COMPLETED PROJECTS

​​Many things are beyond the control of those who spend time on the Pediatric Unit at

Walter Reed. Our vision has always been to help create a protected space designed

specifically to support patients and family during the hardest days of their lives. With the

​support of so many, Mission:M4 is proud to share its  accomplishments.
Operation Toy Box: As a government entity, Walter Reed hospital cannot solicit donations. Consequently, the children’s unit does not have the advantage of privately funded hospitals that regularly receive large donations of toys. For that reason, the playroom became tired and without the excitement of the wonderful new toys that were entering the market. Mission:M4’s first project was to provide new toys for the playroom on the unit and for the children too sick to leave their room. It started with lots of donations from caring people. 
Since that time, a partnership was  formed with Hasbro Toys who now ships “pallets” of new toys on an “As Needed” basis. Since that time, the hospital totally renovated the room making it bright and easily manageable for children and their families to spend time together outside the confines of the hospital room. The children can do crafts, play games and work with building toys to relax. Imagine a very sick child having tons of toys to pick from when they need a smile? The kids at WRNMMC do!
Operation Entertainment: ​Without televisions in patient rooms, Mission knew they had another project. With the help of America Adopts A Soldier, all of the rooms in the pediatric unit suddenly had Play Stations and games. What a difference it made for the children. Even feeling under the weather, the children found they could still smile and have fun. The project was so successful that Mission:M4 provided Disc Players for the sedation unit to divert a child’s mind when waiting for a procedure. It used to be scary to wait for everyone to get things ready, but now their attention is diverted by music, a story or other available DVD options. ​It was not long before Mission realized that the children getting infusions had nothing to keep them busy while going through hours of treatment. Mission:M4 continued marching and provided Play Stations for the children to keep them busy. Now, as soon a child enters the unit, they ask for the remote. Another Mission accomplished.
Operation Art Exhibit: In late spring of 2019 a 10-year-old girl was transferred to Walter Reed for treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a condition that often keeps patients in a hospital for extended periods of time. Mazie, our given name, was diagnosed in Okinawa and struggled to connect with her new team at Walter Reed. Searching for a way to help Mazie build trust in her new environment, staff turned to art.  With Mazie’s love of art, she came up with a theme, set a due date, and hung a submission folder on her hospital room door. The program was an immediate success with enough entries to change the exhibit every 2 weeks and taking up walls in the unit. Spontaneously, morale dramatically improved with art simply taped to the hospital walls, obviously unsustainable in a medical environment.  The art show became known as “Mazie’s Project” when she was finally released. Knowing the impact of the program, staff began searching for ways to make the show a permanent part of the unit and continue the sense of peace, security, and tranquility the program brought. Mission:M4, The Walter Reed Society, Geico Insurance and another donor marched in, and “Mazie’s Project” became a reality. Custom made magnetic display boards were designed to accommodate a permanent exhibit. Mission:M4 was thrilled to be a part of “Mazie’s Project” which is now a permanent part of the Pediatric Unit at Walter Reed.
Operation Jungle: Over time it became clear that the physical environment in the Pediatric Unit had a much bigger effect on the children than anticipated. Staff realized that any expansion of “Mazie’s Project” could help even the newest patients settle in. Putting lots of heads together, Mission:M4 became a partner in another exciting project, even bigger than the art shows. Why did walls in the unit have to be grey??? In fact, they didn’t. The challenge became, what should we do with the walls that would be soothing…. animals were the answer. An extremely talented artist was found, just as talented contractors were found and after months of work, the ordinary walls of the unit were transformed into an extraordinary display of life-sized jungle animals. The bright colored custom designed murals were covering all the public walls of the unit. Individual pieces of art with the animals have been placed in treatment rooms and the playroom. Operation Jungle has turned the unit into Operation Smile for every person that enters the unit. This project created a protected space designed specifically to support patients and family during the hardest days of their lives. 
The bright colored custom designed murals were covering all the public walls of the unit. Individual pieces of art with the animals have been placed in treatment rooms and the playroom. Operation Jungle has turned the unit into Operation Smile for every person that enters the unit. This project created a protected space designed specifically to support patients and family during the hardest days of their lives. 
Operation Family: When families bring their very ill children to the hospital, it’s difficult to leave their side and often no place to go. Children can be confined to their rooms for days or more leaving loved ones with few places to be other than to sit in a chair in their child’s room…. whether the child is in the room or out for tests or a procedure. Enter Mission:M4. With the help of staff, Mission:M4 was able to secure a room within the pediatric unit to make a lounge. 
The sun filled space has been transformed into a family lounge with a refreshment area, including a microwave, a fridge and a coffee machine.  There is a large TV, a place to eat, fun art on the walls and even a work area with computers, a printer and scanner. This Family Room allows a parent to stay close by, in touch with family and keep up with work. The lounge provides a private place for families to meet with doctors, as well, away from the patient. They can even catch a nap. Mission:M4 is appreciative of so many donors who helped to make this happen.
For Mission:M4’s major on-going project please see tab:
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ON GOING PROJECTS