The Smile Shop ™

Our Play Specialists

Josh's mum explains: "Josh is seven but he's been fighting Hodgkins Lymphoma on and off since he was three. His play specialist, Naomi, has been amazing through helping both Josh and the wider family. She got Josh through his radiotherapy treatment so calmly, and in doing so she helped alleviate the additional stress on the rest of us. Using role-play, she made us all aware of what was going to happen and she showed Josh how to lie still. She involved us all and made it fun and informative. In doing so she turned a very frightening, bewildering, tiring, emotional experience round. Josh was calm and relaxed about it all, and so were we.

"The one thing I will always remember is this: having just had a mould of his chest made in preparation for his radiotherapy, Josh turned to me and said: "You know something mummy, Naomi was right, it didn't hurt at all!"

When a child is diagnosed with cancer or leukemia, their treatment begins almost immediately. This can be incredibly traumatic for a child and the treatment may last weeks - if not months - at a time. That is why CLIC Sargent play specialists are found on pediatric oncology wards. Working at bedsides or in playrooms, they create a sense of normality on the ward through play or activities.

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