Child Life Specialist at Banner Thunderbird changes lives one smile at a time
GLENDALE, Ariz. (March 8, 2010) – Joy Daugherty, who spends her days comforting sick children and frightened parents at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, recently spent two weeks providing the same comforting touch to hundreds of severely deformed children in Assam, India.
Daugherty was part of a 350-member team of medical volunteers organized by Operation Smile, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization that provides free reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate. Since 1982, more than 140,000 children in more than 50 countries have benefitted from this group’s work.
On this particular trip, more than 900 cleft lips and palates were repaired on both children and adults. This was the highest number of surgeries ever performed by the organization.
Daugherty used her skills obtained as a Child Life Specialist at Banner Thunderbird to help comfort the younger patients scheduled for surgery, as well as their parents. Child Life Specialists are bachelor- or master-level prepared, certified professionals who work with children and families to help lessen stress, anxiety, and pain related to health care procedures.
“We teach children about what to expect in the hospital, advocate for family-centered care, and meet the psychosocial needs of the child and family,” Daugherty stated. “Operation Smile wanted at least one child life specialist on their team because they recognize the importance of not just doing bulk surgeries but also that the psychosocial needs are being met.”
Daugherty was one of six child life specialist who helped the children via translators understand what was going to happen and helping them cope with being in the hospital and undergoing surgery. Some days, more than 100 kids were treated. At Banner Thunderbird, 10 pediatric surgeries constitute an extremely busy day.
“I loved the opportunity to be able to do what I do in my job here in another country and to see the difference we can make in the lives of so many,” Daugherty said. “I have had no greater joy in life than serving others in need."
About Banner Thunderbird
Banner Thunderbird is the largest, full service hospital in the West Valley with 513 beds, 2,900 employees and 1,200 physicians representing a variety of specialties. Banner Thunderbird is part of Phoenix-based Banner Health, one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country.
