By Taylor Dungjen
The Blade
TOLEDO, Ohio — A plot by the diabolical Dr. Trickster to destroy Toledo’s happy Halloween was foiled Thursday by some little boys and girls who summoned the strength of a slew of superheroes.
The heroes rappelled from the roof of ProMedica Toledo Hospital, pausing at the fifth floor and signaling to the boys and girls — patients — who were watching in awe.
Dr. Trickster was taken into custody by members of the Toledo Police Department’s SWAT team, shown on a prerecorded video.
For about a month, staff at ProMedica and the SWAT team worked together to develop a plan that, ultimately, sent a dozen officers dressed in superhero costumes down the side of the hospital.
The officers saw videos and photos of window washers elsewhere dressed in costumes to surprise sick children, hoping to bring them some happiness, and thought they could do the same in Toledo, said Wolverine. Or, rather, said Officer Matthew Slaman, who was dressed as Wolverine.
The officers decided among themselves who would dress as which hero and prepared for their trips down.
“It was cool,” Officer Slaman said. “It was a lot of fun to see their faces light up, and hope it helps with the healing process.”
Standing in front of a large, floor-to-ceiling window, boys and girls in Halloween costumes pressed their faces and palms to the glass waiting for the heroes to come down. Every time they heard thuds outside, they’d start shouting their guesses.
“It’s Spider-Man!” one yelled.
“No, it’s Batman!” another said.
Spider-Man, who rappelled upside down, might have been the crowd favorite. The children sang the cartoon theme song — or at least the lines they knew — and flicked their wrists as if to shoot out their own webs. They pounded on the glass for high-fives, turned to one another, and totally freaked out.
“It was pretty cool,” said Nicholas Pinkstaff, 8, of Toledo.
For Nicholas the superheroes were extra special. For years he came to Toledo Hospital battling leukemia, said his father, Michael Pinkstaff. For each of those trips, he’d dress as a different superhero -- sometimes Batman, others Iron Man, then Spider-Man. His doctor, Dr. Crawford Strunk, would play the villain: Darth Vader, every time.
“He used the superheroes as a kind of way to get through his therapy,” Mr. Pinkstaff said.
Nicholas said pretending to be a superhero “kinda” gave him super strength to battle leukemia, which, today, he is cured of.
“Superheroes kind of helped me a little,” he said. “It helped me get through cancer because I stuck up to them.”
The officers participating included Sgt. Bill Shaner as Spider-Man, Robert Orwig as Captain America, Scott Williamson as Superman, Scott Mills as the Green Lantern, Matthew Slaman as Wolverine, Robert Kay as the Hulk, Gabe Greenwalt as Iron Man, John Winger as Thor, Kevin Dumas as Batman, and Kevan Toney, Justin Contreras, and Mitch Mielcarek as three of the Ninja Turtles.
Copyright 2014 The Blade