When Isabella arrived at BC Children’s, she met a lot of new adults who were determined to help her get better. The team she warmed to quickest, though, was donor-supported Child Life.
“During long, difficult health crises, kids have a need for psychosocial support and play,” explained Ashley, a child life specialist who supports Isabella. “That’s why we often bring toys when we make visits. Our job is to give kids the space to just be kids.”
Isabella noticed. “She knew Ashley was there to help her through this experience, and make her feel more at home,” said her mom, Karlee.
When Isabella wanted to bake cookies, Ashley made it happen. When Isabella was unable to leave her bed, Ashley would ask what she could bring to make her day a little better.
But it wasn’t just fun and games—Ashley helped Isabella understand her cancer, and how it was being treated. “We make sure to do this in a way that’s developmentally appropriate and suitable for the individual child,” Ashley explained.
The impact Child Life had on Isabella was so profound that she now wants to do the same for other kids. When she grows up, Isabella says she wants to be a child life specialist.