Hospital Information

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania

http://www.chp.edu

 

TJ's parents speak very highly of their relationship with this hospital. They didn't just treat TJ, they took care of Randy & Lori too. From sleep rooms, to library with internet access, to Social Work, the hospital took them in hand and lead them through the darkest times.

Lori always talks about the the healing that TJ experienced from the playroom on their recovery floor. The child Life specialists had crafts and activities for everyone to participate in regardless of physical, mental, or emotional limitations.

Anyone can make a donations of new toys, markers, paints, craft supplies, gaming equipment, any thing an infant, toddler, child, or teen may enjoy can be made to the CHILD LIFE DEPARTMENT of CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH. The only criteria is all donations must be NEW.

 

The Transplant team is part of The Heart Center, and they are a specialized group of doctors, surgeons, nurses, and administration. They are the Transplant Cardiology Team and they educated and continue to educate the entire family about the heart and any issues TJ experiences.

 

 THE BEADS OF COURAGE STORY

There is a program called Beads of Courage that the hospital participates in. TJ was enrolled after 1 month of being in the cardiac program. In this program patients receive a necklace with their name on it, a bead representing TRIO (the sponsor), and a bead representing the cardiac program. From then on every procedure they have done earns them another bead. Every X-ray, echo, needle stick, heart catheterization, hospital stay, clinic visit, medicine change, rejection free time, the list goes on. Each event is a different bead.

The necklace chronicles the patient's journey. In TJ's case, there are 11 necklaces with a total of 1,368 beads. The day he was presented with them was a memorable day. You can see it in his face, he knows what those beads are, and he's not even 2 yet.

They are "HIS BEADS" and they are "SPECIAL".

TJ has continued to earn beads through his complications and recoveries. His current total of beads is around 2500 and they weigh 4 pounds! He has a total of 19 necklaces.

Now that he's 2, he helps string his own necklaces.

 

He also know what his special "Acts of Courage" Beads are for. If you ask him why he has a cow bead, he'll tell you "Trach".

 

You see during this last hospitalization recovering from PTLD, TJ had severe Croup. To keep his airway safe the doctors needed to perform a Trachestomy. The day before his surgery, Joanne Snyder presented this special bead to Lori & Randy. She thought that it was one of the coolest beads they had received and she was saving for a very special moment. She felt that TJ having to have a tracheotomy qualified.

This is such a valuable program for these kids. There will come a day when TJ won't remember all the days he spent in the hospital. The beads chronicle his journey and tell a story he will have to learn. They tell people a story of TJ's bravery and determination.

They are a visible reminder to all that TJ's a survivor, he's a fighter, and in the true spirit of the word, a warrior.