Photo Credit: Rod PradoHealth
Teddy Bear “Clinic” helps Children understand Cancer Treatment at Canopy
In the face of a parent’s cancer diagnosis, children often grapple with fear and uncertainty. To address this, Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, in collaboration with Wonders & Worries, hosted a heartwarming event called the Teddy Bear Clinic. This unique experience provided children with a deeper understanding of their parents’ cancer treatment journey while offering comfort and empowerment in the process.
The 2nd Annual Teddy Bear Clinic once again allowed children to see how a teddy bear is “treated” in a mock hospital setting. The goal of the interactive activities and demonstrations was for the young participants to gain insight into the medical procedures and equipment commonly used in cancer treatment. From learning about IVs to understanding the purpose of ports, the clinic provided a safe space for children to ask questions and demystify the hospital experience.
Once children and their parents arrived at Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center, they were greeted by Wonders & Worries staff and volunteers from Junior League of The Woodlands. The children then had the opportunity to “adopt” a stuffed bear or animal at check-in and fill out adoption papers. Moving from station to station, kids witnessed their furry friends go through treatments, made crafts and “medicine” in the Pharmacy station to help their bears through the healing process, sat in the waiting room and enjoyed breakfast while bears were in “surgery”, participated in physical therapy and healthy exercises, and had the opportunity to receive spiritual care and counseling to talk about their feelings and emotions. During the event, “Blue Bear” from BlueCross BlueShield of Texas made a special appearance, posed for pictures and met new friends, and went through the stations like his smaller counterparts.
View moments of the Teddy Bear “Clinic” on the Hello Woodlands Facebook and Instagram pages.
If your life has been impacted by cancer, whether you were the patient, caregiver or family member, you have a safe haven at Canopy. For more information on Memorial Hermann’s Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at The Woodlands, visit their website here.
For more information on Wonders & Worries, visit their website at wondersandworries.org.
