Sioux Falls Boy’s Legacy Honored At Sanford Children’s Hospital

A new addition to the Sanford Children’s Hospital is honoring the memory of a Sioux Falls boy while also giving young patients a chance to take their minds off their illness and have fun.

Truman’s Closet will officially be revealed at 4 p.m. today at Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls. The redesigned space features special costumes perfectly chosen for each child and will offer a magical experience with customized lights, sounds and mirrors.

Truman’s Closet is named after Truman Pins, who died in 2017 at 13 months old. Pins received care at Sanford Children’s Hospital, and his family wanted to find a way to keep his memory alive while also making an impact on other children’s lives who needed to spend time at the hospital.

Truman’s grandparents, Jud and Denise Pins, provided a gift to help build the closet and stock it with a rotating supply of costumes and dress-up clothes and accessories. They also established an endowment to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Truman’s name.

“Our grandson overcame a lot in his short life, and we know there are many other children going through similar battles,” said Jud Pins. “We want kids to be able to be kids, and hopefully spending a few hours at Truman’s Closet will put a smile on their face and joy in their heart.”

“This is a wonderful gift from the Pins’ family, given out of love, that will bring joy to all kids who step foot into Truman’s Closet,” said Ashley Flynn, major gifts officer with the Sanford Health Foundation. “This is a personal and special story to share, and we are so grateful Truman’s story will live on for all to see.”