Volume 35: Issue 33

Winter 2011

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

W ith the

growth of

Brookdale University

Hospital And Medical

Center

Sickle Star Advisory Board

Kusum Viswanathan, MD

Mario A. Peichev, MD

Natalie Sommerville-Brooks, RN

Verna D. Ademu-John, MS

Yana Pennant LMSW

Janis Atty, CCLS

Alexis Hodges, CCLS

Tina Primus

Division of Pediatric

Hematology/Oncology

Suite 346 CHC

I Brookdale Plaza

Brooklyn, NY 11212

718.240.5904

Sickle Care: The Comprehensie S ickle Cel l Program at Brookdale

Volume 35: Issue 33

Winter 2011

Child Life at Brookdale…...........1

More About Child Life...………..1

A Program to Help Your Child…...2

Program Happenings…………….3

Upcoming Events…………….....3

Ask the Doctor…………….…...4

Vote of Thanks..…………........4

T H E S I C K L E S T A R

F or children and parents hospital visits and stays can be frightening. The Child Life Program at Brookdale University

Hospital and Medical Center is here to help reduce the stress of illness, treatment and hospitalization for patients and their fam-ily.

Working under structured guidelines, the Child Life Specialist work within the Child Life Program to create an environment where the child can gain a better understanding of their hospi-talization, medical treatments and any procedures which they may need to undergo.

Child Life Specialists work in many different hospital areas. Most frequently you may find them in the inpatient unit, the PICU, the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Office, the Ambulatory Infu-sion Therapy Unit (AITU) and other areas as needed. They pro-vide therapeutic, educational and recreational activities to meet the unique emotional and developmental needs of our chroni-cally ill children and their families.

Child Life at Brookdale Hospital

More About Child Life

C ertified Child Life Specialists are trained in child develop-ment and in dealing with the effects of hospitalization on

children. They work closely with the healthcare team to address the individual needs of Brookdale's patients and their families. They are professionals who works primarily in pediatric settings. They promote effective coping in children and families under stress. They serve as educator for patients, families, caregivers, medical staff, administra-tors, and the general public.

At right - Child Life Specialist

Janis Atty works with Director Ped. Div.

Hem/Onc, AITU Staff, parent and patient.

Page 2

SEPTEMBER IS

NATIONAL SICKLE

CELL AWARENESS

MONTH

U.S. POSTAGE STAMP FOR

SICKLE CELL 2004

We continue to collaborate with

the Brooklyn/Staten Island

Blood Services to promote

community blood donations so

please DONATE.

Volume 35: Issue 33

Give Blood to Fight Sickle Cell

Disease

1.800.933.2566

Child Life Services Program

O ur Child Life Specialists promote effective coping through play, preparation, education and self-expression activities. The services

offered by our Child Life Program are the following:

· Medical Preparation and Play

Children learn through play. Medical play allows children to get com-fortable with medical equipment and procedures. It helps to alleviate anxiety and help gain a sense of control for children who are prepar-ing for any medical procedures.

· Procedural Support

Painful procedures are sometimes a reality of hospitalization. Child Life Staff is here to help children cope with difficult medical issues through various interventions such as distraction and relaxation tech-niques.

· Supervised Play & Activities

Children need to play, especially when they are in a new, unfamiliar environment, such as the hospital. We encourage normal play activi-ties and peer interactions while in the office and when hospitalized. Child Life can provide children with arts and crafts, toys and games.

· Family Support

Family is an important part of a child's life and healing process. We provided information and support to the families of our patients. Child Life Specialists also help siblings understand the medical situa-tion and to work through their own feelings and concerns.

· Special Events

Child Life organizes special events to provide opportunities for pa-tients and their families to socialize with peers and gain a sense of normalcy. Special events include recreational activities, holiday par-ties and invitation of special visitors.

So you can see, these talented staff members offer a great deal of services to your child. Please be sure to seek out our Child Life Specialists to help your child to have a pleasant experience when he/she attend their appoint-ments, or are hospitalized.

For more information please contact:- Janis or Alexis at (718) 240-5904.

Page 3

PR O G R A M HA P P E N I N G S

O N F R I D A Y , D E C E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 1 , T H E D I V I S I O N O F P E D I A T R I C H E M A T O L O G Y / O N C O L O G Y W I L L

H O S T I T S A N N U A L H O L I D A Y P A R T Y I N T H E B R O O K -

D A L E E M P L O Y E E ’ S C A F E T E R I A , L O C A T E D I N T H E B A S E M E N T , A T B R O O K D A L E U N I V E R S I T Y H O S P I T A L A N D M E D I C A L C E N T E R . E A C H Y E A R V A L U A B L E I N F O R M A T I O N I S D I S T R I B -

U T E D T O P A R E N T S A N D L O T S O F F U N O N H A N D F O R P A T I E N T S . A D E L I C I O U S M E N U I S S E R V E D T O A L L G U E S T A N D F O R T H E P A S T T W O Y E A R S C H I L D R E N H A V E E N J O Y E D T H E C A N D Y S T A T I O N , W H E R E T H E Y G E T T O F I L L U P T H E I R G O O D I E B A G S W I T H T H E I R C H O I C E O F C A N D Y . O F C O U R S E T H E P A R T Y C U L M I N A T E S W I T H T H E D I S -

T R I B U T I O N O F P R E S E N T S T O A L L P A T I E N T S I N A T -

T E N D A N C E . I F Y O U H A V E N O T S I G N E D U P T O A T T E N D , P L E A S E C A L L O U R R E C E P T I O N I S T , M S . P R I M U S A N D G I V E H E R Y O U R N A M E A N D T H E N A M E S O F Y O U R C H I L D /C H I L D R E N W H O P L A N T O A T T E N D .

