Fist, some background...
When kids are diagnosed and sent to the hospital, they have to stay there long enough to be educated, educate the family and for them all to be comfortable to do injections an live this new life they have (this is usually 4 days unless they are there longer...)...They have to adjust to a whole new life because there is no cure for Type 1.
Besides the fact that their life is now different, and they have Type 1 forever, the shock of everything else is a lot for a child (and a family) to sustain.....
When I was in the hospital with Craig (I stayed the whole time and never left), there was a lot of information and new experiences we had to have.....I would say endure, but now its what we do every day so it doesnt seem as much like enduring..its just life...There was a lot of crying, and a lot of being strong..It was very hard..for him and us.
The parents have to be educated as well. The kids have long days...And it can get boring...
The last day I was there with Craig he was driving me nuts with a ping pong ball
...ping...pong...ping...pong..all over the room!! hahah
When I was there with Madi only 4 months later, there was a little boy (age 6) who was also just diagnosed.. He was often by himself in the play room (that is only open certain hours..)...His parents did not stay with him in the hospital..I felt so sad for the little guy... Although I can understand how hard it is to stay there...and that people need to work and everything...I mean these diagnosis arent something anyone plans for....
Our family has decided to put together bags... unboredom bags!!
For these kids who are stuck at the hopital for days at a time...
Here is a paragraph from Craig:
"I think that this project is a great one because it helps kids in the hospital. When kids go to the hospital some parents can't stay with their kids and this can give something for the child to do while their parent or caregiver is gone. Also the hospital is a pretty boring place when they don’t have activities for you to do. You have to sit in you room all day! This can give a bored child something to do and they can have fun at the hospital. So please donate for children that are in the hospital today, you can give a child something to do and make their stay “that much better.”
List of items we are trying to collect:
(must be new items, hospital policy to lessen chance of infection or germs)
- Small LEGO sets
- Board Books (sets from costco can have 5-6 in them!! so would be able to give to 5-6 kids!!)
- Decks of cards or card games
- Crayons (we will be putting together crayon roll ups as well)
- Colored Pencils
- Notebooks or Journals
- Color books (dollar store!!)
- Mini games (like board games in travel size)
- Silly puddy
Friends and family, please think of us when you are doing your school shopping... Pick up something "extra" to help with our project. We as a family are so excited to be doing this and I know that it will help many kids who are going through a very difficult time in their life, to have a bit a "fun" in the hospital:) To forget he constant shots and pricks they are dealing with...and to enjoy a few minutes of their days.....THANK YOU!!!!
We will be collecting these items at the end of summer..and then going full force with Craigs school (they have agreed to help in this project as well!!) and then putting together the bags and delivering them as well, by October....
I have spoken with a few people who are donating and I think the hardest items to collect will be small LEGO sets (only accepting the under $10 sets) , board books and mini games...So if you can, please remember these items when shopping. Thank you so much!
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