CL DISCOVER 2023 February

DISCOVER

The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department February 2023

Lauren’s Lyrics

Lauren, 13, visits the hematology/oncology outpatient clinic every few months for infusions. During Lauren’s last clinic visit, she shared that she was anxious, but remembered that “so many friends” were waiting for her at clinic. Her mom compared her clinic visits to a “playdate,” since she gets to see so many people she has grown to know. Lauren works with Ali Spikestein, child life specialist, facility dog, Professor, and Bethany Pincus, music therapist. During a recent music therapy session, Lauren requested to sing some of her favorite songs with Bethany to help release some negative energy and anxiety. Lauren sang, “Mean” by Taylor Swift, and shared that she loves the lyrics because it makes the songs so relatable. Bethany then prompted Lauren to write a song, as Lauren was vocal about her experiences at clinic that could be relatable to other patients visiting the clinic.

Lauren was a bit nervous at first, as she had never written a song before; however, she was encouraged by her mom to write about her “playdate at Mount Sinai.”

Lauren started the song with expressing some anxiety as she prepares in the morning to drive to clinic, but goes on to easily list all of the activities that make her experience in clinic feel like a “playdate.” This includes working with child life, music and art therapy, the teachers, playing with Professor and seeing familiar faces each time. She named her song “Playdate at Sinai,” in hopes that other patients and families could see their experience at clinic like a “playdate” so it would not feel as scary.

Lauren’s song truly captured how our child life and creative arts therapy team can help patients and their families feel brave at the hospital.

“Playdate at Sinai”

Wake up in the morning

Gotta get ready to go

I’m feeling a little nervous

But I know that I’m a pro

Grab my bag from the closet

Pack the things that make me feel good

Knowing that I can do this So come on now let’s go

I’m on my way to my playdate

But there’s so much unknown

I’m looking out the window

With the music in my ears

Not wanting to do this

But I have to face my fears

I’m going on a play date

Gonna sing some songs

I’m going on a playdate

Gonna see the facility dog

I’m going on a play date

Gonna do some arts and crafts

I’m going on a playdate

The teacher will help me with math

Walking through the door

Everyone’s so friendly

So many familiar faces

My playdate’s about to begin

I get to pet Professor

And he melts my heart

I get to belt some Taylor Swift

And feel like a pop star

I’m going on a playdate

Gonna sing some songs

I’m going on a play date

Gonna see the facility dog

I’m going on a playdate

Gonna do some arts and crafts

I’m going on a play date

The teacher will help me with math.

Lauren and Bethany performed their song for clinic staff.

Haring Mural Sale Benefits Pediatric Patients

On November 17, 2022, a Keith Haring mural sold at Sotheby’s for $945,000. The history of the mural carries great significance to the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. In 1986, Diane Rode, now Senior Director, Patient and Family Centered Care, was then the only art therapist at Mount Sinai Hospital, and she invited Haring to draw for the pediatric patients. On his last of three visits to the hospital, Haring painted a mural, Mural for The Mount Sinai Hospital. Approximately 17 feet wide and 4 feet tall, the mural depicted playfulness and a connection to children. Preserved for three decades, Mural for The Mount Sinai Hospital will continue to benefit the children of Mount Sinai Hospital as proceeds from the auction will benefit pediatric care and programming.

"This mural has such great significance because it represents who he was; this is the legacy he wanted to leave behind. He wanted people to know his heart, this is a reflection of it.. and I gotta tell you, there's something uplifting with art. It helps to bring out that creativeness, it helps you to get lost, and just forget for a minute... It allowed me to heal, to just pour out that pain". Liana, a former patient who was present during Keith Haring's 1986 mural session.

Welcome to New Staff and Interns

Jordana Salomon, a Certified Child Life Specialist, recently joined the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy team in The Cohen Center for Pediatric Comprehensive Care. Jordana graduated with a Master of Science in Child Life from Bank Street College of Education. Jordana found her passion for child life in 2018, and has been volunteering, shadowing, and interning throughout New York City hospitals. When Jordana received her certification, she worked as the sole child life specialist in a hospital where she provided psychosocial support, medical play, education, procedure preparation, and play to pediatric patients and their families, in addition to writing grants and performing administrative tasks. Jordana is very excited to join the incredible (and big) Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Team at Mount Sinai! Welcome, Jordana!

Kyla Ohayon is an art therapy intern from Pratt Institute where she is pursuing a Masters of Professional Studies in Art Therapy and Creative Development. Her favorite art form is fiber arts and she is excited to bring embroidery, weaving, sewing and knitting to the community at Kravis Children’s hospital. A fun fact about Kyla is that she learned how to surf last year. Welcome, Kyla!

