| Greetings! |
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"A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary." -Dorothy Canfield Fisher
On behalf of the hundreds of children who come through our hospital's doors, we salute the many mothers who strive for their child's independence and wellbeing this Mother's Day and every day.
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| Responding to the H1N1 Flu |
| Many of us struggle with how to talk to our children about difficult issues. With all that's in the news lately with the threat of the flu, it's not surprising that some children might be fearful or confused. Find out how to protect you and your family and simple ways to talk to your child about the flu. Read more >> |
| Feature Story: Augmentative Communication |
Did you know that Augmentative and Assistive Communication (AAC) is one of the many therapies that is available at Franciscan?  AAC is defined by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as an area of clinical practice that attempts to compensate for the impairment and disability patterns of individuals with severe expressive communication disorders.
The Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology Clinic at Franciscan helps functionally non speaking patients 'find their voices' with the aid of medical technology. Read more>> |
| Send in the Clowns! |
 Seeing Tic Toc and Kowgirl Koo come around the corner was a welcome change of pace for some of the children on the Rehabilitation units a couple of weeks ago. With an arsenal of props, funny songs and jokes, two clowns from the Hearts & Noses organization spread all the cheer they could!
Using improvisational clowning, the pair made their way from room to room visiting with each of the children. Following each child's lead, Tic Toc and Kowgirl Koo interacted with the children with their special brand of gentle, age-appropriate clowning. It was clear that the children enjoyed the visit and the few moments spent forgetting their discomfort or longing for home. Some of the parents even got in on the joking, benefitting from a few laughs of their own. Read more>> |
| New Playroom Opened on Medical Unit |
The Medical Unit recently received a face-lift with the completion of a modern play space for patients and their families. 
The newly renovated space was officially opened for use at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on May 1. The ceremony was held to honor the contributions made by kind benefactors towards the successful completion of the project. Among the donors who made this project possible are Jonathan and Judy Parkhurst of Newton. Jonathan and Judy have a unique relationship with the hospital. Not only are they friends and donors but they also work at Franciscan! Read more >> |
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| Beginning next month, we'll begin sharing a series of patient stories that will highlight their rehabilitation journey. Have a story you'd like to share? Click reply to this email and tell us your story. |
