During this last hospital stay, we had lots of time to talk to several of the Child Life Specialists, Case Managers, charge nurses, nurses on the Hematology/Oncology/Transplant Floor of the hospital, where Rowan was inpatient for nearly 3 weeks. I asked them for ideas regarding new things we could donate to the hospital, that would help the parents the most, as well as what specific needs they had for the kids right now. It was one positive of being admitted again...brainstorming ways we can make Rowan's Foundation bless more people.
The Emergency Room Staff and Child Life Staff expressed their need for new electronic toys to keep children distracted during long waits and not so pleasant procedures or pokes. They asked for children's play laptops, infant/toddler crib soothers and aquariums, a well as other lights and sounds electronic toys. They also needed more toiletry kits for the parents, especially the Moms. Finally, they said that the newborn infant care kits that we provided previously were a big hit and would be nice to have again.
In talking to the Oncology/Transplant Staff, we discussed the need for more single use laundry detergent and fabric softener for the patient/parent laundry room. It is the only floor of the hospital where a parent can do laundry, and it is such a blessing! We were there 19 days this time, and since we live an hour away and Brian travels for work, sometimes I run out of Rowan's special blankets or clothes for myself. I know that this stay alone, I used the washer and dryer 3 times. It was a life-saver. The staff also asked for toiletry kits for parents, as well as some "commissary" types items that parents request from time to time. Then, through our brainstorming, a new idea was born as well... one I am very excited about. See, some newly diagnosed patients and their parents head straight from a doctor's appointment to the hospital, where they may stay weeks in a row, starting their initial chemotherapy and treatment plan. They arrive at the hospital unprepared for such a long stay, so the nurses and I came up with a list of items that would bless them, a sort of "new diagnosis parent kit". One nurse had the brilliant idea for me to pack it all in an individual sterilite tub with a handle, so they could reuse that tub to transport their child's meds back and forth to and from the hospital, home and the doctor's office. These kits were fun to make up, and will be so useful to the parents of these newly diagnosed oncology and transplant patients. They include a notepad and pen (to start writing down information that the doctors share/questions you may have for the doctors etc), a washable laundry bag and detergent, a reusable water bottle, clorox wipes for wiping down the tables and shelves in your room in between daily housekeeping visits, hand lotion and chapstick (if you have ever stayed in a cold/dry hem/onc unit for any length of time, you know that these are necessities), nail clippers, q-tips, combs/brushes and flossers,
Laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets...
Toiletry kits...
The general parent commissary item tub will also certainly come in handy. I filled this tub with items that aren't typically provided in the standard toiletry kits. Sometimes, these items may be needed by parents when the gift shop is closed, such as on nights and weekends. We included feminine products, shaving cream and razors for men and women, air fresheners, lint brushes, nail polish remover pads, and general medicines for things like headache, upset stomach, allergies etc., since obviously nurses cannot dispense these items to the parents of a patient. It is our hope that this little tub will bless multiple parents, who sometimes stay weeks on end, in one small section of the hospital, rarely able to leave their child even for a few minutes.I know I could have used some of these items on multiple occasions, during my 900 plus days in the hospital with Rowan.
Below are pictures of all of these items being delivered to the hospital today. Rowan went with me after his clinic appointment, but he was too neutrapenic to go inside the hospital. The Child Life Staff met me outside with carts were so grateful.
We know these items will bless many patients and even more parents this time, which is such a fulfilling feeling. I look forward to hearing feedback from the staff, to see how well they go over with the parents, to hopefully hear about more ways we can bless them, and I definitely can't wait for our next donation project...Art for Easter, coming soon...
