Guest blog post by Andrea L. Hughie, RN, MSN.
Little Samirawit Hailemariam (Sami) was introduced to the INN (Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery) at Mount Sinai Roosevelt in August of 2011. Initially a shy and guarded four year old, Sami left her family in Ethiopia to travel to New York City for advanced treatment of her life threatening venous malformation. If left untreated this dangerous collection of vessels could have caused Sami to bleed to death. In her eight months in the United States the large venous malformation that covered the entire left side of her face and mouth was significantly reduced and stabilized by the advanced technology and techniques of Dr. Alejandro Berenstein and Dr. Milton Waner.
Sami’s condition required several hospitalizations, surgical services, and countless doctor office visits. Her young parents in Ethiopia were unable to cover the cost of her healthcare and travel to the United States. Fortunately, the stories of other children with life threatening vascular disorders touched the hearts of a compassionate group of fashion industry executives affectionately know as “The Needlers”. The Needlers Foundation has been a long time supporter of the INN. Parents that feel hopeless because they can not afford the cost of healthcare to save their children’s lives are put at ease by the generous donations from the Needlers’ Foundation. Hospital bills, travel, and lodging are paid by the charitable assistance received from the Needlers’ each year.
During their stays the children also benefit from dynamic programs funded by many of our generous donors. We celebrate with the “PICU Annual Holiday Party with Santa Claus” sponsored by the Needlers’ Foundation, the “Annual Valentines Day Festival” hosted by the Eve Fenton Love All Foundation, and fun Halloween decorations and “spooky” gift bags distributed by the Linklaters. These fun holiday programs make hospital stays during the holidays fun and exciting for children and their families.
Sami in Ethiopia before her life-saving surgery with Dr. Milton Waner and Dr. Alejandro Berenstein Photo Credit: David Rotbard.
The contributions by the Needlers Foundation has been unmatched. The permanent establishment of the Child Life Program–a staff solely dedicated to enhancing the child’s experience in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)–is a tangible imprint of the Needlers’ kindness. This innovative program is funded by the Needlers’ Foundation. This highly trained and specialized staff assists physicians and nurses in developing a family-centered treatment plan for all patients in the PICU. The child life specialists infuse techniques such as “positions for comfort” and the “Buzzy device” to make needlesticks less painful for children. They use complementary and alternative therapies such Reiki therapy and Therapeutic Touch to lower anxiety and pain levels for children who are recovering from painful surgical procedures. Most importantly the Child Life Program staff provides fun activities such as daily visits from “Adam the Clown”.
2012 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Needlers’ Foundation. The Needlers’ began the year with a “Graduation Party” for young Sami in March 2012 who completed 8 months of treatment with Dr. Berenstein in NYC. Sami was able to happily return to Ethiopia without worries of her venous malformation standing in the way of her meeting new friends, eating her new favorite snack Doritos , or giving her family a brand new toothy smile that is free from the obstruction of an overgrown facial deformity. Sami’s outstandingly positive outcomes were made possible by the skilled clinical staff at INN and PICU as well as the continued generosity from donors like the Needlers’ Foundation.