Children's Hospitals' Child Life Programs

Tonight I was interviewed on tape about our experience with the Children's Hospital and the network of doctors. Our story is a long and varied one, and it is a great story! The Lord healed our girls, and He use the hospital and doctors to do it.

As we were preparing and then talking after I was struck again by how incredibly grateful they were for our help, which was not a huge deal to us. We told them our story and gave them permission to use it. For us it was a way to say thanks.

Like a lot of hospitals and charities, Children's Hospitals feel the effect of the economy just like the rest, but their little patients don't stop getting sick.

This is not a request to ask you to write a check to your children's hospital, so don't click away! (Although if you can and would like to, I assure you that even the smallest donation makes a difference).

It got me to thinking, Children's Hospitals have Child Life departments, and they have unusual needs for hospitals. They use things like character band-aids, box after box of crayons, coloring books, Play-doh and small toys. Once these things are given to a patient and are opened they cannot be reused for fear of sharing germs between patients, so you can just imagine the need!

I am reading all over the blogosphere about people decluttering, and I might have an idea of what you could do with some of that stuff.

If you have new little toys in your gift box/shelf/closet you are clearing out, or fresh boxes of crayons that need a home because you got too enthusiastic at the back to school sales that is the kind of donations they can use. Your Children's Hospital can help you understand what kinds of items they need the most and can accept. (Because of the germ issue the items do have to be new, and unused.)

The Child Life team made Miss Pear's stay at the hospital something fun. It went from something to be endured to "the cruise for children that doesn't go anywhere." (to quote my husband). Little things like this make a tremendous difference to their little patients, and most people don't know about this need.

So please spread the word...your Children's Hospital will think you are a hero!

P.S. Most Child Life departments will also accept gift cards to places like Target, Amazon etc. so they can fill the gaps in their toy chests...just in case you had a garage sale to get rid of your clutter and want to share! :-)