Treasure Bead Launch, January 19, 2011 a Huge Success!

Posted by Graeme Burns on Jan 25, 2011 in Archived

For the young participants in the Treasure Bead program, life is measured not only by time but also by beads.

The program, launched Jan. 19 at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, provides young cardiac patients with a way to represent their health journey.

In the program, each time a cardiac patient undergoes a medical procedure, such as a needle, blood test or CT scan, the child receives a bead. Together, the beads form part of a chain.

“The beads provide young cardiac kids with an avenue to document their treatment and talk about what they are going through,” says Judy Chapman, President of the Evan Ty Jenkins Pediatric Research Foundation.

The foundation is named after Chapman’s grandson, Evan Ty Jenkins, who was born with complex congenital heart disease. He died in 2006 at the age of 7.

Having witnessed the challenges that face many young cardiac kids and their families firsthand, Chapman knows the program will bring some positive energy to a difficult situation.

“If we can make their stay at the hospital a little easier, that’s what we want to do,” she says.

Dianne Tuterra, child life team leader at Stollery Children’s Hospital, says it’s “a pleasure and a privilege” to have the Treasure Bead program available at the site.

“It will make hospitalization and the health care journey more positive for children and families,” said Tuterra. “Alberta Health Services has worked closely with the foundation to get this program off the ground for our young cardiac patients.”

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, about one of every 100 babies has some form of heart defect. Some are minor and never require treatment; others are life-threatening.

Chapman says the foundation would eventually like to make the program available to all pediatric patients at the site.