Everyone, Meet Grace & Ella!

Grace has been diagnosed with ALL ( Acute Lymphotic Leukemia) - How do you begin to explain to a 4 year old all that comes with that diagnosis? Ella can help! Ella is a friend of Barbie who has lost her hair due to chemotherapy. She comes with two wigs, some scarves, head wraps, and a few other accessories. Ella can be a perfect tool for having that difficult conversation about the side effects of Chemo & can be a comforting companion for those little ones having to go through it. The only problem is, Mattel seems to have made Ella as a trial run exclusively for children's hospitals. This is great, but considering the amount of children that come in an out of an oncology ward on a daily basis, there are not enough Ella's to go around. Grace's parents started this Change.org petition so that Ella can be more redly available to all children battling cancer, especially those as young as their little girl. Click here to sign the petition to let Matel know it's time to make more "Ella"s so that more little ones like Grace can benefit from being able to relate to a Barbie that looks like them!

I found this YouTube video taken at The Jurasz Hospital in Bydgoszcz, Poland. It shows a few of the girls being treated for cancer playing with some of the Ella dolls their hospital received. This hospital only received 12 of them - hopefully signing this petition will allow the hospital's to receive a steady flow of Ella dolls, allowing patients to take their new friend home with them.

(SOURCE: Ruptly TV's YouTube Channel )

So Page Me, Maybe?

In celebration of Play Therapy Week, Sydney Children's Hospital staff and patients put together this video parody of Carly Rae Jepson's "Call Me Maybe". The lyrics are hilarious and absolutely true to
 the Child Life Profession.
Enjoy! 

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"Freddy came in unwell, what's up his nose he won't tell.

I look to you for some help, and now you're coming this way.

I'll trade you stickers for deets. Has it been up there for weeks?

I wasn't prepared for this, but now you're here so hey!

Freddy's stare was holding, frowning, arms were folded,

(I can't make out this next line!
 But we get the point of what happened!)
CHORUS:

Hey, I just met you! And this is crazy 

But here's my number, so page me maybe?

Kids dislike procedures, but that don't phase me.

So here's my number, just page me maybe!

Hey, I just met you! And this is crazy 

But here's my number, so page me maybe?

And all the other wards try to chase me,

But here's my number, so page me maybe.
You took your time with the call, now this kid's climbing the walls.

You gave 'em no prep at all, and now they're FREAKIN' out!

Those photos, this is unreal. She's showing me what's the deal.

I didn't know how I'd feel, but now I'm finding out.

A mask you're holding, fitted gown,
ID tag showing, the bed wheels are rolling

Off to (Again, can't make out the word!) baby!
[CHORUS]
Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad.

And you should know that, so page me maybe!"
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SOURCES: The Child Life Council's Facebook Page &
Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation YouTube Channel