Winter 2008-2009 - Mayo Clinic

Carli Kramer’s story
Carli Kramer’s interest in Child Life services stems from
an experience as a teen growing up in Rochester. A friend
was treated for cancer at Mayo Clinic, and Kramer noticed
how Child Life services supported the family. She says
pursuing a career in the profession was “a small way to
honor my friend.”
Kramer works in the Emergency Department. “We
move at a quick pace, meeting families and assessing their
needs in a short time,” she says. “We prepare kids and
families for tests, procedures and surgeries and help them
through it. We do a lot with play and distraction, getting
even the youngest kids through tough procedures like
stitches and IVs.
Kramer tells about a young patient who had nursemaid’s
elbow. “She was in hysterics. I tried for 15 minutes to comfort
her,” says Kramer. “Then I brought in ‘The Little Mermaid’
DVD. The girl immediately stopped crying and chattered
nonstop about the characters she loved. She was treated
without a fuss. Sometimes simple things or just the right
familiar item make all the difference.”
The hardest part of the job, says Kramer, is when a child
dies. “It is one of the most humbling parts of what I do,” she
says. “A little boy died, and his parents needed time to say
goodbye. His 7-year-old brother was outside the room. I
asked him if he wanted to talk or do something. He spotted
Guitar Hero nearby and said he wanted to play. He showed
me how to play, and we laughed about my mistakes. I helped
him check out of what was going on in a healthy way. Kids
work through things differently, and play is a huge part of
it. It’s the ‘business of childhood’ and most often your
best way in.”
“Play teaches children how
to handle the world and is
the primary way in which they
relate to their environment.”
8 | Mayo Alumni Winter 2009