Arnold Palmer patients are conductors for a day through Brightline, Orlando Health partnership

ORLANDO, Fla. – Brightline hosted several patients of the Arnold Palmer children’s hospital and their families to be “a conductor for a day” as part of its ongoing partnership with Orlando Health.

Kelly Evans and her family spent their Saturday morning at Brightline’s “Base Camp.” Evans’ daughter, Gabby, had intestine failure a few years ago and is now hospital homebound.

“She’s a very social child. But it’s hard when you’re hospital homebound and you can’t go to school and things like that,” Evans said.

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Kids who were there Saturday learned the ins and outs of Brightline and what it takes to be a conductor.

“I can only imagine she’s sitting up there and these dimples are going to be a mile deep. It’s going to be amazing,” Evans said.

Gabby’s mom also said events like this help both of their daughters with their education.

“I’d like for them to have that that tangible, real human connection that really solidifies all the things that they would just learn in a book, especially Gabby’s experiences,” she said.

Jay Brock, events manager for Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, said he’s been able to build a special relationship with patients and their families over the years.

“So many of our families come to the hospital or go to their clinic weekly, monthly; a lot of them have compromised immune systems, so it’s hard for them to get out and do some of the normal things we have to offer in Orlando. But when companies come together like Brightline and offer these one-off amazing experiences, for some families to come out, they get peer interaction, they get to see something really cool in a safe environment. That really means a lot to the families,” he said. “I love seeing them participating in those everyday activities and that normalized childhood. That’s what’s so important to Orlando Health. Arnold Palmer Hospital is that our sick kids have a normal childhood.”