Superheroes Visit a Massachusetts Hospital

Patients in Charlestown’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital obtained a private record of Boston Comic Con on Tuesday, when Spider-man, Batman, Wonder Woman and other iconic superheroes paid the hospital a trip.

Organizers of the Boston Comic Con convention, scheduled for the weekend of August 11-13, attracted superheroes from charity cosplay group “Causeplayers New England” to the rehab hospital Tuesday afternoon, providing patients young and old a chance to pose for photographs and chat with the characters.

“It has been really cool to see all of them here and see the patients light up,” said Isabella Sullivan, whose uncle Paul DiPanfilo is recovering at the hospital. “I think he actually enjoys it because he enjoys watching the films and things,” she added.

Kalluri, confined to a wheelchair, is recovering from a spinal cord injury.

“It’s so much fun,” Kalluri said, adding that he watches “all of the movies.”

Characters such as Iron Man, Captain America and Black Widow walked around in full costume, joyfully deflecting patients suffering acute injury-related impairments.

Thirteen-year-old Michael Sassine, of Framingham, ready for the superheroes by dressing like Clark Kent. With his right arm, of which he still has control, Sassine revealed a Superman shirt hiding beneath his button-up.

Sassine’s mother said her son lost control of most of his limbs when a lung disease caused him to have many strokes. He had been induced into a coma and put on a breathing machine, finally losing control of all limbs but his right arm.

The “Causeplayers” said regarding the delight of any and all fans is what pushes their charity.

“It is so significant, like I can not describe in words what coming into a place like this, or even just doing an event in a park in Boston, actually means to me and to my cosplayers,” said Wonder Woman, Alize Cordell.

Cordell became leader of the charity team this past year, when a friend who originally got her to the world of cosplay decided to pass the flashlight. She says that the group has functioned organizations such as the Special Olympics and the Jimmy Fund, and their genres are expanding to princesses and Harry Potter.

“If somebody needs us, we’ll find a way to make it work, or find a cosplayer to make it work,” Cordell said.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Center in Charlestown is operated under Partners HealthCare, a nonprofit that operates several Massachusetts hospitals.

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