Young Hastings Patients Receive Special Gift
Jordan Tuttle of Hulbert, a patient at Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital, draws on her new doll provided by the Tahlequah Kiwanis Club.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The local chapter of Kiwanis International provided a special gift of smiles to young patients at Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital with the donation of several unique dolls as part of the group’s Young Children Priority One program.
“We are grateful to our local Kiwanis Club members for their kindness and caring to our young patients,” said Chad Smith, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. “They exemplify gadugi, the Cherokee word for working together for the benefit of the community. We appreciate their thoughtfulness.”
The group donated several of the cloth dolls, which serve many purposes. A child can draw on the doll with markers, distracting them from discomfort and boredom. Because the doll is soft and squeezable, it can be a comfort when the child is anxious. The dolls can also serve as an outlet for expression of fear or unhappiness by drawing a face on the doll. Also, the child can mark on the doll the injury or pain she feels. This allows adults to discuss concerns or pains more objectively with the child.
In addition, the dolls serve as a doctor’s demonstration when they use the doll to show a child what will happen during the procedure, helping the child better understand. Sometimes the child can even help “doctor” the doll. This converts the activity into something the child has control over, often allowing a child to undergo the procedure much more calmly, whether it’s putting on an oxygen mask or having a cut sutured. Each child keeps his doll when leaving the hospital, a positive reminder of the hospital visit.
“We are very happy to do this with the hospital,” said Ann Wilkins, Texas-Oklahoma district chair for the Young Children Priority One Program of Kiwanis International. “Our club exists to help children, families, and communities with issues affecting youth, and we are happy to partner with the Cherokee Nation in this effort.”
The Kiwanis Young Children Priority One program began in 1990 to focus on the needs of young children ages birth to five-years of age. Project ideas fall into four categories—maternal and infant health, child care and development, parent education and support, and safety and pediatric trauma. Local clubs are encouraged to work with other organizations in their respective communities to serve the local children.