The care has been wonderful. Little things matter. 

A few days after 10-year-old Chauncey Turman developed leg pain, his knee started to swell, and he developed a fever. Doctors determined Chauncey had an infection.

“He went from being healthy to all of the sudden his knee was swollen and suddenly he’s going to need surgery,” explained his mom, Gisselle.

Chauncey was admitted to Bronson Children’s Hospital. After orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Gorman performed surgery to remove the infection, Chauncey spent a few nights in the hospital.

“He was very tearful about being here and being away from his family,” says Gisselle. “But the care has been wonderful. The nurses have been really attentive.” Chauncey’s mom notes that having child life specialists who help provide comfort and distraction (most importantly video games), made the stay much easier.

“Parents are very stressed, kids are very stressed – they show their stress level in different ways,” Gisselle says. “One of the things that helps is to bring the child out of the current situation of being sick and in the hospital and away from family and into an environment where they can forget for a little while why they are here.”

Gisselle also notes that her daughter, who is now 20, was a patient at the children’s hospital 18 years ago.  “She doesn’t remember the pokes, but she does remember the special things that happened while she was here. She remembers the pet therapy dog that came, and the guy that came and played a song for her.”

And, for family members, having some of the comforts of home, like the family lounge within the children’s hospital, is important, too. “It makes a huge difference – even something as simple as washer and dryer. Little things matter.”