Coop's Miles for Miracles benefiting Children's Hospital of Philadelphia raises over 25K!

$150

• Provides supplies for playroom group activities per unit each month
  • Activities allow for socialization with others, fosters a creative outlet for patients, provides a sense of normalization in a stressful environment, promotes opportunities for patients and parents to engage, allows kids to be kids
  • CHOP has 25+ playroom
  • Need = $3,750/month
  • Annual need = $45,000

$500

• Provides 10 patients with birthday presents when a child spends their birthday at the hospital (or 1 patient $50 gift and cake)
• Provides 20 patients the opportunity to engage with a Lego Robotics Educator as part of our STEM program (or $25 for 1 patient)
• Allow us to purchase one Quest 3 Mixed Reality headset
  • “Dive into extraordinary experiences with a mixed reality headset that transforms the hospital into an exciting new playground, where virtual elements blend into your actual surroundings. Experience immersion with dazzling visuals with the 4K+ Infinite Display and rich 3D audio with enhanced sound clarity and bass performance”
• 100 Bingo prizes
  • Host bingo M-F via our close circuit TV (Seacrest Studios); A patient favorite activity for kids of all ages
  • $5/bingo prize
  • Roughly 1,000 prizes given each month
  • Need = $5,000/month
• To restock an Art Therapist’s Cart each month
  • CHOP has 9 Art Therapists on staff
  • Need = $4,500/month
• Provides approximately 10 patients with a Music Therapy session (or $50 provides 1 session)
• Provides approximately 10 patients with an Art Therapy session (or $50 provides 1 session)
• Provides approximately 10 patients with a Dance Movement Therapy session (or $50 provides 1 session)
• Provides approximately 10 patients with a therapy session with Therapy Dog Dilly (or $50 provides 1 session)

$600

• Provides 30 newly diagnosed oncology patients each month experiencing hair loss with a hat
  • CHOP averages distributing 30 hats per month
  • $20/hat
• Provides 20 patients with a cozy blanket to make an inpatient sleepover more comfortable
  • CHOP (Philadelphia and KOP hospitals combined) had 3,174 admissions last month (November 2023)
    • Average Length of Stay was 6 days (Philadelphia Campus was an ALOS of 8 days)
    • Average Daily Census was 644
  • $30/blanket

$750

• Provides 50 children’s books for long-stay patients to participate in our “book club”
  • $750 provides for one month
  • The Child Life Book Club is an opportunity for long term patients to participate in a program that allows for the interdisciplinary team to spend time with patients to simply just read to the patient. Each month a new book is provided to participating Book Club Members.

$1000

• Restock one playroom each month to replace commonly used items by patients (e.g., board games, puzzles, toys)
  • CHOP has 25+ playrooms across the Philadelphia and King of Prussia Hospitals
  • Need = $25,000/month to support playrooms across the Philadelphia and KOP Hospitals

$2,500

• Supplies a year’s worth of therapeutic books on topics ranging from understanding a diagnosis to emotional expression
  • $25 for 2 books
  • Provide 200 copies children newly diagnosed
    • Diabetes
      • Cooper Has Diabetes, CJ Has Diabetes, Shia Learns About Insulin, and Taking Diabetes to School
    • Oncology
      • Taking Cancer to School, Peri’s Journey: Helping a Friend Through Cancer, When a Kid Like me Fights Cancer
    • Trauma
      • A Terrible Thing Happened

$5,000

• Annual subscription to Criterion to allow patients to watch movies via our closed circuit TV
• One Xbox or Nintendo Switch gaming cart for use by patients or 3 handheld Nintendo Switches
  • We estimate 23,000 patients use our video game systems each year across all campuses and buildings

HEAR CHOP PATIENTS' STORIES

Cherish’s life-threatening heart condition went undiagnosed for years, with symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and decreased stamina repeatedly attributed to asthma and allergies. In 2018, her condition worsened dramatically, and after her mother insisted doctors look beyond asthma, Cherish was diagnosed with severe heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy. She was transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where specialists quickly recognized the severity of her illness, implanted a pediatric left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to support her failing heart, and later performed a successful heart transplant. Following months of recovery, Cherish returned to playing basketball and enjoying life as a teenager.

One of the most meaningful aspects of Cherish’s experience at CHOP was the support provided by the hospital’s child life specialists. They helped her understand her medical condition, prepared her for treatments and procedures, and taught coping strategies to manage the stress and anxiety of serious illness. Their support, combined with assistance from social workers who connected the family with housing and other resources, helped Cherish and her family navigate the emotional challenges of her long medical journey while maintaining hope for the future.

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For seven years, Ella’s parents knew something was wrong as their daughter suffered from recurring mouth sores, prolonged illnesses, unexplained fevers, and severe infections that doctors struggled to explain. Their search for answers became critical when Ella developed septic shock at age 7 and was hospitalized in intensive care. After continued abnormal blood test results, specialists at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia diagnosed her with cyclic neutropenia, a rare blood disorder that causes dangerously low levels of infection-fighting white blood cells. CHOP’s Bone Marrow Failure Center developed a treatment plan involving regular injections to stimulate white blood cell production, helping Ella regain her strength and return to the activities she loves, including dance, basketball, and piano.

Throughout Ella’s treatment, CHOP’s child life specialists played an important role in reducing the fear and stress associated with medical procedures. During difficult experiences such as IV placements, the child life team used distraction techniques and age-appropriate coping strategies to help Ella feel more comfortable and less anxious. Their support complemented the medical care provided by her physicians and nurses, ensuring that both Ella’s emotional well-being and physical health were addressed while she learned to manage a lifelong condition.

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Hannah spent years searching for answers to the severe gastrointestinal symptoms that affected her ability to eat, grow, and live normally. After repeated hospital visits and worsening health, she was transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where specialists diagnosed her with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO), a rare and life-threatening condition that prevents the digestive system from moving food properly. During a 6½-month hospitalization, Hannah underwent multiple surgeries, including the removal of three feet of bowel and the placement of a permanent colostomy, G-tube, and J-tube. Despite these challenges, she learned to manage her own medical care from a young age and has since returned to playing field hockey, pursuing her goals, and inspiring others with her resilience. Her experiences with the nurses who supported her throughout treatment inspired her dream of becoming a nurse at CHOP and helping children facing similar challenges.

Child life support played a meaningful role in helping Hannah cope during her lengthy hospitalization. Through programs designed to promote normalcy and emotional well-being, she participated in activities such as hosting BINGO and serving as “DJ Hannah Banana” on The VOICE, CHOP’s interactive patient television channel. She also enjoyed visits from therapy dogs and built strong relationships with staff who helped make the hospital experience less intimidating and more engaging. So impactful was this support that Hannah later raised money and donated toys to CHOP’s Child Life Program, wanting to give back to the service that helped her navigate some of the most difficult moments of her medical journey.