Super heroes visit Oakland hospital to save the day, lift children's spirits

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OAKLAND (KTVU) -- At UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland, a group of superheroes on Monday showed up to clean windows while also putting smiles on the faces of some of the sick children at the facility.

The worker dressed as The Flash found that he ended up smiling as well.

"They say hi (and) put their hand on the glass," said Franklin Mejia. "You feel happy, too."

The professional window washers ditched their usual work wear and changed into a cadre of comic book heroes, including Superman, Batman, the Flash and the Hulk. And faster than a speeding bullet, the group shimmied down the hospital windows.

The workers cleaned the glass while also bringing some much needed sparkle into the lives of the young patients who are being treated there.  Some of the patients are battling grave diseases and Clarissa, 5, is recovering from surgery.

"He shook his hand to me," she said.

"It was really exciting to see something after being in the room and being bored for a few days," said Laura Miguel, Clarissa's mother. "It made her really happy. It made her day." 

The idea for the super visitors was first put forth by Bob Kerns, who dresses as Iron Man and is the head of Mastercare, the hospital's window washing firm. 

"It slows the work down a little bit but it's really great for the kids (and) great for the parents," Kerns said. "They are going through a difficult time."

Hospital officials said the facility gets far more out of the superheroes than clean windows because its young patients can take their mind off of more serious concerns even if for just a few moments.

"It absolutely lifts their spirits," said hospital spokeswoman Katie Craft. "To see Batman hanging out the window is a great way to put a smile on their face." 

And the young patients aren't the only ones getting enjoyment out of their super encounters. The window washers, many of them with children themselves, take away some enjoyment of their own.

"You feel good because they are so happy when they see the superheroes," Mejia said. "A smile for a minute. But I feel happy for that."

The superheroes are planning their next adventure at a children's hospital in San Francisco in the spring.

By KTVU reporter Rob Roth.