U P - C O M I N G E V E N T S

L O O K O U T F O R O U R C H I L D R E N ’ S A R T W O R K O N A 2 0 1 2 S I C K L E C E L L C A L E N D A R . O U R C H I L D R E N H A V E W O R K E D V E R Y H A R D P U T T I N G T H I S P R O J E C T T O -

G E T H E R . D A N C E C L A S S E S I N T H E P L A Y R O O M O N T H E 8 T H F L . : N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 2 , 2 9 , 2 0 1 1 D E C E M B E R 6 , 1 3 , 2 0 , 2 0 1 1 J A N U A R Y 3 , 1 0 , 1 7 , 2 0 1 1 F R I D A Y , D E C E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 1 , A N N U A L H O L I D A Y

P A R T Y , B R O O K D A L E ’ S E M P L O Y E E C A F E T E R I A I N T H E B A S E M E N T .

M I D - J A N U A R Y I S T H E D E A D L I N E T O S U B M I T A P P L I C A -

T I O N T O E N T E R T H E ‘ A R T W O R K S ’ N E W Y O R K C R E A -

T I V E A N D P E R F O R M I N G A R T S E X H I B I T I O N ( S E E C H I L D L I F E S P E C I A L I S T S F O R M O R E I N F O ) .

S U N D A Y , M A R C H 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 , E X P R E S S Y O U R S E L F , A R T -

W O R K S E V E N T , A T K I M M E L S T U D E N T C E N T E R A T N Y U , 6 0 W A S H I N G T O N S Q U A R E S O U T H , N E W Y O R K , N E W Y O R K . T O L E A R N M O R E A B O U T H O W T O P A R -

T I C I P A T E , P L E A S E C A L L C H I L D L I F E S P E C I A L I S T , J A N I S O R A L E X I S A T ( 7 1 8 ) 2 4 0 - 5 9 0 4 .

Volume 35: Issue 33

PROGRAM ANNOUNCE-PROGRAM ANNOUNCE-PROGRAM ANNOUNCE-

MENTS/HAPPENINGSMENTS/HAPPENINGSMENTS/HAPPENINGS

Parents Support Group {PSG}

Come one, come all! Parents

meetings are held on the first

Fridays of the month. Re-

freshments are served.

Parents receive valuable in-

formation and get an oppor-

tunity to exchange stories

and ideas with each other.

We need parents to come

out. The Fall/Winter support

group meetings are sched-

uled on Fridays, from 6:00 to

8:00pm, as follow:

November 4, 2011

December 2, 2011

January 6, 2011

February 3, 2011

Sickle Cell Youth Organization

{SCYO}

The Youth Group meetings

are scheduled for the same

day as the Parent Group,

however the sessions are

held from 4:30pm to

6:00pm, in the 8th Floor con-

ference room.

Youth Support Group encour-

age patients from ages 10

and above to attend.

Snacks are provided.

For more information on both

groups, please call

718.240.5904

Be Sure to Know Your

Family Health History

Parents, be sure to know what

runs in your family. We have

booklets that will help you to

understand genetics and how

genes relate to various condi-

tions. Ask for copies of the

Family Health History booklets

when you come to the office; or

call; 718 240-5904, for more info.

Ask the Experts…..Transplantation

and Sickle Cell Disease ….By Dr. Vis

I s there a cure for sickle cell disease? Yes! Children with sickle cell disease who

have had serious medical problems as a result of

having this disease may benefit from bone mar-

row transplant. Often children with this condi-

tion can develop strokes, acute chest syndrome,

enlarged spleen, infections, and many other se-

rious problems. When a child suffers from these

types of complications, it is a good time for

parents to consider a bone marrow transplant.

What is a bone marrow transplant?

A bone marrow transplant is a procedure where

stem cells are taken from one person (a donor)

and given to another person (a recipient) to al-

low them to make normal blood cells.

Why is this done for patients with sickle cell

disease?

Stem cell transplants can be done on patients

with sickle cell disease so that they can start

making healthy red blood cells.

So what are stem cells?

Stem cells are young red blood cells. When

these cells are given to another person, they

will grow into healthy new cell that will not

sickle and cause any problems.

How do you find a donor of stem cells?

The very best donor is a full sibling (same

mother and father) who does not have sickle cell

disease. A special blood test called an HLA test

can be taken and will tell if there is a match to

the sickle cell patient. Only about 10-20% of

patients with sickle cell have a matched sibling

donor.

The Nwoke’s Story See the story of their child’s cure through

stem cell transplant, on page

10 of our booklet, “A Guide to Family Health History”.

Pick up a copy in Room 346 CHC.

As Always ……

SINCERE THANKS FROM OUR FAMILIES TO

CHILLIN` WITH ADAM:

THE ADAM GAYNES FOUNDATION

SICKLE CELL THALASSEMIA PATIENTS NETWORK

ZITWER FOUNDATION

THE CARLITOS WISH FOUNDATION

JACK & JILL ASSOCIATES

HOPE CHRISTIAN CENTER

PINWHEEL PROJECT

PROJECT SUNSHINE

CHILDRENS WISH FOUNDATION

ARTWORKS FOUNDATION

COACH TITLEY & CANARSIE HIGH FOOTBALL TEAM

STARLIGHT FOUNDATION

THE OSCAR LITWAK FOUNDATION

BROOKDALE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION

THE DEPT. OF FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES

PEDIATRIC STAFF

MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION

PEDIATRIC FLOOR

DOUBLE “H” HOLE IN THE WOODS RANCH

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA

THE IVY ROSE FOUNDATION, INC.

FRIENDS OF KAREN

WE APPLAUD YOU!!!

Page 4 Volume 35 : Issue 33