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A single day in September has left its indelible mark on the Smallwood family of Sterling, Va.
On September 23, 2006, six-yearold Whitney Smallwood was diagnosed with cancer. The aching in Whitney’s legs that her parents hoped was simply growing pains was instead a symptom of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
For the Smallwoods, this realization meant the beginning of an arduous treatment regimen that would bring Whitney repeatedly to Georgetown University Hospital. The prospect of chemotherapy and its harsh after-effects would frighten anyone, but from the very start, the courageous little girl proved her mettle.
“She is the model patient,” says her mom Jessica. “She takes it all in stride with amazing resilience.” Over time, as she learned more and more about her illness and the therapy that would help her beat it, Whitney became more comfortable and less afraid. Before long, Whitney began to look forward to the hospital visits. “Never in a million years would I have ever thought Whitney would enjoy being in the hospital, but it’s become our second home,” Jessica says. The credit belongs to Georgetown’s Child Life Program.
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| Child Life Specialist Linda Jung helps Whitney Smallwood understand what her chemotherapy treatments will involve by using “medical play” and a doll. “My job is to make certain that every child who stays overnight here understands what they will face while hospitalized,” Linda says. |
During much of the past nine months, Jessica has slept at her daughter’s side in a room in one of the hospital’s pediatric units. She has squeezed Whitney’s hand to ward off pain from injections, and soothed her through repeated surgical procedures. But when she couldn’t be with her daughter, Jessica wasn’t concerned. She knew Whitney would be just fine because Child Life Specialist Linda Jung was a gifted stand-in.
“From the very beginning, Linda has been there, helping all of us face each step of the way, explaining every procedure,” says Jessica. “For Whitney, the most difficult times have been made so much easier because of Linda’s remarkable ability to gain our child’s complete trust. Everyone here tells the truth — no matter what. For my daughter, that has made an enormous difference.”
For Jung, understanding each child’s unique needs is the key to turning the trauma of hospitalization on its head. Using deep breathing exercises, music, art and play, Georgetown’s Child Life Specialists work to reduce the stress that accompanies a child’s illness — and the difficult journey to recovery that ultimately affects the entire family.
“My job is to make certain that every child who stays overnight here understands what they will face while hospitalized,” Jung says. “I work as a part of the care team to tend to the children’s psychosocial needs and help these young patients cope with what can be months of sometimes debilitating treatments. And I begin working with them from the diagnosis to explain what lies ahead. It is a teaching process for the child, parents, and siblings. Every child is unique and I draw upon many methods to help them.”
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| As part of Georgetown’s Child Life program, children perform surgery to become comfortable with their hospital treatment. Here Kirsten Stetts, 7 years old, operates with careful concentration. |
For Whitney, nothing less than the complete truth will do. She wants to know everything about each procedure. And rather than turn her head, she watches every little detail.
“When Whitney first came to the hospital I used a doll to show her exactly how the doctor would put in her central line for chemotherapy,” Jung explains. “This is called ‘medical play’ and it’s an important tool the nurses and I use to help patients cope. Before Whitney received any type of procedure, she practiced it on the doll.”
“After a while,” Jessica says, “Whitney began to take out her own IVs and remove her bandages. At six years old, she knows what medicine she needs to take and when she needs to take it.”
During medical procedures, Jung will use a variety of techniques to calm her patients.
“We give older children the option to participate in the procedure so that they feel involved,” Jung says.
“Whitney likes to hold a rubber glove filled with warm water to ease her stress. She even snuck the glove under her covers and into surgery,” Jessica recalls. “When they lifted her onto the table, she was holding on to it!”
This is all designed to give children like Whitney a sense of control over their young lives, when so much is beyond their control. Between procedures, there are often long days of waiting to be released. Patients are encouraged to bring their child’s favorite stuffed toys, their own bed linens and slippers and robes to make their hospital stay less intimidating.
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Another Georgetown patient enjoys dancing. The Child Life program brings artists, dancers, musicians, and Georgetown Hoya athletes to the hospital as special visitors to the children. |
A cadre of more than 50 specially trained volunteers work to support Georgetown’s Child Life program. In the last few years, Jung reestablished the hospital’s internship program for Child Life Specialists in training. And she has expanded the program, bringing a wide range of fun activities that keep both patients and parents busy and distracted. Art Therapist Tracy Councill works closely with children with cancer, helping them express their feelings through paintings and drawings. All patients use art to express themselves — and are involved in recreational activities and seasonal celebrations. Even children unable to leave their beds participate in recreational and therapeutic activities.
A unique project called Studio G brings “artists in residence” to the pediatric units, with twice-monthly visits from artists, poets, dancers, musicians, and storytellers. There are laptop computers for students who want to stay in touch with friends and classmates, and tutoring through Education, Inc. The new HoyaDreams program brings Georgetown University athletes to the hospital to visit with the children and accompany patients to games to cheer on the university’s sports teams. And thanks to Cole’s Closet, a local charity, the hospital’s toy chest is regularly replenished.
Yet, for Jessica Smallwood, the success of Georgetown’s Child Life Program will never hinge on new toys or electronics. “Linda makes all the difference,” she says. When a serious complication meant that Whitney required transport by helicopter from their local hospital to Georgetown, Jessica wasn’t able to come along. But a phone call to Linda was all it took to ease this mother’s fears. “I asked her to please meet Whitney when she arrived and stay with her until I got there,” Jessica says. “Linda never hesitated for a second.” Once again Jung held Whitney’s hand and let her squeeze.
To learn more about Georgetown’s Child Life Program, call Linda Jung at 202.444.3037.
