| Greetings! |
|
Did you know that that #1 cause of death in children is unintentional injury? Today's newsletter highlights summer safety tips for caregivers and families with children. You can also read the first in a series of patient success stories as well as a number of other newsworthy notes from the month. |
| Feature: Molly's Story |
 Like many young couples, first time parents Susan and John looked forward to the arrival of their daughter with excitement and anticipation. But after a difficult pregnancy and the threat of miscarriage, they were not prepared for the challenges they'd face when Molly arrived. Read more » |
| Games For All |
Recently, students in the UMass Lowell Computer Science program came to bring their latest inventions to the students at the Kennedy Day School. The UMass students brought their school projects, a series of computer animated games specially designed to be accessible for children with special needs. All of the games could be played with a single-switch and are an example of how assistive technologies can expand the opportunities of children who might not be able to play video games otherwise. Special thanks to Dr. Fred Martin, Associate Professor of Computer Science and his Software Engineering students for their efforts.
Click here to view photos from the visit. |
| A Taste of Afro-Latin Music |
Last Thursday, the kids at the Kennedy Day School got a taste of music from Puerto-Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic when music group Manguito (Spanish for Little Mango), paid a visit.  There was lots of clapping and dancing as the rhythms of Latin America filled the air. The group, made up of six internationally known Latin American musicians entertained the kids with a rich fusion of afro-latin music. It was hard to miss the distinct percussion accompaniment to the songs.
The excitement created by the performance was almost palpable and the kids got a full appreciation of the variety of latin instruments Manguito showcased. It was evident that this was one performance the kids couldn't get enough of.  Group leader, Alex Alvear would agree that sharing music with our kids was equally rewarding.
Manguito's visit to the Kennedy Day School was made possible by Young Audiences of Massachusetts, a statewide organization whose mission is to initiate lifelong involvement in the arts by making them integral to every child's education.
To learn more about Young Audiences of Massachusetts, visit www.yamass.org.
|
| Avoiding Summer Hazards |
In partnership with Franciscan Hospital for Children, the non-profit organization WATCH (World Against Toys Causing Harm) conducted their annual Summer Safety press conference. Highlighted at the event were the safety precautions parents and caregivers should take to make it an enjoyable summer.  Mary Fortunato-Habib, Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, kicked off the press conference. "While we've had many patient successes using the latest rehabilitative therapies but the best way to treat those injuries is to prevent them in the first place." Last year alone 927 patient days were spent by children here at the hospital recovering from traumatic brain injuries. "We can't assume that just because an item is on the shelf it's going to be safe and that it's going to protect our children adequately because it very well may not," said James Swartz, a director of W.A.T.C.H. While recalls may decrease the number of dangerous toys on the market they don't replace vigilance by parents. In addition to unsafe toys, precautions for water play were also discussed. Click here for a full list of the summer hazards to avoid. |
|
| Do you have a patient story you'd like to share? Click reply to this email and tell us your story. |
