Originally published September 19 2005
Program helps rehabilitating children integrate into schools
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
After a child survives a serious illness, there are still many challenges to face. One program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto is attempting to smooth over transitions between hospital and school.
Imagine for a moment you are a child and it's your first day back to school after a lengthy summer break.
These are the kinds of challenges Zandalee Springs and other children with similar illnesses have had to face.
A new program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto has begun smoothing the rocky transitions many students with serious illnesses face when going from hospital back to school.
Sitting at the kitchen table in her Redwood City home making the family's miniature poodle pretend to clap its paws, it's hard to imagine that Zandalee, a playful 12-year-old with wispy blond hair, could ever have been near death.
"When kids say I don't understand because I have never been through it, I can tell them that, yes, I have," Zandalee said.
Her special understanding, she'll tell them, was obtained firsthand in a hospital cancer ward.
After her diagnosis of cancer in December 2001, Zandalee went into a mysterious slumber, puzzling doctors and worrying her family.
For a tense 21 days, she was unconscious in the hospital.
She finally woke up, and, as her recovery progressed, she wished to return to school.
Kane goes to schools with parents and students, helping teachers and classmates understand the learning and social challenges children with illness face.
It's the only program of its kind in Northern California and one of only a handful of programs in the country that specialize in hospital-to-school reintegration.
"Things are not quite the same because there are changes in the child's brain, or they are on medication," she said.
"Jeanne went to talk with the teachers and told them about what kind of education he was going to need," Santana said.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml