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Valley doctor buys children's book for patients at Phoenix Children's Hospital

Published  December 7, 2018 4:21pm MST
FOX 10 Phoenix

PHOENIX (KSAZ) -- You may know him by his voice, but Rich Berra, one of the hosts of the KZZP-FM (Kiss FM) radio program Johnjay & RIch Show, is back this holiday season with a heart-warming children's book.

All of the book's proceeds will go to his non-profit, the #LoveUp foundation. On Friday, Berra himself came out to read to the pediatric patients at Phoenix Children's Hospital, and a friend of Berra, Dr. Mehdi Mazaheri, made sure the kids got to walk away with those books for free.

Dr. Mazaheri did so by footing the bill himself.

"I never thought this would happen," said Berra. He said he used to make up bedtime stories for his kids.

"If they like it, maybe I should write it down for them," said Berra. Little did Berra know that one day, he would be able to get one of them published, and make a difference by reading it to other children, including those at PCH.

The book, called the "Tale of Christmas Steve", is a story about a small elf with a big heart.

"I don't think enough reading is being done today," said Dr. Mazaheri. "It's basically, you're on the internet, you're on the phone."

Dr. Mazaheri has two children of his own. He works as a plastic surgeon in Scottsdale, and at PCH. He donated $1,000 worth of Berra's books to the pediatric patients at PCH.

"Kids, to me, are very magical, very innocent. This is why I like being at PCH, taking care of our injured trauma kids. Any chance I get to help out children, I want to do so," said Dr. Mazaheri.

Berra said he also doesn't take a penny from his book sales.

"I thought the best way to do it, if I publish it, I don't need any money for it," said Berra. "What if we could do something with it, where the funds go to help our foundations."

Berra said his foundation grants wishes to children and families in need. Whether its buying furnaces, paying rent or groceries, Berra says he wants to spread the love.

Berra also said he is working on a second book, called "Christmas Steve meets Christmas Carol".