Well - Fall 2012 - (Page 11)

Healing and Hope Through Science H arrison McKinion, age 10, enjoys getting his hands messy, learning about science, shing and playing outdoors, and he doesn’t let the fact that he has cancer keep him from doing the things he loves. Even while he undergoes treatment at N.C. Children’s Hospital, a program called Healing and Hope Through Science gives Harrison the opportunity to be a kid and explore nature from his bedside. This innovative science program is part of the North Carolina Botanical Garden at UNC-Chapel Hill. “Part of what makes this program great is that it gives children choices and allows them to show their creativity,” says Katie Stoudemire, environmental educator and program manager for the Healing and Hope Through Science program. Stoudemire brings a number of hands-on activities to the hospital, following strict safety and infection control measures approved by the hospital. One of the most popular is making a volcano from plaster. The kids learn about di erent types of volcanoes and how each one erupts. Harrison enjoyed building and painting his volcano, and later he used what he had learned about acids and bases to make his volcano erupt by combining baking soda and vinegar. It was his favorite part of the entire week at the hospital. This simple activity took Harrison’s mind o of his treatment and made him feel happy, he said. Another young cancer patient coped with the pain from a shot by making molds and replicas of North Carolina black bear tracks. When asked about his pain before the activity, he said it was as high as an eight on a 10-point scale. After the activity, it was as low as a two. “This experience demonstrated that natural objects can be a powerful source of connection as well as a powerful coping mechanism,” says Stoudemire. Interactions with nature can provide children with a sense of calm and familiarity by reminding them of memories they have had outside the hospital, such as trips to the beach or the mountains, and playing outside at home, she adds. Patients at N.C. Children’s Hospital play with the stream cart provided by the Healing and Hope Through Science program. An Empowering Experience The program is designed to be fun and interactive, but Stoudemire’s goal is also to help children understand how their body works and empower them with knowledge. For a young girl who refused to take medicine for a fungal disease, this knowledge was powerful for her recovery in the hospital. To help her understand the e ects of medications on fungus in the body, Stoudemire used cotton candy and a syringe lled with water. “Once I showed her how the medication dissolved the fungus using the cotton candy as the fungus and the water in the syringe as the medicine, she understood and took her medicine.” Since June 2006, the program has served more than 2,200 patients like this little girl and Harrison by giving them the chance to participate in science activities and other meaningful learning experiences. As the science project came to a close and the day ended, Harrison asked whether he could keep the volcano to show his friends at home. “It is amazing to see him excited and happy to take something positive away from the hospital experience,” says Stoudemire.“This is one of the many aspects of the program that makes it so special.” Support Science Volunteers and funding from grants and private donations make the Healing and Hope Through Science program possible. For more information about this unique program, visit www.healingandhopethroughscience.org. PHOTO: KATIE STOUDEMIRE An innovative program provides sick children with a natural diversion. www.unchealthcare.org 11 http://www.healingandhopethroughscience.org http://www.unchealthcare.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Well - Fall 2012

Well - Fall 2012
Contents
UNC Health Care News
Community
In the Right Place
A World Without Food Allergies
Healing and Hope Through Science
Nutrition
Calendar

Well - Fall 2012