Seattle, WA

Seattle Children's Hospital uses video games to help treat patients

Published

1 year ago

December 6, 2024

Seattle Children's Hospital uses video games to help treat patients

Seattle Children’s uses video games to help with cancer treatment

Seattle Children’s Hospital is turning to video games to help patients get through cancer treatment, offering accessible entertainment and a healthy distraction during an otherwise painful process.

SEATTLE – Seattle Children’s Hospital is turning to video games to help treat patients.

Hospital staff said it provides accessible entertainment for patients and a healthy distraction during the worst of their treatments.

FOX 13 Seattle met with a young patient, Aria McDonald, who says Mario Kart helped her through cancer.

“There’s a lot of low lows to go through, you know, there’s a lot of scary times,” said Patrick McDonald, Aria’s dad. “You just have to get through. We were getting through day to day.”

Like a lap around Mario Kart Stadium, this journey came with its own set of obstacles Aria had to push through.

“It was just depressing,” Aria said. “You just sit there, getting chemo, medications. You don’t feel good, and it’s just sad.”

“I was shocked — shocked was the first thing that came in,” Patrick said. “You never want to hear, you never even want to think that your child has cancer.”

For the last three years of her young life, Aria has been battling high-risk neuroblastoma.

“It starts as a tumor above the pituitary gland, and it spreads,” said Cecily McDonald, Aria’s mom. “So, with Aria — it had spread all over. It also causes fractures within some of your bones. It causes a lot of pain.”

At one point, Aria’s cancer treatment plan became so intense, she had a three-month stay at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

“We were able to get that tumor out and then chemo started repairing her bones and getting the tumors out of the fractures,” Cecily said. “It just really started shrinking all of that. When she had her bone marrow transplant, that was very intense but it got all of that out of her bone marrow.”

Between surgeries and high-potency medications, life in the hospital was taking a toll on Aria emotionally and mentally.

“The hardest part was not getting to interact as much as I used to,” Aria said.

“Often times, it’s yes, you do lose hope — and you are at a point where you can’t go another second, but you just remember there’s so many people cheering for her and supporting our family,” Cecily said.

In her final lap for the cup, the Seattle Children’s team introduced Aria to competitive video games in hopes of lifting her spirits.

“There was nothing really to do, so we just started gaming and setting up tournaments,” Aria said.

Aria would play with her nurses, her care team and just about anyone who was prepared to take on her signature Mario character of choice — Blue Shy Guy.

“It just changed everything,” Cecily said. “Even when she was getting these intensive therapies, she’s still playing.”

Instead of walking laps around the hospital wing, Aria was burning rubber underwater and in the sky.

“It was just so exciting to see her jump around the bed and be excited to play, just dance, and absolutely shellac people against the wall in Mario Kart,” said Maximillian Williams, therapeutic gaming specialist, Seattle Children’s Hospital.

At Seattle Children’s, the hospital has a dedicated department for therapeutic video games and technology for patient care.

“We have close to a million dollars in video game technology, easily,” Williams said. “We have a hundred consoles, I’d say live on the floors in carts, between outpatient and standalones and consoles to put in the units.”

So that even on their worst days, patients have something to look forward to.

“[Some of] these are huge, cinematic award-winning [games] — with a script, some with writing awards,” Williams said. “Really big, giant stories that you can sink your teeth into and go into this journey with this character.”

Before they knew it, Aria was pulling into first place, ready to cross her finish line to recovery.

In February, she rang the bell — signifying the completion of her cancer treatment. It’s Aria’s own version of a checkered flag at the end.

“It was really awesome, because I was done with all of the treatments,” Aria said.

“Her whole care team was there,” Patrick said. “And it’s just a feeling that she did it, and just thinking about all the people she had to go through to get there made it pretty special.”

Aria’s race doesn’t end here, she’s just getting started.

As of February, Aria is cancer-free.

She still goes to Seattle Children’s Hospital for a check-up every three months.

Aria is still a fierce competitor on the Mario Kart track, even taking part in online tournaments.

Seattle Children’s told FOX 13 Seattle they have more than a million dollars worth of video game equipment at the hospital. That’s thanks to partnerships they have with different organizations like Starlight Foundation and even Nintendo.

They have consoles and games for all ages to suit any child’s interests.

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Seattle, WA

How the Seahawks got their name 50 years ago

Published

59 minutes ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

How the Seahawks got their name 50 years ago

STEILACOOM, WA – Fifty years ago, the Seattle Seahawks got its name through a radio competition where fans got the chance to choose a name.

“I think it’s the best name ever,” said Tom Barnum.

In 1975, Barnum learned he would have a chance to name the new Seattle NFL team.

He tells FOX 13 Seattle he sent in a few suggestions, including sockeyes, ospreys, mariners (this competition was two years before the Seattle Mariners’ first season), but we all know what came out is the winner: The Seahawks.

According to the Seahawks, the organization received more than 20,000 entries and nearly 1,741 different suggestions.

Barnum was one of about 150 people who entered the name Seahawks.

As acknowledgment for his suggestion, the newly named Seahawks organization sent Barnum a personalized team yearbook/program, as well as two complimentary tickets for the season.

This year, Barnum was recognized again. The Beast Bus Family learned his story and got Barnum, his sons, and his grandson tickets to the Hawks game versus the Colts in December.

Courtesy of the Beast Bus Family

The good, the bad, and the ugly

The Seahawks received nearly 2,000 team name suggestions. Some of them make sense, others have to be satire.

Here is a list alphabetically of all the names the Seahawks listed as other suggestions from the 1975 contest.

