Hospital Spreads Christmas Cheer

LANCASTER — The Antelope Valley Medical Center continued the holiday tradition of its annual tree lighting ceremony, Monday.

The ceremony took place at 4:30 p.m., outside the main hospital entrance and was kicked o! with an introduction from Chief Executive O"cer Edward Mirzabegian.

“I’m glad all of you are here to join with me to light this particular beautiful tree,” he said.

Community members were encouraged to participate by joining the livestream on the hospital’s Facebook page. Those in attendance were primarily hospital faculty and sta!, all of whom wore masks.

The Christmas tree was planted in front of the hospital in 1994 in remembrance of Ricky and Fillipa Moore.

Fillipa Moore was diagnosed, as an infant with cystic #brosis, a disease that a!ects the lungs and digestive tract. Her other siblings were tested for the disease because it is also hereditary and the hospital discovered her older brother Ricky had it, as well.

Deborah Ogan, a charge nurse in the pediatrics department at the hospital, said Ricky Moore became a part of the hospital. He attended sta! meetings and sat through training sessions while he was a patient.

“He came to my wedding,” she said. “He came in his little suit and he was very excited. I have pictures in my wedding album of me dancing with Ricky at our wedding.”

Fillipa Moore died at the age of four and Ricky Moore died at 16, in 1994.

“I’d like to think that Ricky would be up in our playroom ... and he would love to look out at this tree,” Ogan said.

Those who missed the event and would like to watch the lighting ceremony, can view the livestream on the hospital’s Facebook page @antelopevalleyhospital

rgarcia@avpress.com