As I have mentioned before, one of Rowan's favorite things to do during his hospital stays, is art. Whether it is painting, building, drawing, or making crafts, it brings him normalcy and so much joy. This is why we donate more art supplies and art kits than anything else to patients at the hospital, and why we have our "Arts for Easter" giving program. Many of Rowan's best friends from the hospital are the ones he has met in the play room, while doing art projects. So, we definitely have seen the benefits of art in the hospital.
Methodist Children's Hospital recently added an art therapist to their staff again. She is a part of another non-profit called "Tracy's Kids", whose mission is to provide young cancer patients and their families cope with the emotional stress and trauma of cancer and its treatments. In speaking with the new art therapist recently, about ways we could help her program, and discussing what her current needs are...the main thing we discussed was how easy it is for her to set up art therapy projects in the play room for kids who are mobile and well enough to leave their room, but unfortunately, for the ones whose counts aren't high enough, who aren't permitted to or don't feel well enough to leave their room, it becomes more difficult to serve those patients. So, I worked with Courtney, the art therapist, at clinic during one of Rowan's recent long infusion days, and came up with a solution...the first ever "Tracy's Kids Art Therapy Cart donated by The Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation".
I was so excited, that I emailed the foundation board members right away, purchased the cart and supplies, and had it all at my house ready to put together and deliver in less than a week! That is how excited Rowan and I, and the board members of our foundation were about this project. Then came the fun part...
Last Saturday, Ian and Rowan put the industrial cart together for me...
Then we added storage tubs for all of the art supplies...
And hooks and pouches to carry smaller arts and crafts supplies...
And finally, the finishing touch, the signage...
(yes, this logo is Rowan as an infant:)
Rowan was so excited to deliver the art therapy cart this past week, when he went to clinic for his weekly lab work. He typically is too tired to even walk into clinic on his own. We almost always have to push him in his medical stroller. But not that day! He couldn't contain his excitement, so he pushed the cart from the car, through the parking garage, down the sky walk, up to the 5th floor, and into clinic...all by himself:)
The art therapist, and the clinic and hospital staff were equally as excited to receive the donation. The general consensus was, "Oh Rowan, the kids are gonna get such good use out of that!". We all can't wait to see Courtney pushing the cart all around the hospital, in and out of patient rooms, bringing art projects to them, but more importantly, bringing joy to them.
Rowan was thrilled to be delivering this donation.
And this was such an amazing collaboration, that we can't wait to help Courtney, Tracy's Kids, and the Art Therapy Program at Methodist Children's Hospital even more in the future.
The hugs from the staff, spoke volumes as to the good that Rowan's foundation is doing.
And I cannot wait to post future pictures of the room-bound hospital patients utilizing the Art Therapy Cart!