A

Aardvarks, Aleuts, Aero-Techs, About Timers, Anchovies, Alkis, Asters Domes, Abominable Snowmen, Alki Ants, Apple Knockers, Aqua-Ducks;

B

Bigfoots, Blue Sounders, Bunyan, Bumbershoots, Buffalo Chips, Belaying Pins, Billy Goats, Buzz Saws, Bronze Bobcats, Bay Hawks;

C

Catamounts, Clouds, Cloudbursts, Clam Diggers, Cool Dudes, City Slickers, Cockatoos, Cumulo Nimbos, Crabs, Cutthroats, Chowderheads, Chinook Passers;

D

Daffy Ducks, Domebusters, Diarrheas, Dogwoods, Drizzlers, Ding Dongs, Dreadnaughts;

E-F

Electric Loggers, Ferrys, Flounders, Frogs, Fruits Pickers, Flying Wedges, Ferrets;

G

Green State Geoducks, Green Giants, Go-E-Ducks, Gnomes;

H

Hammerheads, Harpooners, Halibut Heads, Herman’s Hermits, Hydrofoils;

I

Ichi Ban, Identified Flying Objects, Igloos;

K

Koala Bears, Killer Whales, Kelpers, Kilowatts, King Krabs;

L-M

Lucky Loggers, Microwaves, Mongooses, Major Domos, Montlakes;

N

Nibblers, Nutcrackers, Nordy’s Best, Nanuks;

O

Orangutans, O-Zones;

P

Peckerwoods, Pachyderms, Playwrights, Puget Puffers, Puddle Jumpers, Pacific Crests, Pike Street Misfits, Plimsoll Marks, Peacemakers;

Q

Queen City Quinaults, Quicksands;

R

Rainbirds, Rainy Ramblers, Rain-Dears, Running Salmon, Raining Suns, Rain Gods, Rainbeams, Red Tide, Roaches, Roosters, Royal Broughams, Roostertails, Rain-Beaux, Rain Hawks;

S

Sodbusters, Sounders, Spunkies, Spittoons, Sea Urchins, Salty Dogs, Sheep, 747’s, Silver Sasquatches, Skeletons, Sardines, Sperm Whales, Sleazies, Sonics, Snowflakes, Sourdoughs, Squids, Snorkels, Sinbads, Salamanders, Sun Dodgers, Scoundrels, Shamans, Sky Hawks, Stiletoes, Space Needlers, Scampi, Superscenics, Sawdust Eaters, Spodiodees, Soggies, Saints ‘n Sinners, Shrimps;

T

Ticks, Tremites, Toads, Third Degree;

U & V

Undertow, Vampires;

W

Waumpums, Weather Beaters, Woodpeckers, Water Hawks, Washington Georges, White Roosters;

Y-Z

Yogas, Zonkers, Zodiacs.

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The Source: Information in this story came from the Seattle Seahawks, the Beast Bus Family, and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.

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How to watch Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers playoff game

Published

13 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

How to watch Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers playoff game

SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks are hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday in a prime time rivalry game in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.

This will be the Seahawks’ second consecutive game against the 49ers, having beaten them in Week 18 to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC, earning a first-round bye. They now meet again, this time with the winner advancing to the NFC Championship.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) is congratulated by head coach Mike Macdonald during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn

Keep reading for details on the Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game, and how to watch it live.

When is the Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game?

The Seahawks and 49ers will face off in the NFC Divisional Round at 5 p.m. PT on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Where is the Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game?

The Seahawks have homefield advantage after securing the #1 seed in the NFC, with the 49ers traveling to Lumen Field in Seattle.

What TV channel is the Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game on?

The Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game will air on FOX 13 in the Seattle area. You can watch Gameday on FOX 13 for pregame coverage and postgame analysis.

The game is also available to watch with a subscription to FOX One or NFL+.

What radio station is the Seahawks game on?

To listen to the game, fans can tune into Seattle Sports 710 AM, KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM, the Seahawks mobile app, SiriusXM 226, 225 or 88, and on the SiriusXM app.

Steve Raible and Dave Wyman will call the action with Jen Mueller as the sideline reporter.

More on the Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC after beating the 49ers in Week 18, winning 13-3 in a hard-fought defensive battle.

The teams now meet each other in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, after San Francisco took down the defending Super Bowl champions in the Wild Card Round, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Seahawks and 49ers also met at the beginning of the season, where the Niners came out on top 17-13. The Hawks are currently on a seven-game winning streak, but got a bye week as the No. 1 seed.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle named one of the most stressed, burned-out cities in the U.S. for work – MyNorthwest.com

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Seattle named one of the most stressed, burned-out cities in the U.S. for work – MyNorthwest.com

Seattle is among the most stressed-out, burned-out, anxious cities when it comes to its employment, according to a new study.

According to a new study from Compare the Market, Seattle ranked No. 2 in the U.S. for work stress and burnout. Only Atlanta ranked higher.

“Seattle comes in at No. 2 for the USA, but despite having a much lower score than Atlanta, its higher population of 780,995 and 2,498 searches per 100,000 people around anxiety-related searches still make it a very anxious city, with a score of 76.06,” the study wrote.

In the past year, workers in Seattle searched for “stress relief” more than 4,990 times, according to the study.

In the U.S., San Francisco, Denver, Boston, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Kansas City, and Portland rounded out the top 10. Three cities in Canada — Victoria, London, Ontario, and Ottawa — ranked above Seattle for most work-related stress and anxiety. San Francisco was close behind Seattle in the study’s ranking.

Researchers studied search terms related to work, such as “work burnout,” “work depression,” “work stress,” and “how to deal with work stress,” across all U.S. cities, compiling them into a point scale.

“Reducing work stress starts with creating a healthier work environment, where balance and support are prioritised,” Compare the Market General Manager Steven Spicer. “Simple steps like regular breaks, open communication, and mindfulness can go a long way in easing anxiety.”

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