More donations for the patients and parents of Methodist Children's Hospital!

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...

2014 Christmas Comforts for Patients and Parents

The holidays are a time of year that most everyone looks forward to: Christmas shopping, spending time with family, big holiday meals, etc.  However, for some it's a time that they will be spending stuck inside a hospital.  We know all to well what that is like, having spent many a holiday in the hospital with Rowan.  When we aren't there, we truly count our blessings but still try to remember those who are.  So, every year at this time I ask Rowan, "What do you think we should buy the patients and their parents for Christmas?"  He always has great ideas.  This year was no different.  Below are pictures of some of the items we purchased for the patients of all ages, and for their parents, as well as some other items that people donated to us for this project.

 

Infants:

 

Toddlers:

 



 

Young children:

 

 



 

Pre- Teens/Teens:

 

 

 

 



 

Some of Rowan's favorite things to do in the hospital are playing with Play-doh, play food, activity books and coloring.  So, we made sure to stock them up on those items.

 

 



 

Chap-sticks always come in handy when you are in the hospital too.

 

 

As well as warm socks:

 

 

And Rowan wanted to add a few items to the hospital "Brave boxes" as well, so they would have plenty of treats to choose from after all the iv pokes and treatments they endure.

 

 

 

Rowan wanted the kids to be able to decorate their hospital room windows for Christmas too, so we purchased lots and lots of holiday window clings:

 

 

On top of all of these items, we received donations of blankets and hats for the patients from "The Linus Project" so we delivered a trunk full of those as well:

 

 

We also were blessed with donations from another special lady, all the way from Springfield, Ohio.  Thank you Marty Tayloe for your unique fair trade gift items.  We decided to make a special trinket tub to be used as a "Teenage Brave Box" for the older patients, so they may choose one of the special stones, crosses, or necklaces after their treatments and procedures, or on those tough days at the hospital.  The items are all so precious and beautiful, and we just know they will help the older patients.

 

 



 

Marty also sent us candy for the patients...

 

 

and, she sent the most gorgeous handmade fair trade ornaments to be distributed to the families.

 

 

We placed all of these priceless ornaments in a pretty Christmas basket, and told Child Life that they could offer them to patients and their parents, so they could take them home to put them on their family tree when they were discharged. 

 

Thank you so much Marty, for your thoughtfulness, generosity and support!

Your gifts will bless many lives, through Christmas and beyond.

 

We never want to forget that there is usually a parent staying in the hospital with their sick child during these holiday stays, so we try to do something for them as well.  Several years ago, Rowan said he wanted to buy me a better pillow than the flat plastic ones they have to use in the hospital, so "Pillows for Parents" was started.  This year we also purchased big soft comfy blankets to go along with their fluffy pillows and nice pillow cases.  We've been told that parents have literally cried over receiving these pillows:)

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we had the pleasure of delivering all of these gifts to the Child Life Staff at Methodist Children's Hospital, so that they can distribute them during the next couple of weeks.  Thank you to the board members and volunteers who helped us take these items to the hospital, and a huge thank you to the Child Life Staff for receiving them so graciously and for your hard work in getting them to the kids and their parents.

 

 

 

Rowan was asleep when we first arrived, but soon perked up.

 

 

It was so exciting! And we were overjoyed to almost fill up an entire room with boxes and boxes of gifts.

 

 

 

 

And of course we couldn't leave without a "crazy face" picture with the Child Life Staff:)

 

 

And then Rowan went floor to floor, to all of the unit's nurses stations that he frequents, to give them their own little Christmas treats.

 

 

This is one of my favorite days of the year, and something that I am so proud to be a part of.  Thank you to everyone who donated items, volunteered their time, or has donated to the Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation throughout the year.  Without you, we couldn't do what we do for these families.  And a HUGE thank you again to Deputy Duane Buethe, the Comal County Sheriff's Department and all of the people who were involved with the 2nd Annual Toughest Dog in Texas Competition this year.  The success of that charity event will certainly help us bless even more families than usual this year, and in bigger brighter ways!

 

 

And to think that all of this began, eight and a half years ago, when the staff at MCH first cared for our little Rowan in the NICU those first few weeks.  He has now returned there many times, had 69 surgeries there, and stayed over 900 days of his life there in that hospital.  We have so much to be thankful for, and are so happy to have the opportunity to give back to them.

 

Here Rowan is leaving Methodist Children's Hospital for the first time, after spending his first several weeks there in the NICU...

 

And here he is now, outside those very same doors yesterday...

 

 

 

As I said, we have a lot to be thankful for!

 

Merry Christmas from Rowan, The Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation, and the Methodist Children's Hospital Child Life Staff.