Where am I? What am I doing?? What is a Child Life Specialist??
The Child Life Team at the Red Cross works with the Palliative Care and Pain Management team. We currently work on the Oncology/Hematology ward (G1), the Burn Rehabilitation ward (C2), the ICU, the Tracheotomy ward (E2), the Cardiology and Medical specialty ward (D1), and Day Surgery (A7). I spend most of my time on G1 and ICU and I float onto C2 as often as possible. I am also currently working with the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic. Each and every child that I spend time with brings so much light into my life. Every day is filled with new challenges and struggles... coupled with so much joy and light that some days I feel like I might explode. I have found that in the very moments that bring me to my knees, in the very moments where I almost feel like it could be too much to take... I am reminded more than ever the reason why I am supposed to be here. It is in those moments that I am reminded of the power we have to make a difference (in whatever we do) in just one moment, in just one hour, in just one day. AGHHHH!!!!!!
I am currently interning with the Child Life Program at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCCH) in Cape Town, South Africa. And I love every moment of it!!! I cannot even begin to express in words how good it feels to finally find something that I love to do that fits me so perfectly and fully. For the first time... in a long time... I feel like I have actually found a true balance in my life and it feels so incredible!! Who would have thought that waking up at the crack of dawn and going to work Monday through Friday would be right up my alley? Not me.
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| Some of our toys sitting out to dry |
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| Buddy gets an amputation |
Setting: The Red Cross is the only pediatric hospital of its kind south of the Sahara, RCCH has about 200 inpatient beds as well as outpatient clinics and emergency departments. Roughly 250,000 children receive care annually at this medical facility and the need for supportive services is great.
Mission: Our mission as the Child Life Team is to apply child life principles and interventions to best meet the needs of the children and caregivers treated at the RCCH, reducing their anxiety and fear and empowering them with culturally effective coping skills.
Our Motto: Just think how much you can do in just one day!!!!!
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| Hands from the memory tree |
What is a Child Life Specialist?? In the hospital Child Life Specialists work with patients and family members providing procedural support, procedural education, caregiver support and emotional support. Child life specialists are trained professionals with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events. Armed with a strong background in child development and family systems, child life specialists promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to hospitalization. Because they understand that a child’s well being depends on the support of the family, child life specialists provide information, support and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members throughout the hospitalization and bereavement process. They also play a vital role in educating caregivers, administrators, and the general public about the needs of children under stress (Child Life Council).
