Fabulous Find Friday: Superhero Training School

What is the hospital? What’s it like to stay there when going through treatment? For the kids who are facing a new diagnosis or upcoming treatment in a new hospital, how do you explain what they will encounter or go through? Do you use the big scary words or translate the experiences into something that the kids will understand? Superhero Training School to the rescue!

Superhero Training School is a book written for kids that likens the hospital experience  to being at Superhero Training School. The author wrote this book when his young son was diagnosed with a brain tumor and he used the superhero metaphors to explain the new experiences that his son would encounter in the hospital.

Visit https://superherotrainingschool.org/ to order your copy of Superhero Training School.

Fabulous Find Friday: Hope for Henry

Hope for Henry is an organization that is creating innovative programs for seriously ill children and their families. This variety of programs works to reduce stress and empower children to be active participants in their medical care. Check out their website to learn more about their programs that include supporting Child Life Specialists in the hospital and motivating children in their healing journeys.

Visit https://hopeforhenry.org/what-we-do/ to learn more.

Fabulous Find Friday: Joy Jars

Today’s Fabulous Find is Joy Jars. Joy Jars were started by a young girl named Jessie while she was fighting her own battle with cancer. The jars are created to bring joy and hope to kids in the hospital. Each jar is filled with an assortment of toys and activities for each age group. We used these in my internship and the kids loved unpacking their jars. You’d be surprised how many things they fit into each jar!

 

Fabulous Find Fridays: Drums, Girls + Dangerous Pie

Drums, Girls + Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick is a great resource for teen siblings who are trying to cope with a little brother or sister’s illness. Although the book is focused on a teen’s younger brother’s battle with cancer, the main character in the book goes through many of the stages of grief and coping while learning to navigate the hospital environment.

Steven doesn’t believe that his brother has cancer when Jeffrey is first diagnosed. He thinks that his little brother is being spoiled until Jeffrey starts losing his hair. Then Steven begins bargaining that he’ll behave better if his brother is cured. And finally Steven accepts Jeffrey’s cancer diagnosis and begins to learn more about the hospital environment that his brother is now a part of. While all of this is happening at home with his family, Steven is also going through typical middle school drama. This book is a great resource for any teens that are struggling with a loved ones diagnosis. It can serve as a reminder that they aren’t alone and the emotions they are feeling in response to this situation are normal.

Fabulous Find Friday: Love Your Melon

When you hear Love Your Melon, the first thing to come to your mind is probably winter hats. But Love Your Melon is more than that. Not only do 50% of their profits go to nonprofit partners who are actively fighting pediatric cancer, but Love Your Melon also has Campus Crews. These crews are on the ground raising money and also giving back to children with cancer. During my internship, Love Your Melon Campus Crews organized Halloween festivities for both of the pediatric hospitals that were in their city. The kids in the hospital loved having the college students give out treats to all the rooms while in costume.