‘It’s more important than ever’: Local tradition shines bright amid dark times

Posted: Mar 26, 2020 / 12:07 AM EDT / Updated: Mar 26, 2020 / 12:07 AM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) ─ It’s a nightly tradition in the city of Providence.

Good Night Lights: A reminder to the young patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital they aren’t alone during their stay.

“I think it’s more important than ever,” Good Night Lights founder Steve Brosnihan said of Wednesday night’s display.

As the world grapples with the developing news surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, Brosnihan and about a dozen other people took a night off from worrying to show their support for the young patients.

Parked facing Hasbro, they flashed their headlights toward the hospital for what’s been coined “The Magic Minute.” In return, some of the hospital’s young patients flickered their room lights.

“I think it’s more important than usual because things are very limited in the hospital right now, as far as visiting and creative services,” Brosnihan said.

Brosnihan said it is a very different time to be in the hospital than it was just a few weeks ago.

It’s been more than two weeks since Lifespan suspended patient visitation at all of its hospitals due to the coronavirus. At Hasbro, a modified policy was put in place to allow for the accompaniment of one parent.

“To have something to look forward to, to know people are out here doing their best to comply with all the rules that are currently in place, and yet, still finding a way to get them [Hasbro patients] some hope with this signal,” Brosnihan said.