Grecia “Gracy” Vidal is a third-year art therapy student from School of Visual Arts. She previously interned at public schools practicing art therapy as part of after school programs. As a student intern, Gracy is always open to learning new skills and innovations that will help her develop as a future art therapist. Welcome, Gracy!

Diane and Liana, a former patient who was present at the creation of the mural.

NICU Highlight

The neonatal intensive care unit child life team has slowly relaunched the sibling visit program. A special visit took place on Halloween from a big brother who patiently waited five months to meet his baby brother! For this Halloween visit, big brother dressed up as his favorite super hero, Iron Man. The neonatal intensive care unit child life team provided a special super hero costume for baby so he could be matching with his big brother. Parents dressed the baby into his costume and big brother helped. Tons of superhero photos and first time family photos were captured.

Paws & Play Corner

Meet Lulu - a patient who was admitted on P5 for almost two months. During her admission, Lulu quickly developed a routine filled with fun coping strategies. She enjoyed much of what the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy department had to offer! She enjoyed going to the zone, playing in the playrooms, but most of all, Lulu loved the Paws & Play program! Her smile lit up a room when one of the dogs walked through the hall. Lulu could often be heard yelling “Hi Amos!” in a cheerful tone down the P5 hallway. She loved petting Amos’ soft fur, going on walks with him, and making him crafts like bracelets and picture frames. When working with Lulu, Amos and Sydney Epstein, Certified Child Life Specialist, worked to provide play opportunities to normalize the hospitalization experience. Lulu especially loved playing doctor with Amos!

A Film Maker in the Making

Art Therapy Fellow

Faris Foundation Art Therapy Fellow, Rosemary Quispe, has created many thoughtful and therapeutic art therapy interventions for our patients and their family members. This past month, Rosemary offered grounding stones, where she showed patients how to use collage materials and clear stones to create messages of hope and inspiration. The goals of creating a grounding stone are to focus on mindfulness and engage in a meaningful coping activity to aid with relaxation. The stones can also be carried as a daily positive reminder and an opportunity to reflect on something that feels grounding and supportive.

Grace Webber, Patient Media Production Assistant, works with patients during individual bedside sessions to create media projects. These projects include filmmaking, editing, TikTok creations, superpower effect videos, digital art, and much more. Recently, she worked with patient Esmeralda, 5, to make a superpower film. Grace assisted Esmeralda in the process, but the patient was the director, writer, star, editor, and overall creator. Through their sessions, Esmeralda was able to be the hero of her own film, “Super Villain Versus Hero.” Esmeralda is ready to create a sequel!

Grace and Esmeralda celebrate finishing her first film!

Making the Season Bright

The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department helped patients and families celebrate the 2022 holiday season with a wide range of themed activities and opportunities. Children and teenagers engaged in art projects highlighting Chanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa traditions while a cart filled with cookies, warm beverages, and holiday crafts brought the spirit of the season on to the pediatric units. The KidZone TV December calendar featured a myriad of festive shows including a New York City Ballet performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, a potato latke cooking special, and holiday caroling hosted by the department’s talented music therapists. For the fourth consecutive year, the Zone’s pop up holiday shop, filled with a multitude of donated gifts, opened its doors for parents to select items at no cost for their hospitalized children and siblings. The grand opening featured a colorful giftwrapping station and art supplies to make personalized holiday cards. Last but not least, the season would not be complete without a bedside visit from Santa and his elves, which our patients enjoyed both in person and virtually direct from the North Pole. We want to thank our many donors for helping us make this holiday season so special!

After a very long stay, one of our patients surprised our KidZone TVstaff with artwork created from one of her favorite activities, KZTV bingo! Made on a food tray, it has images from every bingo she played while with us. In the center, there is a heart, showing how much she loved playing along. This piece now hangs in the KZTV studio, reminding everyone how important these activities are, and how the honest, true and positive experiences we seek to create can help our patients and families during their hospitalization.

Staff Recharge Room

Hope Copperstone, Vice President of Nursing, Pediatric for the Mount Sinai Health System, recently gifted the Child Life & Creative Arts Therapy Department with a Nespresso Breville machine. All Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital employees are invited to enjoy a cup of espresso or coffee, along with a sweet treat, in the Zone’s “Recharge Room.”

Staff Accomplishments

In November 2022, Christina Auriemma presented a workshop titled, “Weaving in the Round: Fostering resiliency through weaving in the pediatric medical setting” at the American Art Therapy Association's National Conference in Minneapolis.

At the 2023 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative, a poster presentation by Morgan Stojanowski and Jackie Craig will be featured: “What’s Going to Happen to Me Mom: Preparing a Teenager for the Loss of a Parent.”

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