News for Families
Vol. 37, No. 2
The making of the video “The World of Hope”
Caption
How children deal with chronic illnesses, such as cancer, is completely different than adults. To shine a light on how children fight the battle of cancer, Dayton Children’s created “The World of Hope,” a video that showcases how children use their vivid imaginations in a world of make believe to cope with living in a world of chemotherapy, radiation and staying for weeks in a hospital. Continued on page 4
Kayleigh Crabtree, a cancer patient at Dayton Children’s, was cast as the princess in “The World of Hope” video.
‘Water’ you waiting for? It’s time for swim lessons
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Get ready to splash into summer by teaching your child how to swim and proper water safety. According
to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning is the second leading cause of death among children age 14 and younger. In the past 24 months, Dayton Children’s had 12 cases of near drowning. Proper water training for kids is a key factor in reducing this number. YMCAs or swim clubs are great options when you’re looking to sign up your child for swim lessons. Dive into swim lessons by age
songs, how to blow bubbles and put their face in the water, and become acquainted with the water. 3 – 5 years old
As children advance to the preschool age, lessons will continue to help children be comfortable in the water and classes will focus on floating and paddling, how to swim 25 yards with an instructional floating device and 15 yards without a floating device. 6 – 12 years old
6 months – 3 years old
Children can begin swim lessons as young as 6 months old. Parents should be in the water with infants and toddlers during swim lessons. Children this young will learn games,
School-age children will learn front, back and side paddle strokes, how to alternate paddle strokes with breathing, how to tread water, and elementary front/back strokes and breaststroke.
6 water safet y tips for parents 1. Keep an eye on kids. Always actively supervise children in and around water. Stay where you can see, hear and reach kids in the water.
Growing Together is published quarterly for parents and families in the Miami Valley area by Dayton Children’s. The purpose of Growing Together is to show how Dayton Children’s and families are working together to keep all children healthy and safe. Additional copies of Growing Together are available by writing to Dayton Children’s, c/o Marketing Communications, One Children’s Plaza, Dayton, Ohio, 45404-1815 or by calling 937-641-3666. Your suggestions and comments are also appreciated. For more information: Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXXX 937-641-3666 childrensdayton.org
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Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXXX
2. Cover it up. Equip a pool or spa with an anti-entrapment drain cover and a safety vacuum release system to prevent children from being caught in the suction of the drain.
3. Tame the toys. Don’t leave toys in or near the pool where they could attract unsupervised kids.
5. Noodles aren’t life jackets. Don’t rely on noodles and water wings. If your child can’t swim, stay within an arm’s reach.
4. Fence it in. A fence should be placed around backyard pools to prevent small children from falling in and drowning, and the fence door should always be locked. Above ground pools should have the ladder removed when not in use.
6. Learn infant and child CPR. In less than two hours, you can learn effective interventions that can give a fighting chance to a child whose breathing and heartbeat have stopped. Contact the American Red Cross about local CPR classes.
Knowing how to swim should never take the place of active supervision.
5 hidden dangers that may be lurking at your home
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Taking a child to a birthday party with a bounce house may seem completely harmless, so does helping mom do the laundry. However, seemingly harmless things can cause dangerous injuries to kids.
from chemical burns and become lethargic. Ensure detergent pods are stored high up, and have the number to poison control (1-800-222-1222) near every phone, including your cell phone.
Detergent danger To some kids, the bright colors and bite-size packaging of single-toss packets of laundry detergent simply look too much like candy. Children who bite into the concentrated packets may vomit, choke, suffer
Mom’s medicine More than 85 percent of emergency room visits for medicine poisoning are due to a child getting into an adult’s medication. The three most typical places kids find the medication are: 1) On the floor,
2) In a purse, 3) On a counter, dresser or nightstand. And just because the cap is child resistant doesn’t mean it’s completely childproof. The solution is easy. Put medicine up high, out of sight and out of reach. Bounce houses and trampolines Last year, Dayton Children’s saw 20 bounce house-related injuries and 132 trampoline-related …continued on page 3
Urgent or emergent?
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Where to go when your child is injured Summer is the season for injuries,
When to go to Urgent Care – Springboro: ●●Small cuts or lacerations that require simple stitches. However, if you would like to have a plastic surgeon or if your child needs sedation during stitches, head to the emergency room. ●●Minor fractures, sprains, strains.
The most common are wrist and forearm fractures, sprained ankles and finger injuries. ●●Mild wheezing from asthma
flare-ups. ●●Minor head injuries, thanks to spring
and summer sports. Symptoms to watch for include headache, nausea or slowed thinking. These could indicate a concussion. ●●Bruises that are large, raised and
very painful.
