was really hard, but I still remember how great everyone was at Children’s Health,” he said. “The way they took care of our entire family had a tremendous impact on me.”   

His focus at Children’s Health these days is making life in the hospital a little easier for patients and their families. That can mean spending time with patients, escorting families around the hospital or freeing up the nurses and staff to take care of other work. 

He never tires of the way patients react when he shows up at their door. At first, some are a little wary because they are not sure if the tall guy with a goatee standing outside their hospital room is there to give them a poke or insert an IV. But when he asks them what they want to play with, the mood lightens. 

“I’ve had kids just lose their minds when I bring in the toys,” he said. “One little guy got so excited that he popped up out of bed and ran around his room, which made his mom laugh. Seeing their child just be a kid for a little while can be a real comfort to parents.” 

The more time Tony spends at Children’s Health, the more he appreciates the dedication of the entire team.  

“Whether cleaning the room, bringing the food, dealing with insurance or providing hands-on care, everyone at Children's Health feels like they have a role in helping each patient get better. Parents can feel it, too, and it gives them confidence that their child is in the right place,” he said. 

The opportunity to be part of something bigger than himself is why Tony has been volunteering for nearly seven years.  

“Being at Children’s Health is the highlight of my week,” he said. “I feel like I’m part of the care team and the games, art supplies and activities I dispense are a different kind of medicine.” 

Choose Children's Health

Tony volunteers with the Children's Health Child Life team to give patients a bright spot during their treatment journeys.

Join Tony in choosing Children's Health by donating, advocating or volunteering.