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It's always surprising when you realize simple daily activities are accessible for individuals with disabilities. Kudos to whomever thought of this! It creates a safer environment for the patient and a more secure environment for staff to safely do their jobs. This creates higher quality medical care for everyone!
New equipment helps people in wheelchairs get dental exams
www.koaa.com
There are new efforts to make dental offices accessible to people with disabilities.We've met SO many parents who feel they're nurses or caretakers rather than 'Mom' or 'Dad' most days. PTSD is a result of real trauma experienced by children, parents, and their siblings.
THIS is why we're doing a big NICU project with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
We want to introduce coping skills and build parent strengths EARLY in their child's life.
We want parents to stay together.
We want siblings who can enjoy their brother or sister and experience a loving, less stressful home life.
We want to build community where parents experiencing PTSD feel capable, supported, and understood ... and NEVER alone.
All of this is very real to us, as we've navigated our own post traumatic stress, depression, and feelings of 'caretaker' instead of 'Mom'. It's a heartbreaking feeling, leading to a sense of isolation and inadequacy.
JOIN US in continuing to build supports for families of medically fragile children.
Come to the gala and celebrate the resiliency of these families. bennettstrong.org/press-room/press-releases/tickets2020gala/
Dance, eat, cry, and win ... because we CAN help these parents feel like 'Mom' and 'Dad'.
I Have PTSD as a Result of Parenting a Medically Fragile Child
themighty.com
"I am finding it harder to handle the trauma of the past nine years."A big thanks to Phillies Charities, Inc for their support! We had a great time at the Holiday Giving party on December 3rd!
bennettstrong.org/HolidayGivingParty/
BennettStrong Among Those Recognized at Phillies Charities, Inc. Holiday Giving Party
bennettstrong.org
Photo Credit: The Phillies/Miles Kennedy In honor of #GivingTuesday, Phillies Charities, Inc. recognized 35 local charities and organizations at its annual H'Staying positive while caring for a medically fragile child is hard.
Keeping a “never give up” attitude day after day for years can be exhausting.'
We spoke about this very issue at the Phillies Charities, Inc Holiday Giving Party at Citizens Bank Park on #givingtuesday.
We highlighted how challenging it can be to feel like a nurse and caretaker more than a parent sometimes. These feelings are very raw and it's so important to surround ourselves with people who will keep us moving forward.
To those parents who are working hard and trying to stay positive, we got you!
www.fireflyfriends.com/blog/the-life-we-have-been-given/?fbclid=IwAR2nVyHADdhpjXgcQYhnhrwwOCp7Y5V...
www.fireflyfriends.com
Someone recently asked me how long it took me to find a positive way of dealing with the diagnosis of our son. This is a tricky question because I know...This was SUCH a fun night! We're thankful to CBWest for honoring cancer warriors in our community!Great time tonight watching CB West Football with another big win!! 28-0 over Tennent! Thank you to everyone who brought toys for Dominic’s Toy Chest❤️ Ciarlo proudly threw the coin toss before the game! He was glad to be out there with his friend Bennett (BennettStrong Foundation)❤️ My favorite part of the night was seeing many kids wearing their go gold shirts with Dominic’s name on them❤️💔❤️ 3 years ago the student section was chanting Dominic’s name in their Buck/Minion shirts while Dominic watched from a hospital bed... In December he will have been gone for 3 years💔 I’m thankful that his school and the schools he would’ve attended continue to honor him and help raise awareness about childhood cancer❤️ This has been a rough month for me. I’m tired and I need to get Ciarlo to bed for another busy day tomorrow. Share love with people that mean the most to you. Tomorrow isn’t promised. I wasn’t a cancer mom until I was... it can happen to ANYONE💔 #PrayForDominic🎈💩🎈🎗#CancerSUCKS🎗 #HeShouldBeHere🎗 #BuckStrong🎗#BennettStrong🎗#GoGold🎗
BIG NEWS (just in time for Thanksgiving!): We'll be expanding our NICU Parent Survival Kits 2.5 years earlier than expected! 🤩
We'll be headed to Citizens Bank Park on December 3rd with 34 other organizations to celebrate #GivingTuesday!
We're so thankful for Phillies Charities, Inc's support! We're eternally grateful for the community that surrounds our organization and looks for opportunities to help us thrive. It's because of YOU that we are able to help families and their really special children!
bennettstrong.org/philliescharitiesincgrant/
BennettStrong Recipient of Phillies Charities, Inc. Grant
bennettstrong.org
Click for Complete Press Release from Phillies Charities, Inc. The BennettStrong Foundation was among thirty-five organizations in Pennsylvania, New JerseyWe have a BIG announcement coming the week after Thanksgiving!
#December3rd #BennettStrong #dreambig #Jeremiah29:11
Bennett's mom has worked as a Family Partner to include the family voice in the development of Integrative Health at CHOP. Check out this awesome article in Philly Mag featuring the important work they're doing to improve the lives of young patients. Integrative Health can impact patient health long beyond the treatment period!
(How cute is this little guy, Cam, from Quakertown?!)
