A Lion's Den within the Community

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Aug 29th 2005, 4:15pm By queenseyes

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National Hockey League Hall of Famer, former Buffalo Sabres Captain and close friend to children throughout Western New York, Pat LaFontaine along with Tom & Heather Golisano, Sabres Alumni and current team players gathered for the opening of the Lion's Den at Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo on Monday, Aug. 29. A state-of-the-art interactive computer and game room for patients at Women & Children's Hospital, the Lion's Den is designed to provide a sanctuary where children can escape the pressures of having a serious illness or injury. This Lion's Den is only the second hospital playroom of its kind and features four XBOX games, personal computers with Internet access and a privacy pod with a web cam and extra large monitor with video conferencing capability to allow patients and their families to communicate directly with friends, family and others anywhere outside the hospital walls. The $300,000 necessary to create the Lion's Den was provided by Tom & Heather Golisano, Pat LaFontaine's Companions in Courage Foundation and the Buffalo Sabres. Monies were raised during the Companions in Courage celebrity hockey game, tournament and dinner weekend held in December 2004. The celebrity hockey game included several Buffalo Sabres Alumni, current NHL stars and other well-known personalities including actor Michael J. Fox and comedian Dennis Leary. "Opening this Lion's Den is truly my dream come true for the patients here at Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo, many of whom I've had the pleasure to meet and become friends with over the years," said Pat LaFontaine. "I established Companions in Courage for just this purpose - to help children feel more comfortable during a very difficult time in their lives."

The Lion's Den is located in the 9th floor inpatient unit for surgical patients, although it is accessible by any patient admitted at Women & Children's Hospital.

Photo caption: Patient Nathan Smith, age 10, and his mother Julie are joined by Pat LaFontaine as they play one of the XBOX games in the new Lion's Den at Women & Children's Hospital.

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