●●Minor burns, eye injuries, eye and
skin infections. When to go to the emergency room: ●●Any injury occurring outside of Urgent Care – Springboro hours. ●●Cuts that are larger than one inch
Dayton Children’s Urgent Care – Springboro Urgent Care – Springboro is open hours when a pediatrician’s office is typically closed. Monday – Friday, 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm Saturday – Sunday, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
in length, require multiple layers of stitches, or cuts in complicated locations such as nail beds, over joints or through the lip.
healthbeat
thanks to kids spending more time outside of the classroom, and more time on the soccer field and at summer barbecues. While urgent and emergent may have a similar sound, urgent care centers and emergency rooms treat different injuries. It’s important to know where to go if your child is injured from a common warm weather mishap.
●●Injuries from falls higher than
six-feet, motor vehicle accidents or accidents that cause multiple injuries. ●●Fractures that cause deformity of
the limb or bone. ●●Any injuries where child abuse is
suspected, even if minor. ●●Head injuries that cause loss of
consciousness, behavior change, vomiting or difficulty waking up. ●●Severe allergic reactions where
the child has difficulty breathing. If the child has a known allergy, use an EpiPen® and go to the emergency department. Call 911 for trouble breathing that does not get better within one minute of the EpiPen. If you do not have an EpiPen, call 911 immediately.
injuries. Only allow one child at a time to jump; most injuries occur when multiple children are jumping simultaneously. Energy drinks The high levels of caffeine and sugar contained in energy drinks may pose health risks for kids, including heart palpitations, seizures, stroke, even sudden death. Encourage your child to stay hydrated with water instead.
Button batteries Gadgets and widgets are part of almost everyone’s life. However, if swallowed, button batteries, found in watches, remotes and flameless candles, can cause serious burns to the inside of your child’s body. Make sure any device containing button batteries is out of sight and reach of children. If your child does swallow a button battery, go to the emergency department immediately.
COVER S TORY
4 The World of Hope stats Total locations included in the video: 5 Music: Pat McInnis, composer Props: Nicole
Wentz, elementary school teacher Voice: Jon Gross Hours to edit the video: 40 Actual length of the video:
2 minutes, 54 seconds Views on YouTube:
Nearly 5,000 on the day it was released; more than 9,000 to date. If you missed the launch of “The World of Hope,” scan this symbol to watch Zach, Kayleigh, Evan and Nathan or watch it on childrens dayton.org.
How “The World of Hope”
was brought to life C The World of Hope was developed and created by Showdown Visual in Dayton. “Instead of using facts and physicians to create a cancer video, we wanted to show an analogy of the battles of cancer through colorful fairy tale images and a world of imagination,” explains Kenny Mosher, owner of Showdown Visual and videographer.
hildren selected for the video are patients at Dayton Children’s currently receiving cancer treatment. The first character that was created was the knight. “The knight slaying the dragon on Mount Malignant was the first idea we came up with for the story. The next idea was a princess in need of healing potions, an astronaut traveling through the galaxy of radiation, and a cowboy capturing bandits.” “We had to match the physical capabilities of the kids with the
roles in the video,” explains Kenny. “And more than once, filming was rescheduled due to illness from extensive chemotherapy treatments.” Kenny shares that the video had deep significance for him personally. “My mother is a four-time cancer survivor, so helping these kids escape their daily life of blood draws and MRIs for a little while to make a video that will give hope to the next generation of children with cancer is something I will never forget.”
Meet the cast of “The World of Hope”
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What Zach liked best about “The World of Hope:”
How being a star in the video has changed his life:
“It made me forget about the medicine and the pokes. Before the video came out, A Special Wish gave me a home movie theater system to watch movies. So after “The World of Hope” was released, I invited my family and friends to my own red carpet premiere. Sometimes people recognized me around town and asked for my autograph.” Zach’s mother’s take: “Being part of the video gave Zach
Zachary Meredith, “The Knight,” filmed at John Bryan State Park Age: 9, from Springboro Pediatrician: Randy Eisenhut, MD, PriMed Centerville Diagnosis: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (2011) His doctor at Dayton Children’s: Emmett Broxson, Jr, MD What he wants to be when he grows up: An oncology nurse or
a first-grade teacher.
a purpose, he was no longer a ‘kid with cancer,’ he was a star,” says Tricia Meredith, Zach’s mother. “The video was a sense of healing for Zach; he knew he was passing on hope to the next group of kids with cancer.” “Kayleigh, one of the stars in the video, had just finished her treatment after the video was released, so witnessing her progress gave him inspiration that soon he will be in the same place – remission.” “Zach’s a true warrior and has an amazing attitude. We don’t feel sorry for ourselves, this is our life now and we will fight this and win.”
