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Legacy Emanuel
Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Program.
A diagnosis of childhood
cancer or other blood related diseases begins a long, emotionally and
physically difficult journey into a world of treatment. While these
children (and their families) are traveling through this time in their
life, they are mentally recording each and every treatment they
experience. I would like to introduce you to a program, which provides
children and their families with another form of recording their journey
--- it is called “JOURNEY BEADS”.
JOURNEY BEADS is a program
that honors that journey and helps children tell their story from
diagnosis through the end of treatment. It uses colorful beads as
meaningful symbols of the many different aspects of their treatment
path. What are the Journey Beads program goals?
• To provide a way for
children to document and honor the experience of treatment.
• An opportunity for each
child to tell their own unique story and record it in some tangible way.
• To help children create
meaning out of the numerous procedures they must endure.
• A way for children to
symbolize their disease related experiences visually, playfully and
artistically.
• To provide children and
parents a unique way of communicating the experience of childhood cancer
or other related disease. How does Journey Beads work?
• Starting on November 27,
2001, children who receive treatment in our program, and who wish to
participate, will be given a piece of chord with beads that spell their
first name.
• Colored beads, each
representing a different aspect of care, will be available to add to the
necklace. On each unit (Infant/Toddler, School Age, Day Treatment Unit
and Outpatient Clinic) the colored beads and a guide to what each bead
represents are available for the families.
• Each time a child has any
type of procedure, a good day, horrible day, birthday, etc., they can
add a bead to their necklace!
Can Anyone Participate in the
Bead Program? No!! Only children who are currently on treatment at the
Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Program can participate…. And only
if they want to! Your child does not have to participate if he/she does
not want to, or you can stop at any time. JOURNEY BEADS is meant to be a
fun and interesting program for our families! JOURNEY BEADS HAVE FUN!!
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