Headband Challenge for Shriners Hospital for Children Burn Patients

About a week ago, I shared an image of the 20 donated headbands on facebook from Headbands of Hope that I would be dropping off for patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

( You can read more about my interview with Jessica, the founder of Headbands of Hope here)

One of my facebook friends commented on the image about how it would be great if the burn patients at Shriners Hospital for Children could get headbands too.

Here is what Carrie shared.

“I worked at Shriners Hospital for Children. Most of my patients were burn victims. Some had to have their heads shaved if their scalps are burned, some had to have their heads shaved to use their scalp as a donor site, and some had old burns to their scalp that had developed scar tissue that makes them unable to grow hair. As a woman you understand that since we have been little girls our hair is a very important part of our perceived beauty and for some defines their beauty in their eyes. You can imagine how, just like cancer patients, devastating this is for a little girl-and many times their mommies and daddies. A beautiful headband would maybe help a little with that devastation. My fellow nurses and I liked to put bows, flowers, and headbands in our little girl patients head or dressings even when they are still confined to their bed and in the ICU. This seems to make family very happy.”

My boys and I went for a tour of Shriner’s Hospital for Children – Cincinnati that specializes in treating burn patients a few days ago.  I was so impressed by what this hospital does for children and their families who come from all over the United States for treatment.

Shriners Hospitals for Children^® is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. The 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.

Our tour guide also happened to double as a clown. He shared a story of being able to bring laughs to a patient on a visit that the nurse said had not cracked a smile in over a week. The Shriners are all volunteers and do so much for the families. They also help transport families to the hospital.

Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati is one of only 3 burn hospitals for children in the US. They now accept insurance but will cover the expenses not covered by the insurance companies so that families can have peace of mind and the best care for their children without the burden and stress of the financial challenges.

The mask and the clothing displayed are what severe burn patients have to wear 23 hours a day. Those items apply pressure to keep the skin flat, which helps keep the scars from getting thick.

The hospital provides tutoring, counseling, physical therapy and provides same day visits for patients who need check ups from out of state.

During our tour, we got to meet one of the patients. I wish I had a headband right then to give her. It breaks my heart to think of the challenges that these patients face. It makes me want to do something to make their day a little brighter.

So here is my challenge to you.

I would love if as a community, we could supply headbands for all of the patients at Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati.

Headbands of Hope  is a newer company that will be a year old on April 25th, 2013.  This organization has not been around long enough to cover the expenses for all of the hospitals with cancer with the addition of burn patients… yet.

This is where WE can step in and help.

When you purchase a headband from Headbands of Hope, 

you get a headband to keep,

$1 will be donated to St. Baldrick’s

and

one headband will be donated to a patient.

****You can use the discount “Cincybloggers” to receive $1 off your headband.

This will also be a way to track the headbands that will go specifically to the burn patients at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati because of our purchases.

If you would rather have your donated headband go to a cancer patient you can just order the headband without the code and a headband will be donated to a hospital with cancer patients.

 

So would you join me and purchase a headband that will have direct impact on a patient?

This is just a small sample of how cute they are!

Please help me by sharing this message so that we can supply a headband for every patient at the hospital.

We have the opportunity to really make a difference!

 

You can order headbands from the Headbands of Hope website.