Kayleigh’s favorite part of “The World of Hope:”
“I liked wearing a tiara, the pretty pink dress and seeing my dad (who played the wizard in the video) get lost in the forest while filming. It was pretty funny. I liked walking through the field of flowers and the sea of bubbles. It made me forget that I had a port in my chest for chemotherapy.” How the video has changed her life: “Being in the video was magical. I hope lots of other kids with cancer watch it. I want them to know they can get better like me. When I grow up, I want to have a foundation that helps other kids with cancer.” Kayleigh’s mother’s perspective on the video: Kayleigh Crabtree, “The Princess,” filmed at Wegerzyn Gardens Metro Park Age: 11, from Beavercreek Pediatrician: Katherine Wingate, MD, Pediatric Associates of
Dayton, Inc. Diagnosis: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (2010) Her doctor at Dayton Children’s: Mukund Dole, MD What she wants to be when she grows up: A teacher, author
and a millionaire to start a foundation.
“It’s in Kayleigh’s nature to give back to others; she was born on Thanksgiving Day,” says Michelle Crabtree, Kayleigh’s mother. “She was so excited to be in ‘The World of Hope’ video because she wants to make a difference for other kids with cancer.” “Kayleigh is a philanthropist at heart. She’s raised $40,000 for pediatric cancer through so many fundraisers that have benefited Dayton Children’s, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, A Special Wish and CureSearch. She missed out on two years of her childhood due to cancer, so for a few hours, it made up for some of those moments that she missed.”
DaytonChildren’s focus
“Slaying the dragon! Two of my neighbors were in the tail of the dragon, so it was fun to knock them over!”
What Evan thought about playing the cowboy: “Most of the time I don’t
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want to run and play, but I had fun being a cowboy and tying up the bandits and forgetting that I didn’t feel good.” Greg Fletcher’s thoughts on how the video distracted his son during treatment: “During the filming, most
Other cast and crew healing kids – and helping them cope Two of the key roles in helping children with cancer are social work and child life, who were cast in “The World of Hope“ video to showcase their unique role of helping children heal emotionally. “Our role in social work is to help create a ‘new normal’ for families who have a child with cancer,” explains Pam Byer, MSW, LISW-S, featured in the video. “These children go through so much treatment that this video gave them a purpose – which emotionally helps them heal.” Child life specialists also spend significant time with cancer patients and can help getting a port or sitting through four hours of chemotherapy a little more bearable. “Our role is to share coping strategies and distract the child during procedures,” explains Rita Falkenbach, the child life specialist featured in the video.
Evan Fletcher, “The Cowboy,” filmed at Carillon Park Age: 6, from Dayton Pediatrician: Angela Long-Prentice, MD, Northwest Dayton Physicians Diagnosis: Rhabdomyosarcoma (April 2012) His doctor at Dayton Children’s: James French, II, MD What he wants to be when he grows up: A surgeon for kids
of Evan’s days and weeks were not good,” Greg shares. “But for those few days, he had the chance to focus on just being a kid having fun with his friends, not being a sick kid.” “He loved the experience of working with the videographers; he followed them everywhere. These kids spend so much time in the hospital that for a short period of time they get to laugh with friends and play in a make-believe world without cancer.” What Nathan thought about his part in the video: “I liked that my astronaut
helmet had lights inside. Plus it was cool to get out of school for something fun for a change. Most of the time when I get out of school it’s for something not fun like a chemotherapy treatment.” How the video helped Nathan then, and now: “The video took his mind off
Nathan McDermott, “The Astronaut,” filmed at the Challenger Learning Center Age: 10, from Arcanum Pediatrician: Amy Jones, MD, Samaritan Pediatrics Diagnosis: Brain Tumor (February 2010), relapse brain tumor with several spinal tumors (November 2011). Recent MRIs show two new tumors. His doctor at Dayton Children’s: Emmett Broxson, Jr, MD What he wants to be when he grows up: Paleontologist
of treatment,” Anita, Nathan’s mother shares. He loved the attention he received from his teachers and students, it made him feel like such a star. He goes for weekly blood draws at the Dayton Children’s Vandalia Testing Center and the lab tech had him sign his autograph on a Band-Aid® that she now has framed on the wall. He thought it was so cool to get that type of response from people who have seen him Scan this in the video.” symbol to watch “The World of Hope.”
