Strangers send 18 pizzas to teen in hospital after seeing note on window
It was Cole Favro’s last day at the Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, New York, and he had just one last thing on his bucket list: an SOS for a pizza delivery.
The 18-year-old patient wrote a message with paint on an upper-floor window of the hospital that read, “SEND PIZZA TO 8 SOUTH ROOM 14.” Much to Favro and the hospital staff’s surprise, the impromptu note would get him 18 free pizzas delivered right to his room.
Favro was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and has been in and out of the hospital for treatment since. Over the years, the Golisano Children's Hospital and its staff have become a second family to the Churchville-Chili High School senior.
“They’ve done so much for me over the past 18 years that I’ve been here and they’re basically family at this point,” Favro tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “I’ve known them my whole life and they’ve done so much for me at the hospital.”
After turning 18 in December, he would no longer be able to receive care from the children’s hospital. Instead, he would continue receiving treatment as an adult at Highland Hospital. So, the high school senior wanted to host a pizza party as a parting gift for all the nurses and staff he had seen every two weeks over the years.
“I’d seen it done years ago and I always wanted to do it at least once,” says Favro, who wrote the message on Friday, April 19. “It was my last day at the children’s hospital, and I thought it was a fun way to say goodbye to all the nurses. I wanted to see if I could get a bunch of pizzas for a party.”
Favro’s message was heard by good samaritans loud and clear — he received his first pizza within the hour of writing the note on his window. Hours later, he was surprised when he continued receiving knocks on his door for even more pizza deliveries, along with interview requests from local news outlets.
“He asked for pizza by painting his room window. He got ALOT of pizza!” tweeted Mike Moss, a photographer from Spectrum News. “2 sheets last night. 3 sheets this morning. 10 larges since I have been here. 5 more sheets coming”
By Easter Sunday, Favro had received a wide array of pizzas from cheese and pepperoni to buffalo wing and meat lovers. He even received an order of cannolis for dessert.
“I didn’t think that I would get that many at all. I thought I might get one in the first week. I never thought I’d get 18 in two days,” says Favro. Needless to say, the pizza party was a huge success. “They were just as surprised as I was. They were really excited for me and the nurses definitely enjoyed having some pizza,” says the high school senior.
"We’re going to miss him. It’s been a fun 18 years,” physician Karen Voter told Spectrum News.
Favro says the he was touched that so many people in his community responded to his pizza request. “It feels great to know that people are looking out for kids in the hospital like me and that they care to send pizza up,” Favro tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “It made my day and I appreciate it so much. I’m very thankful for it.”
After graduating from Churchville-Chili High School, Favro also hopes to give back much like his community gave back to him. He plans to attend the College at Brockport, SUNY to major in dance with a minor in business. “I love dancing,” he says. “I’ve been dancing for four years. I’d like to get my master’s in dance therapy and help people with dance and give back.”
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