At age 13, Olivia Messina was stuck in the hospital during her favorite time of year. 

"It was very close to the holiday season, I celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah because of my parents, and my birthday is also Dec. 22nd," Messina said. "So I was not a fan of being in the hospital at that time” 

Messina had surgery because she was having issues walking and her knee would lock up for weeks at a time. 

“I had what was called a derogation osteotomy," she said. "I have a plate and five screws in my ankle because my tibia was turned 25 degrees from the correct position."

After her surgery, in an effort to brighten her spirits, she had her mom hang string lights around her hospital room bed. 

"The lights help me feel that piece of home I was missing," she said. "The sense of holiday cheer that was missing from my dark hospital room.” 

When it came time for Messina to leave the hospital, she decided to give her lights to the boy who was staying across the hall. 

"I had made him a card and I even remember writing out a little set of rules for the nurses, like 'these are the rules for the lights, they have to get passed around, as people get discharged it goes to another person,'”  she laughed. 

This interaction inspired her to start an official nonprofit, Lights For Kids. 

Five years later, Lights For Kids has gifted more than 3,000 sets of lights to 29 children’s hospitals in 22 different states. 

"In past years, it has really picked up and it has turned into probably 20 boxes worth of lights donated each year,” she said. "This year, I predict honestly closer to 30 or 40, so that is really exciting for me." 

Lights for kids is always accepting donations through their website. 

“It is a really nice feeling but it's not about me feeling nice," she said. "It’s about helping the kids feel better in the time when they are struggling to feel healthy and happy themselves.”