The family of June Thomas, a 17-month-old baby going in for her fifth heart surgery, has started a toy drive to brighten the lives of children spending the holiday season at the hospital.

Doctors hope the Thursday surgery will fix a “severe leak” in her aortic valve.

Her father, Rick Thomas, is encouraging Santa Clarita residents to donate toys not only to his “June Bug,” but to all of the local children at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles over the holidays.

“We’ve been there, and stayed there before a bunch of times, and there’s always a bunch of kids that are displaced with their families,” Thomas said. “They’ve helped us out in the past and given so much to us, we just wanted to pay them back.”

Thomas praised the staff working at the pediatric hospital.

“The’ve done a great job at Children’s (Hospital LA),” he said. “We owe everything (to them). The surgeons, doctors and nurses. They all have done a great job.”

The toy drive idea came after the family initially called for blood donations and the community obliged. Thomas came up with the event as a way to pass on the holiday spirit.

“The toy drive is the biggest thing,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of people donating blood. It would be nice to get a bunch a stuff for the kids at Children’s (Hospital LA).”  

Those interested in donating can drop off unwrapped toys and gifts for children to the Route 66 Classic Grill, located at 18730 Soledad Canyon Road. June’s grandfather will be personally delivering them to the Ronald McDonald House on Christmas Eve.

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