RYAN'S CASE FOR SMILES

RYAN'S CASE FOR SMILES A HOSPITAL STAY CAN BE A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR A CHILD - ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH CANCER AND OTHER LIFE-CHANGING ILLNESSES. RECENT RESEARCH INDICATES 20% OF CHILDREN WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH CANCER AND 30% OF THEIR MOTHERS SUFFER FULL SYMPTOMS OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD). THESE RATES ARE COMPARABLE TO THAT EXPERIENCED BY U.S. WAR VETERANS SERVING SINCE THE VIETNAM WAR. THE GOOD NEWS IS TRAUMA CAN BE MINIMIZED AND OUTCOMES IMPROVED THROUGH EXPERIENCES THAT REDUCE STRESS. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 2007 TO BRING COMFORT AND SUPPORT TO YOUNG PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN HOSPITALS AROUND THE GLOBE. WE STARTED WITH A SIMPLE GOAL: TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE WHIMSICAL PILLOWCASES THAT GIVE CHILDREN AN EMOTIONAL BOOST AND REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT DEFINED BY THEIR ILLNESS. TODAY, OUR PROGRAMS HAVE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE CHILDREN'S ENTIRE FAMILIES SO THEY CAN BETTER NAVIGATE AND COPE WITH A VERY DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE AND AVOID LONG TERM EMOTIONAL DRAMA.