FALL 2023

Support family-centered care through the Palliative Care Child Life Program magine you ’ ve just been told you have cancer . You ’ re scared and overwhelmed , and now you have to explain it to your kids . What do you say ?

Children have fears and questions that may go unspoken when their loved one is experiencing a serious medical condition . As part of an interdisciplinary team , Palliative Care Child Life Specialists help facilitate the open communication that can help children understand medical conditions and cope with the grief and anxiety related to a loved one ’ s illness or death .

Since it began in 2011 , this program has impacted the lives of more than 22,800 children across Texas . Nine specialists serve at Baylor Scott & White hospitals , including Waco and Temple , though their services are available systemwide . Funded in large part by philanthropy , the program is offered free-of-charge to patients of any care service line .

Palliative Care Child Life Specialist at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Hillcrest

What kind of support do you offer to patients and their families ?

“ A large majority of our job is simply to help parents find the words to have difficult conversations with their child about their loved one ’ s condition

Inside this issue

Nothing can hold him back

Dine Around the Bay 9 Boots & Bandanas 10 Chained no more 11 Graduate Nurse Residency

Program update 12 First day of school