Tag Archive for: child life

A young child and adult sit side by side at a wooden table, deeply focused on a photo book containing images of hospital environments. The child is holding a red crayon as if poised to take some kind of action as part of their orientation. The adult smiles with warmth and encouragement while pointing at something a photo, helping the child understand what to expect.

Transforming Paediatric Care: Child life in Low- and Middle-income Countries

Most children in low- and middle-income countries face hospitalization without the vital psychosocial support they need. WE C Hope’s Certified Child Life Specialist Morgan Livingstone shares how sustainable child life programs are transforming paediatric care in under-resourced settings. She explores the power of partnership, training, and local leadership in building sustainable child life services that meet unique community needs.

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A young boy practices giving eye drops to a medical play puppet.

10 Ways to Support Your Child Through EUA for Retinoblastoma

Examinations Under Anaesthetic (EUA) are an essential part of retinoblastoma diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance follow up care. Combining content from our Child Life Resource, Morgan Livingstone CCLS CIMI MA reviews 10 ways parents can support children of all ages through the experience to benefit everyone’s wellbeing.

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A child life specialist uses a unicorn horn-shaped bubble generator to distract a young girl and her father. She wears a brightly decorated black surgical cap, adorned with a flowery pink unicorn horn tiara, as well as a face mask, glasses, and surgical gloves. The father also wears a face mask and looks attentively at both the child life specialist and his daughter while securely holding the little girl. Dressed in shades of pink and surrounded by iridescent bubbles, she reaches out toward them with curious delight. In the background, a colourful mural features a smiling face, abstract shapes, and natural elements.

Distraction in Action: How to Build Kids’ Confidence and Comfort in Medical Care

Medical care can be overwhelming for children and their family, causing fear and distress. Without support, these experiences can escalate into medical trauma. WE C Hope CEO, Abby White, and Child Life Specialist, Morgan Livingstone, explore how simple distraction tools reduce anxiety, increase cooperation, and empower both children and caregivers to be calm, confident participants, even in complex medical care.

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Rati puts on surgical gloves while her mum, Salome, and child life specialist Morgan look on. Both Rati and Morgan are wearing surgical masks. A medical play doll and various medical equipment are laid out beside Rati.

WE C Hope and Child Life: Bridging Gaps, Easing Trauma, Building Hope

Child life helps families cope with retinoblastoma care, reducing trauma, and building hope. Yet access remains limited worldwide. March is Child Life Month and the birthday of our beloved Rati, whose brief life inspired World Eye Cancer Hope. From her care in Canada to Kenya, One Rb World and beyond, WE C Hope CEO, Abby White, explores how child life became central to our mission.

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A bald toddler sits on her mother’s lap during a port access procedure. Her back rests against her mother’s chest, and her head is turned up and back towards her mother, who is leaning down in conversation. Both mother and child are white. The nurse accessing the port is seen from behind and has fair hair.

Comfort Positions: How to Help Children Feel Safe and Supported During Medical Procedures

Medical procedures can be stressful for children, often leading to fear, resistance, and lasting anxiety. Comfort Positions offer a simple and powerful way to ease distress, ensuring a safer, more supportive experience for children, caregivers, and medical teams. WE C Hope CEO, Abby White, and Child Life Specialist, Morgan Livingstone, explore how comfort positioning transforms medical care, fostering trust, cooperation, and emotional well-being.

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7 children co-create a group board game, supported by an adult. One of the children is adding to the board game with a marker

Child Life for All Ages: Empowering Children with Cancer to Thrive

Retinoblastoma is a challenging journey for children and their families, often deeply affecting emotional and physical well-being long after treatment ends. Tailored support enhances quality of life during cancer care and beyond. Rb survivor and WE C Hope founder, Abby White; and Child Life Specialist, Morgan Livingstone, explore how child life specialists empower children of all ages and their families to cope, heal, and thrive.

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Grace stands in front of a Hawaiian-themed backdrop of lush green foliage, flowers, fairy lights, and the word Aloha written in a glittery gold cursive font. She wears a beautiful floral dress in shades of pale pink, orange, and white. Her conference lanyard clearly shows her name badge, reading Grace Mbugua. She smiles broadly and holds a sign in each hand – one says: World Eye Cancer Hope - life and sight for every child. The other says: One Retinoblastoma World, Honolulu, Hawaii, October 15-17, 2024.

One Rb World 2024 Shines the Light on Life-Saving Care: Highlights from Hawaii Day Two | Page 2

Continuing our review of Day Two at the 7th One Rb World Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, we explore critical life-saving advancements in global retinoblastoma care. Marissa D. Gonzalez, President of World Eye Cancer Hope USA, and Conference Event Chair, delves deeper into the research developments, technological breakthroughs, collaborations, joyful child life, and uplifting survivor stories shaping a brighter future for all.

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On the left of a large conference room, a speaker stands at a wooden podium, addressing the audience. David is a white man wearing a blue suit. Beside him, fellow panelists sit at a long table draped with a cloth bearing the One Rb World logo. A large screen displays key discussion points on Retinoblastoma Survivorship Care – bullet points are out of focus. The audience is seated at round tables with white tablecloths, attentively listening and watching both the panelists and screen. The room is decorated in dark wood paneling and large murals depicting natural landscapes.

Hawaii Says “ALOHA” to the 7th One Rb World Conference and Global Retinoblastoma Community

The shores of Waikiki Beach welcomed 175 guests to the 7th One Rb World conference this month, and more online, as Honolulu played host to this incredible meeting of retinoblastoma patients, survivors, families and medical professionals. Marissa D. Gonzalez, President of World Eye Cancer Hope USA, and Conference Event Chair, reflects on the social gathering and Day One of the program in the first installment of this three-part conference review.

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A long roads winds through rough country of valleys and hills.

Retinoblastoma Follow Up Care: the Long and Winding Road

Retinoblastoma follow up care is vital for all children after treatment, and for many survivors throughout life. The end of cancer therapy brings both celebration and uncertainty. Knowing what to expect can help calm worries and empower strong advocates. Child Life Specialist Morgan Livingstone reviews what follow up care may involve, and tips to help families and adult survivors navigate this stage of medical care.

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A female doctor wearing green scrubs, surgical mask, and a brightly coloured scrub cap, sits on a play area with a child patient. She has placed her stethoscope on the child’s doll. The child is facing the doctor, mostly out of frame, and is using a toy stethoscope to mirror the doctor’s actions.

10 Child Life Tips for Clinicians

Medical appointments, procedures, and treatments are potentially stressful for children and their families, at all stages of their retinoblastoma experience. Child life specialist Morgan Livingstone shares 10 simple ways all medical professionals can ease stress and anxiety, support healthy coping, and help children and families thrive throughout simple interactions and complex cancer care.

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