“Angels On Earth”: The Value of Child Life Specialists
How do you get your child through the unimaginable?
Berkley was just 4 years old when she started a pattern of not feeling well and heading in and out of doctor appointments without getting answers. Her parents Duane and Kandace took the initiative to see a doctor in St. Cloud, MN who referred them to Children’s Minneapolis for further assessment.
On a Wednesday in August, Berkley was diagnosed with stage four high risk Neuroblastoma. This is a cancer that develops in infants and children, sometimes even before birth. For Berley, the cancer had already spread to her bone marrow and a large tumor was wrapped around the main valve off her heart—threatening blood flood to her kidneys and lower spine. Between young Berkley’s diagnosis and her sister Remington being only 18 months, the family knew they had a long journey ahead of them.
Soon after the initial diagnosis, Berkley was admitted with Children’s Minnesota in Minneapolis to begin treatment. Because the cancer had already spread to her bone marrow, treatment began with chemotherapy. With extensive time in the hospital, Child Life helped Berkley understand scans, injections, blood counts, and more. Child Life Specialists work with patients and their family members of all ages to reduce the stress of the hospital environment, provide explanations of procedures and treatments in developmentally accessible ways, and promote emotional regulation, positive coping skills, and play throughout the hospital experience. In other words, they help kids be kids, even when in the hospital. In the words of Berkley’s parents’, they’re “angels on earth.”
“As a parent, it’s hard to ask for help, but with the Child Life staff and support, you don’t have to ask. It’s just there,” says Kandace.
By the time Berkley had completed five rounds of chemotherapy, she had a very close bond with the Child Life team and her doctors were able to inform the family the first phase of treatment had been successful. It was then time to progress treating the tumors.
Removing the tumor wrapped around her heart was a high-risk surgery. The doctors at Children’s Minnesota referred the family to a team in New York City. In New York, Berkley underwent an 11-hour surgery that successfully removed the entire tumor. While this victory was a huge milestone to celebrate, Berkley’s medical journey was far from over.
Back in Minnesota, Berkley continued to receive care from Children’s Minnesota as she and her entire family continued to receive support from Child Life. After seven years, Berkley was able to move to long-term care, a transition to yearly checkups to monitor her cancer status rather than frequent appointments, tests, and procedures.
Throughout it all, Child Life was there making sure Berkley understood every aspect of her diagnosis and treatment, providing kid-centered opportunities for connection and play, and helping the entire family navigate the difficulties of pediatric cancer.
Reflecting on Berkley’s medical journey, Duane and Kandace emphasize the support they received from Child Life was invaluable. They say the more Child Life was there, the more comfortable and relaxed Berkley would be.
"I don't know how we would have gotten through all of Berkley's treatments without the support of Child Life."
As a fundraising nonprofit dedicated to supporting holistic pediatric healthcare programs and services, Children’s Hospital Association has supported Child Life for many years.
To ensure access to Child Life is available to provide essential support to kids like Berkley and their families, donate to Children’s Hospital Association today.
Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) is a fundraising and resource 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, MN dedicated to supporting holistic pediatric healthcare services and programs rarely covered by insurance. Berkley's story was originally shared in 2022.
