St. Jude child life specialist

What Is Their Legacy?

The children at St. Jude are asked to create legacy items for their future. Anything that makes them happy, whatever that may be. Unfortunately, some children do not live past childhood, and these legacy items are what families are left with to remember them by. The legacy items also help children who do survive to remember their time at St. Jude. The individuals who assist with the creation of these Legacy items and work with patients at St. Jude are known as Child Life Specialists. They specialize in helping kids have as normal a childhood as they can while at the hospital. Child Life Specialists work with children during their treatment to help with the emotional impact of their various treatments, losing friends, and being away from home. The specialists help to develop a child's legacy by focusing on what's important to each child. Here are some of the questions the Child Life Specialists ask the children to develop their Legacy:

Who am I?
What do I look like?
What do I like to do?
How do I think?
What do I believe?
Who is important to me?

The Child Life Specialists then help the children to create pieces they or their parents can keep as a memory from their time at St. Jude. For example, each child receives a bead for each accomplishment. Shots, therapy, doctor's visits, "No Mo Chemo" parties, and other activities result in each child getting a bead. The kids put these beads on a long string and keep them as a reminder of everything they went through at the hospital. A lot of families use the beaded strands as garland at Christmas time.

Become A Partner In Hope Today!

It's simple and easy to give a little hope to the families dealing with childhood cancer. Text the word JUDE to 626262 or call 1-800-372-4999 and become a Partner In Hope for just $19 a month. That's less than a dollar a day! You may have to give up your daily coffee from your favorite place, but what better reason to do that than helping to save a child's life? For more information or to donate online, visit the St. Jude website today!