New Yoga Program Comes as an “Angel in Disguise” for CHOP Families [Sponsor Content]
www.phillymag.com
The CHOP Integrative Health program offers yoga to pediatric cancer patients. The techniques help with healing and symptom management.This picture popped in my newsfeed on my personal account, and my heart swelled with the amount of love this little guy shares with his father. It's a sweet reminder that, no matter what is going on in the NICU, these are the moments we work for and live for. 💜💜
This was posted by a couple we met at our gala last year. I found myself asking Daria and her husband 'why haven't we been friends forever?!' We had just finished listening to our amazing Keynote speaker and found ourselves at the bar, saturated with feelings. We bonded over our 25 weekers, micro-prematurity, and the trauma that comes with experiencing the NICU. It's community like this makes events like our gala so special! We needed their energy and their friendship!
Posted by a NICU mom that we are blessed to know and collaborate with on some hospital projects. Her voice is strong and clear as she celebrates her baby girl and her crooked crown!
It's #WorldPrematurityDay2019 . Prematurity is the leading cause of infant death and lifelong disability (seizures, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, the list seems endless).
We've included the face of our warrior, Bennett. He's 10 days old in this picture. We didn't know it, but he was also gravely ill. We almost lost him a mere 8 hours later.
We talk about our preemies being warriors and showing the strength of a lifetime in a single breath. What we don't talk about: post-traumatic stress, lifelong disabilities, death, and the trauma surrounding that child's birth. Let's acknowledge the strength these babies possess and provide for those whose lives will forever be navigating disabilities related to their early arrival.
Join us, on 2/29/20 as we continue our project supporting patients and families in the NICU.
If you're one of the .5% in our region that doesn't frequent Wawa, we just gave you the BEST reason to become a fan!
Without a Wawa manager’s spur-of-the-moment hire, 500 special-needs adults wouldn’t have jobs
trib.al
Wawa's deep commitment to workers of all abilities helps it stand out in the marketplace.Inclusion can be natural and simple, if we're conscious about how we include individuals with differences. Kudos to American Girl!
American Girl Catalog Features 4-Year-Old Model with Down Syndrome: 'It's a Big Deal'
j.mp
"She's adorable and great to work with, and the shots we captured with her for our holiday catalogues are beautiful," a spokeswoman for American Girl tells PEOPLESports fans: Penn State, Iron Pigs, Steelers, and Eagles have all sent goodies supporting BennettStrong, with more to come! Join us at our gala for your chance to win and hear about the awesome impact we're having on patients and families in the NICU!
Take a (very tiny) peek into Halloween in the NICU .These are the patients and families we are celebrating and raising funds for on February 29th, 2020. We want to continue to support the mental health of NICU parents and we LOVE how CHOP is highlighting simple milestone like a baby's first Halloween. (And seriously, how cute is Wonder Woman?!)
For anyone wondering: Bennett was Superman for his first Halloween ... and Yoda ... and Eeyore (Because grandmothers need to have fun, too)!
6abc.com/5653919/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_content=5db741dd4c15b8000149120...
CHOP NICU babies dress up for Halloween in adorable photoshoot
6abc.com
Halloween came early at CHOP's NICU.This is so urgent and having a MAJOR impact on our smallest cancer warriors.
Shortage of vital children’s cancer drug stirs fear and outrage
bit.ly
A drug shortage that threatens children with cancer is "unacceptable."As you greet trick or treaters this Halloween, keep an eye out for blue buckets! www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a29488288/halloween-blue-buckets-autism/
How Blue Halloween Buckets Have Become an Unofficial Symbol for Autism
www.housebeautiful.com
Not to be confused with the Teal Pumpkin Project!When pharma companies make a 'business decision' to stop making a life saving drug for your child, doctors' hearts break for their lack of resources, families are devastated, and children are left to fight with less than what they deserve. Vincristine is a well established chemotherapy drug used in most pediatric cancer regimens. This is going to have a huge, negative impact on many of our childhood cancer warriors!
Being honest about your struggles is just the first step in managing caregiver burnout when you have a child with special needs. Find your tribe and keep them close and NEVER feel guilty about taking some time out for self care (if you have the luxury of nurses or loved ones able to help).
If you're family or friends to caregivers - read this. Take a moment to understand what they're dealing with and find a way you can help. I promise you, they need it!
It’s Time We Start Talking About Caregiver Burnout in Special Needs Motherhood
medium.com
Every night I wake up in a cold sweat actually believing that my child has stopped breathing, that when I go to check on him he will be...Postpartum is so incredibly difficult for NICU moms. C-section recovery doesn't happen, breast milk production is a huge challenge, and most are unprepared as their child arrived too soon or emergently. If you know a NICU mom and want to help support her postpartum journey, join us on 2/29/20 at our 3rd annual gala where we will talk about this experience, and why support is crucial to mama's (and baby's) health!
When you talk about postpartum, don't forget the NICU moms
bit.ly
Everyone has a heavy heart for a NICU baby, rightfully so, but NICU mommas need extra love too.Tomorrow night at CBWest we'll be going Gold for Pediatric Cancer Awareness! Bring a toy and join us at 6:45 for the coin toss with some VIP Team Captains!
As parents prepare their children to start a new school year, let's work together to start school years full of compassion, sharing, and inclusion! This is a great read. We're big fans of The Mighty!
Dear Parents, Please Talk to Your Kids About Their Classmates With Disabilities
themighty.com
"We need many different types of people for our world to work."