C h i l dho od c a n c e r by t he n u m b e r s Most common type of childhood cancer
Average age of children at diagnosis
Average number of hours for a chemotherapy treatment
Average number of years a child with leukemia receives treatment
Leukemia
8
4 hours
3
Type of cancer with the most reoccurrence Brain tumors
Number of years in remission that indicates a child is cured 5 years
Obesity epidemic
More children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes endocrinologist at Dayton Children’s. “Today, approximately one in three new diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes are children.” According to Dr. Nicholson, the most common age range for Type 2 diabetes in children is 10 to 18 and symptoms for Type 2 are very similar to Type 1 diabetes. Common symptoms: ●●Rapid weight loss ●●Frequent urination ●●Frequent bedwetting
Thanks to a world of supersized meals, gaming systems and lack of proper nutrition, nearly 37 percent of children in Dayton are considered obese, leading to more children receiving a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes in children is a chronic condition that affects the way your child’s body metabolizes sugar (glucose). Type 2 diabetes most often is diagnosed in children who are overweight. The new clinical guidelines recommend starting children on insulin at diagnosis in addition to changes in diet and exercise. “In the 1990s, there were very few children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes,” says Yelena Nicholson, DO,
●●Constant thirst
There are serious risks involved with Type 2 diabetes including hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease and even hospitalization. However, Type 2 diabetes treatment – and prevention – boils down to two things: diet and exercise. “Parents are sometimes skeptical that eating healthy actually costs less, but take a look at your receipt the next time you are at the grocery. Skip the case of Coke for $5, cookies for $2 and a bag of chips for $3, and take that $10 and load up on fruits and vegetables. These simple lifestyle changes can have a big impact toward improving your child’s diet.”
Fighting Type 2 diabetes takes a group effort, that’s why Dayton Children’s has joined forces with Diabetes Dayton to provide a free, week-long overnight camp at Camp Tiponi for children who have insulin resistance, prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes. Camp Tiponi allows children to develop the knowledge and skills needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle through a balance of proper nutrition and exercise in a fun, overnight camp setting.
Scan the code to learn more about our partnership with Camp Tiponi.
7 New concussion law continued from back cover…
Federation of State High School Association (NFHS); both are free of charge. For parents
Leagues are required to provide a Youth Sports Concussion Information Sheet from the Ohio Department of Health, which must be provided to the parent each year. The sheet outlines the signs and symptoms of a concussion and explains the dangers of returning to sports too soon after injury.
Scan this for more on concussions.
Removing from play
Ohio’s Return to Play law also includes three rules for leagues, coaches, officials and families: 1. Officials must remove an athlete from the game if he or she exhibits signs of a concussion during a game or practice. 2. The athlete cannot return to play on the same
day they are removed after showing signs of a concussion. 3. The athlete is not allowed to return to play until a doctor or licensed health care provider assesses the child and the youth sports organization receives written approval that the child is cleared to play. What can you do to protect your kids? Parents should know the signs and symptoms of a concussion. ●●Headache
●●Dizziness
●●Nausea
●●Ringing in ears
●●Memory difficulties
●●Sensitivity to light or
●●Slowed thinking ●●Tiredness, changes in
sleep
sounds ●●Mood changes ●●Blurred vision
If your child experiences any of these symptoms after a fall or hard hit, visit Urgent Care – Springboro or the Dayton Children’s emergency department. For more information on the return to play law, visit www.healthyohioprogram.org/concussion.
inside
this issue
2 5 hidden dangers that may be lurking at your home
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit Number 41 Dayton, Ohio The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton One Children’s Plaza Dayton, Ohio 45404-1815
4 How “The World of Hope” was brought to life
CHA-CHA Believe, May 11
7 Obesity epidemic: More children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes
The Women’s Board at Dayton Children’s invites you to CHA-CHA, a special evening to benefit the Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Care Endowment. Tickets: chachadayton.com or call 937-641-3405
News for Families
New law confronts concussions head on Concussions are injuries to the brain and left untreated can have lasting effects, including brain damage and death if not recognized early and managed properly. In an effort to protect children and teens, the state of Ohio passed a concussion law, known as the “Return to Play” law, which goes into effect April 26, 2013. The law imposes training and awareness requirements on youth sports organizations, tournaments, leagues, officials, and athletes and their families.
Requirements of the Return to Play Law Training for coaches, referees
All coaches and referees must receive training by April 26 and the training must be renewed every three years. Coaches and referees must sign a certification of training and leagues must be able to prove that training has been completed. Leagues can choose training from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or the National …continued on page
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Saturday, May 11 6:30 pm Sinclair Ponitz Center Dayton, Ohio