Regardless of age, making a positive change is attainable. Efforts add up and make a difference. Students at Cherry Creek Elementary (CCE) learned last month how their change can change the lives of other kids. The initiative started in January as part of the school’s learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. and thinking about how students could make a positive change in their lives and/or to help others. They learned how change begins with them.
Change 4 Change
In January, students at CCE collected change. They learned the importance of how a change in their actions and monetary change add up and make a difference. Each classroom had a jar where change was collected. Some classes had penny drives, while others contributed spare change as they watched their jar fill.
The last day to collect change was January 29. From the beginning they knew their donation would go to the Children’s Healing Center. Fourth grade student, Claire Block is a cancer survivor. Last year her mom, Melissa Block wrote a bit about the family’s story as one of the Pink Arrow’s Perseverance stories.
Melissa is the Associate Director at the Children’s Healing Center, where kids with compromised immune systems can go and play in an as germ free as possible environment. Access to playing, especially with other kids is, an important part of living with a condition where staying healthy during treatment means being careful about who and what you come in contact with on a daily basis. The Center provides the opportunity for kids to be kids, with other kids, when so much is already taken away from them.
The History
Melissa Block and Amanda Winn met in the hospital. “We quite literally met over an IV pole and struck up a friendship.” recalls Block. Winn was 22 at the time, being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The two women talked about what families face when a child is diagnosed with cancer. There’s loneliness, isolation, and the emotional struggle dealing with the diagnosis and treatment.
Winn, an architect, was in the process of working on a sports barn for a family. As she met other families with the same struggles as the Blocks, she wanted to create a space where families could come and find a sense of community, friendship and support beside others going through similar experiences. And where children could play and be kids along with other kids.
Prior to having space dedicated to this mission, Winn planned and held events at places like Kootsier’s and the Mudroom. The Blocks would attend various events, Melissa proud of her friend for making her vision a reality. In Summer 2015, a building was remodeled and in final stages of preparation before opening. Winn hosted an event to thank donors who helped make the facility a possibility and invited the Blocks.
At the time Block was working at Sysco food services running the marketing department, but felt like she wanted to do something different. Her path would cross with Winn once again during meaningful moment. While at the event, Block and Winn embraced, with Block telling her friend she was proud and wanted to volunteer at the facility. Winn’s response included, “..and maybe work here?!” The following week the two met to discuss how they could work together and as Block says, “The rest is history.”
A note from a doctor or referral stating a child in the family has a weak immune system or a greater risk for infection is all that is needed to qualify for services and programs offered by the Children’s Healing Center. Families can also take a referral form to a doctor or contact the Center to discuss obtaining a referral.
Connect, Play, and Find Support
Winn, as the Founder and Executive Chair, and Block run the nonprofit along with 5 employees and numerous volunteers. “I am so grateful to use my experiences as a cancer mom to bless other families struggling with a childhood illness.” says Block of the opportunity to give back.
Play is important for kids. Baby and preschool groups helps kids develop physically and mentally. Moms plan playdates to socialize. School aged kids also thrive from play and interaction with other kids. However, kids with compromised immune systems often lack the ability to play with others, go to school (or miss a lot of days), or even get out to the grocery store as they strive to keep healthy during treatment. They, along with their families, can feel isolated, which only compounds the stress of a medical diagnosis and treatment.
The Children’s Healing Center has a focus on the entire family. Programs are available for kids 0-18 and a special group for those 19-26 is also available. Parents and siblings can also find support at the Center. Parents can neglect their own needs as they focus on a sick child. Healthy siblings can get lost in the family as the unit deals with an illness. These siblings are welcome at any time to attend programs, even if their sick sibling is not present, because oftentimes they can be denied the life of a normal kid. It’s important for all members of a family dealing with a compromised immune system to be mindful of germs and health.
With a focus on physical fitness, learning, and social/emotional health, the facility offers a wide variety of opportunities including karate, art, and story/music classes all broken into age appropriate groups. Parents can let their child play and interact without worry of coming in contact with something or someone who could compromise a fragile immune system. Parent programs allow adults to participate in a class or activity while their child(ren) are off with Center volunteers playing, providing all involved with some time for fun without thinking about illness. “One of the most rewarding things is to have a parent leave their child with us and tell us that this is the first time they have felt comfortable doing that since their child’s diagnosis. You can see a weight lift off them when they walk in our doors.” Block says of what she has witnessed at the Center.
Those who run the Children’s Healing Center are aware of the cost of having a child with an illness which threatens a young life. They realize parents often work reduced hours or quit a job in order to care for a sick child. They recognize how quickly medical bills not covered by insurance add up. All of these things are stressful and overwhelming for a family. Therefore, the Center feels families should never have to pay for being able to provide as much of a normal childhood as possible.
A Partners in Play initiative gives families and businesses the opportunity to sponsor a family for a year. Families write letters and send photos to their sponsors, knowing without their help numerous lives would not be able to feel normal, if only for one day a month to several days a week.
One of a Kind
Since opening its doors, the Children’s Healing Center has welcomed over 615 people who have participated in over 201,750 hours of play. Families come when it’s convenient. For some it’s several times a week. Others come weekly, monthly, or less frequently. But whenever they come, they’re welcomed with open arms.
The Center is still working on getting the word out in the Grand Rapids area so more families realize a place like this exists. Approximately 84% of the membership families are from West Michigan, but being close to Helen DeVos Children’s hospital, where patients come from all over the globe for treatment, visitors from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Texas and even Ireland have played at the Center.
Children’s Healing Center is the first of its kind in the country. From beginning with an idea of a cancer patient touched by a family’s struggles when living with a child with a compromised immune system to involving a Mom who has gone through cancer treatments with her child, the nonprofit organization has set high standards for the families it serves. Providing an environment as germ-free as possible gives families the opportunity to feel normal, socialize, meet others who understand their plight, and not miss out on social, emotional, and mental growth and healing amidst a medical diagnosis and treatment which affects everyone in the household.
Drumroll Please…
Students at Cherry Creek Elementary gathered during an assembly for 2nd and 3rd grades and one for 4th and 5th grades this past Monday. Students continue to work on kindness and how their actions can change the world around them and beyond, with some showing off their signs of how they can make a positive change in the world.
Melissa Block was present to thank the students for their efforts raising money for Children’s Health Center and to find out how much the Center would receive. “Empowering kids is important to us. We want them to understand that they can make a difference in the world, no matter how young they are or how little they think they have to give.” says Block. Through collecting change so they could make a difference, an impressive $1,051.39 (and an additional bag of rolled coins turned in after the final tally was complete) will be donated to help other kids be able to play in a safe environment. Block said she was impressed at the generosity of the students. She said she would send photos and an update on what the money is used to purchase at the Center so the kids would be able to see where their contribution was spent.
Those interested in donating to the Children’s Healing Center or sponsoring a family visit their webpage for more information. The Center is located at 1530 Fulton Street East.
Photos of the Children’s Healing Center were provided and used with permission.
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