As children with severe disease or illness undergo numerous treatments to address their medical concerns, a non-profit organization has created a visual indication to remind pediatric patients of the milestones they’ve reached along their journey.
Beads of Courage Canada was introduced to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in 2012 by Victoria Plouffe in partnership with Child Life Team.
“Beads of Courage is a program that honours the courage that children have as they’re coping with a serious illness,” said Plouffe who now serves as the program’s volunteer executive director. “When they’re first diagnosed, they receive just their first name in beads.”
The initiative, which relies solely on donations and volunteers, provides patients with additional beads representing procedures or treatments in their medical journey.
“It really allows the invisible to become visible and it’s a form of narrative therapy for these children.”
The program, which started in the United States in 2003, has since expanded to 10 hospitals across Canada.
Oliver Hamilton has spent a significant portion of his life in hospital after being diagnosed with hollow visceral myopathy, a disease that inhibits his digestive tract and prevents him from eating enough to survive. The 10-year-old’s string of beads depicts what he has faced so far including his 2,000 daily IV infusions, 7,000 catheters and 17 visits to the operating room.
“They’ve helped me with a lot of things,” said Oliver. “It shows how much or how many procedures I’ve been through.”
“I think it’s a point of pride,” said Thomas Hamilton, Oliver’s dad. “He’s proud to show his friends all the beads and tell them about the things he’s earned the beads for.”
“It’s a way for them to own their own story and be able to share it with people.”
For additional information about the program visit Beads of Courage - Canada.
With files from CTV’s Jaclyn Brown
