Posted: 3/27/2019
It starts with an eagle and takes flight
For the youngest patients in Parkland Health & Hospital System’s regional burn center an eagle-shaped bead is the start of a sometimes difficult and often painful journey that leads to a string of strength.
The strings, some fashioned into delicate bracelets and others into precious necklaces, are adorned with colorful beads each earned by burn survivors who have reached milestones on their road to recovery. Called “Beads of Courage,” Parkland’s program is modeled after one developed in 2003 by Jean Baruch, who was working on her PhD in Nursing at the University of Arizona, College of Nursing. Baruch created the program as a way to provide an innovative, arts-in-medicine supportive care program for children coping with serious illness, along with their families and the healthcare providers who care for them.
Ten-year old Leslie Gonzalez of Ennis slowly began putting her necklace together after sustaining scattered burn injuries in a house fire last January. Following each medical procedure, each test, each visit with the care team, Leslie earned a bead to add to her collection. “With each bead I could see how brave she was,” said Aracely Gonzalez, Leslie’s mom. “It was a sense of relief to see she was so encouraged.”
Although earned by burn survivors, each bead serves as a de-facto record for family members and friends of the recovery journey.
Child Life Specialist Meagan Young gently gathers a handful of the delicate glass beads. “Each one tells a story,” she says pointing toward an eagle that signifies admission to the burn center. “We see children when they’re in their worst state and in the most pain. Through these beads you can see one-by-one the progress that child is making.”
As an example, the tortoise represents a wound care procedure, a red bead means a transfusion took place, a glass star indicates surgery. Still others such as a fish-shaped bead represent the transfer out of the intensive care unit.
Each burn survivor is given a daily bead journal with which to keep track of the beads they’ve earned. In some cases, Young said the beads aren’t just for those who have been injured. “There may be cases where a toddler has been injured in an accident and we present the beads to mom to show her how brave her little one has been,” she said. “It’s not only mind-blowing to experience these important milestones, but it’s incredibly therapeutic for family members and patients alike.”
Christine Lane, RN, unit manager of Parkland’s burn intensive care and acute care units has witnessed first-hand the value of the Beads of Courage program.
“It’s been a great motivator for our patients and it encourages them with their wound care and the various therapies that they need,” Lane said. “It’s a great program for our parents too because they’re able to hold the beads and focus on the progress their child is making each day or week, not just on the injury.”
Lane noted that some patients leave with multiple strands or keepsake bags full of the multi-colored beads. “That’s because they’ve been with us sometimes for weeks,” she said. “But when they’re discharged they take with them something to remind them of how brave they’ve been.”
Although the program was designed as a source of strength for patients, it’s proven to be the same for staff who also earn beads.
“Some staff have a few of the beads hanging by their identification badge or carry them in a jacket pocket,” Lane said clasping the necklace she keeps in her nearby office. “There are days when someone will say ‘I need a bumpy bead,’ which means they’ve had a tough day and yes, they’ve earned it. But wearing our beads also shows our patients that we have to earn our beads just like they do.”
Regardless of the color or shape, each bead is indicative of the strength and courage of the patients in Parkland’s burn unit, Young said.
“It may sound simple, but in the end each bead is so very powerful.”
For more information about Parkland services, visit www.parklandhospital.com