The healing power of - Cook Children's

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Pictured from left to rightwith buddy bags donatedby Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer:Left side: Cook Children’sNurse Manager RhiannonMcDonnell, Wipe OutKids’ Cancer ProgramDirector Marla Shawand Cook Children’sChild Life Specialist AmyJohnson. Right side:Cook Children’s Child LifeSpecialist Kristie Opiola,Wipe Out Kids’ CancerCEO Evelyn Costelo andJersey Mike’s Subs AreaDirector-North TexasDalton Stewart.Buddy bags provide hope and supportto Fort Worth pediatric cancer patientsProgram benefits newly diagnosed patientsand their families at Cook Children’sEach year, more than 200 families in the Fort Wortharea receive devastating news that their child or siblinghas cancer. The diagnosis is usually accompanied by anunexpected and immediate admission to a pediatric medicalcenter for treatment, leaving families unprepared and withoutthe items needed for a lengthy hospital stay. With no timeto prepare or adjust, parents find themselves lost in a newworld of pediatric cancer, trying to comprehend the diagnosisand treatment options. Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer (WOKC) hasfound a way to support these families.Since June 1, children and families admitted to Cook Children’sHematology and Oncology department for cancer treatmentnow receive a Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer buddy bag filled withpersonal items needed for a stay at the medical center. “Itis our goal to ease the transition from home to hospital byproviding essential items in the buddy bag,” said EvelynCostolo, Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer CEO. “This bag is yetanother tool to help support these dear families.”The buddy bags are filled with more than 30 items,including basic toiletries such as a razor, toothbrush,shampoo, lip balm and deodorant. Comfort items suchas a pillow, blanket and gift card to the medical center’sStarbucks also come in handy, as do a journal and pen torecord thoughts and treatment notes, note cards and stampsto update friends and family, a coffee travel mug and a deckof cards. All items in the buddy bag have been includedbecause of a thoughtful collaboration by moms of kids withcancer. They have first-hand experience to know which itemsmight be needed during that time of crisis.“Families are so appreciative not only for the helpfulsupplies, but for the support they receive from their community,essentially strangers who want to help families who arestruggling to cope,” said Kristie Opiola, Cook Children’s ChildLife specialist. “Helpful items, like those in the buddy bags, givefamilies a chance to focus on the important things—their child.It also gives the family time to spend those first hours or daystogether without worrying about daily essentials.”To help make the buddy bags possible, the owner ofJersey Mike’s Subs, a sandwich franchise with 15 stores inthe DFW area, teamed up with WOKC. Together, they raised$75,000 for WOKC, providing the funding needed to bringthe buddy bag program to pediatric cancer patients andfamilies at Cook Children’s, as well as provide funding forresearch and new treatment options.14 Children’s Promise | The magazine of Cook Children’s
Jewel Charityand HenryHouse joinforces tobenefit teensPGA golfer J.J. Henry andJewel Charity are teaming upto help fund the new teen room inthe Child Life Zone area at Cook Children’sMedical Center. “I’m excited to be a part of aproject like this, where we are adding a cool,state-of-the-art teen lounge that will haveeverything a patient could ever want,” saidHenry. “It will bring joy to kids’ lives and inspirethem to persevere through whatever medicalissues they are facing. I love playing golf andwinning tournaments is a big dream of mine.But the Henry House Foundation brings memore happiness and satisfaction than anytrophy ever could. It is wonderful thatCook Children’s works hard to help kids gethealthy. If the Henry House Teen Room canbring happiness and a smile to just a couple ofkids, then I know my job has been done – notthe job of a professional golfer, but the job of agood community member.“CommunitypartnersJewel Charity members joined J.J. Henry, Cook Children’sMedical Center President Nancy Cychol (center) andColonial representatives for a check presentation.Celebrating 20 years with an open houseEmployees and friends celebrated an incredible patientfamily resource on June 15 – the anniversary of Cook Children’sEdwin G. Schwarz Health Sciences Library. For more thantwo decades, parents have used the library to research theirchildren’s medical conditions or other medical-related topics.The library, which opened in 1991, was named in honorof Edwin G. Schwarz, M.D., Fort Worth’s first pediatrician.Dr. Schwarz was instrumental in starting two Fort Worthhospitals to care for local children – the Children’s Clinic ofthe Fort Worth Relief Association and the Baby Hospital inFort Worth, known today as Cook Children’s Medical Center.At left: Seated: Pat and Herb SchwarzStanding: Dr. Schwarz’s grandchildren Gerry Schwarz,Kay Orth (children of Pat and Herb), Laura Campanelloand Edwin Schwarz III (children of Edwin Schwarz Jr.)Above: Laura Campanello and Kay Orth beneath the photoof their grandfather Dr. Schwarzwww.cookchildrens.org | Fall 2011 15
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The healing power of - Cook Children's

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