 Cancer is traumatic for everyone, but especially for kids. City of Hope's Child Life program - including (from left to right) Rebecca Bergstrom, M.S., CCLS, Acting Chief of Pediatrics Judith K. Sato, M.D. and Jo Ann S. Namm, M.S. CCLS - helps them cope with the difficult times. |
City of Hope has always focused on caring not only for a patient’s physical needs, but for his or her psychosocial and emotional ones as well. When the patient is a child, that sort of holistic care becomes especially important.
Thanks to your generous support, City of Hope’s Child Life Program provides this kind of care for children from infants to teens.
“What does it mean to a child to be told You have leukemia?” asks program manager Jo Ann S. Namm. “They don’t understand. We explain what’s happening, and what to expect from the various procedures they may face.
“We use teaching dolls, books and other therapeutic tools, depending on what’s appropriate for each child. At times we will accompany them to a procedure as well.”
“Our goal is to alleviate fear and distress,” Namm says. “When a child knows what to expect, they are much more confident and empowered to cope with treatment.”
“We’re often told we’ve helped parents feel better, too.”
Caring for a Whole Family
Namm, a certified child-life specialist, founded the Child Life Program four years ago. She credits the support and vision of Judith K. Sato, M.D., now acting chair of City of Hope’s Division of Pediatrics, and Dr. James Miser, former CEO of City of Hope’s National Medical Center, as instrumental in getting the program started.
Last fall, City of Hope expanded into an important new area: caring for the children of adult hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplant patients. “Not many places have a program like this one,” Namm explains. “This is one area in which City of Hope is really forging ahead.”
The Child Life Program also helps prepare children to visit their parents in the intensive-care unit. “Visiting an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can be extremely traumatic for a child,” Namm says. “‘What are those machines? Is Mommy ever going to get better?’ ICU is frightening for children who don’t know what to expect.”
All this work is done by the Child Life Program’s two full-time employees, Namm and child-life specialist Rebecca Bergstrom. The two are an essential part of City of Hope’s health care team, and an example of how your support of City of Hope touches the lives of cancer patients and their families alike.
March is “Child Life Month,” which recognizes the contribution of child life professionals to the well-being of children and their families. Your generous
partnership with City of Hope has helped our Child Life Program become a model for providing compassionate care to children and families. Thank you for caring so much!
