Sunday picnic for children who beat cancer

Sunday picnic for children who beat cancer

July 29, 2001

Who?

More than 100 current and former University of Chicago Children's Hospital cancer patients and their families will visit the hospital for a day of sheer fun.

What?

The pediatric oncology picnic. The event, whose theme is Mardi Gras Matinee, will feature a magician, karaoke singing, face-painting, pizza, a visit from the Make-A-Wish-Foundation of Illinois, and decorations and prizes that bring to mind the New Orleans party tradition. The annual picnic, now in its eighth year, also allows children undergoing oncology treatment to meet peers who have been through the same experience.

When?

Sunday, July 29th, from 11 to 3 p.m.

Where?

The child life courtyard at the University of Chicago Children's Hospital, 5859 S. Maryland Avenue.

Why?

"It's great for the kids to come to the hospital to have fun and just be kids without worrying about going to the clinic and being treated," said Lisa Morgan, child life specialist and co-organizer, along with colleague Iona Yabut, of the event.

"It's wonderful to watch our patients support each other," said Yabut. "For many newly diagnosed kids, it's nice to see children who look like them and who have gone through the same things they're going through," she said.

The University of Chicago Children's Hospital's multidisciplinary approach to oncology--each patient's healthcare team consists of a doctor, a nurse, a social worker, and a child life specialist--has made it one of the leading pediatric oncology centers in the area.