Because of you, children like Adam find joy in the hospital

When Marie Amort rushed her 3-year-old son Adam to the emergency room at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in September 2023, she had no idea how much life was about to change.

Adam had been complaining of back and leg pain and had swelling that didn’t make sense. Doctors quickly ordered scans, and Marie and her husband were asked to step into a conference room.

That’s when a child life specialist arrived. A child life specialist is a trained professional who helps children cope with hospitalization through play, education and emotional support. She brought Adam a bin filled with Bluey toys and books.

“That small act of kindness set the tone for everything that followed,” she said.

Moments later, the news came: stage 4 neuroblastoma. A tumor on Adam’s adrenal gland and kidney had already spread to his bone marrow.

“I’ll never forget that day,” Marie said. “We were terrified. We had only lived in the area for eight months after moving from New Orleans. We didn’t know anyone here or anything about MUSC.”

What are child life services in children’s hospitals?

The Amort family didn’t know it then, but they had landed in exactly the right place. Shawn Jenkins is home to South Carolina’s only pediatric blood and marrow transplant program and a nationally recognized team of pediatric cancer specialists. But what makes MUSC truly stand apart is its deeply integrated Child Life program, funded in large part by donor generosity.

Michelle Vandermaas, MS, CCLS, senior child life coordinator for the Cancer and Blood Disorders Unit, explains that children facing cancer need more than medical care: They need emotional care, normalcy and play.

“Children often face fear, anxiety, isolation and a loss of control,” she said. “Child Life helps them regain that control through therapeutic activities, preparation for procedures and helping them understand what’s happening in a way they can process.”

Adam’s childhood cancer journey at MUSC

Over 18 months, they supported Adam and his family through each treatment: chemotherapy, stem cell harvesting, tumor removal surgery, two bone marrow transplants, radiation and immunotherapy.

“They taught him breathing techniques, how to stay calm during a port access and even showed us, as parents, the best comfort positions to hold him,” Marie said. “They were part of our care team, not just for Adam but for all of us.”

In all, Adam and his family spent 250 days at the children’s hospital. Because of donor support, Child Life could offer Adam toys, games, crafts, backpacks and decorations. These small but meaningful touches allowed him to personalize his hospital room, giving him a sense of normalcy and control.

“With every visit, Adam had something new to explore,” Marie said. “We didn’t have to lug bags of toys from home. It took so much pressure off. And those little touches made his hospital room feel like it belonged to him.”

Donor-funded playrooms bring joy to children in the hospital 

As Adam’s treatment progressed, Child Life continued to be a source of comfort, not just at the bedside, but in the spaces designed to let kids be kids. Marie says they were “blown away” by the Jerry and Anita Zucker Family Atrium playroom.

“There was natural light, a grocery store play area, arts and crafts, and even an outdoor playground,” she said. “It didn’t feel like a hospital.”

The atrium was created as a medical-free zone, a place where children could escape the stress of treatment and simply be kids. It was inspired in part by Laura Zucker’s own childhood experiences with illness, and her belief that healing requires more than medicine. Funded by the Zucker family’s generosity, the space was designed to bring joy, comfort and creativity to children facing the hardest days of their lives.

“The playrooms were everything to him,” Marie says. “They were the reason he didn’t dread going to the hospital. After every poke, scan, or infusion, he knew he could go play. That kept him going.”

Outdoor play spaces at MUSC help kids heal 

Adjacent to the Zucker Atrium is the Boeing Outdoor Play Area, featuring a garden, living wall and stage. The intentionally designed green space gives children access to fresh air and sunshine, which can be transformative during long hospital stays.

Marie distinctly remembers the first time Adam returned to the outdoor garden after five weeks in isolation during his second bone marrow transplant.

“He had been slipping into a depression. He wasn’t talking, he was crying all day,” she said. “But when he finally went outside and felt the sun, smelled the flowers, watched bees, blew bubbles, it was the first time in weeks he smiled. It changed his recovery. It brought him back to life.”

The lasting impact of child life services for families

Adam, now 5 and in remission, just started kindergarten. Looking back, Marie says the child life team played a critical role in getting their family through the most difficult experience of their lives.

“These programs gave us hope and moments of happiness during such dark days,” Marie said. “The team became like friends, always looking out for us. They made our child feel seen, supported and most importantly, happy.”

To those who support child life services and play spaces through donations, Marie offers her heartfelt gratitude:

“Please continue your support! You are making all the difference in a terrible situation that no child should have to endure. Every detail, from a new toy to a moment with a therapy dog, matters more than you could ever know.”

“Children aren’t meant to be isolated in a hospital room,” she added. “These safe play spaces, these incredible people, they make all the difference. They saved more than just Adam’s health. They saved his spirit.”

How you can support child life services at MUSC children’s hospital

Every day, children like Adam find strength, joy and healing through the Child Life Program. These services are largely funded by donations from individuals, corporations and foundations.

You can help in two important ways:

• Donate to MUSC Children’s Health. Direct your donation to the Child Life Program, ensuring children have access to play, education and emotional support throughout their care.
• Donate new toys or activities, bringing comfort and joy to children during their hospital stay.