Children's Choices Helps Family Cope with Child's Life-Limiting Illness

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Getting the care and support of Children's Choices, VNA Care Network & Hospice's pediatric palliative care program, was like "being handed a bag of gold."

"I don't think I would have made it this far without it," said Erika Eisnor. Her son, Brycen, was born prematurely in April 2007 and given a five percent chance of surviving. He spent the first four months of his life in a newborn intensive care unit before joining his parents and two sisters at their Charlton home.

Erika was managing Brycen's oxygen and extensive needs for COPD and other health problems while also caring for the rest of her family. A home health care nurse from VNA Care Network & Hospice began visiting Brycen weekly to check his lungs and monitor his health. She introduced the family to a new resource from VNA Care Network & Hospice for children with serious illnesses and their families.

Comprehensive Care for the Entire Family

Children's Choices offers a total approach to care — physical, emotional, social, and spiritual — to help children 18 years or younger and their families continue living as fully as possible during a life-limiting illness. Services are provided at no cost to families through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

In addition to nursing visits for Brycen, the Eisnors have received support from a social worker, expressive therapist, massage therapist, and trained volunteer. "The reassurance from everyone who comes here is just amazing," said Erica.

She credits an expressive therapist with helping five-year-old Faith adjust to having a seriously ill brother. The therapist used playtime, drawing, and crafts to get Faith to talk about the situation and realize "it would be okay. After a few visits, Faith was a totally different child," said Erika.

Erika received support from a social worker who "always managed to come when I was having the worst day ever. It was really good because I had her to talk to and release it all."

Her "lifesaver" is volunteer Barbara Lubin, who gives Erika a break from the demands of caregiving. "Just to not have to worry about anything for four hours and know he's in good hands, being played with and cared for — it's such a relaxing feeling," said Erika.

Over a year later, both Brycen and Children's Choices have grown substantially. Through an additional grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Children's Choices recently added 28 cities and towns in suburban Boston to its service area, bringing the total to 114 communities in Massachusetts.

Brycen has defied the odds. At 17 months, he weighs 20 pounds and is nearly three feet tall. Erika added, "Children's Choices has been wonderful. It's my first recommendation for parents in a similar situation."

Information and Service Area

For more information about Children's Choices, call VNA Care Network & Hospice at 800-728-1862.

Children's Choices is open to children under the age of 19 who have a life-limiting condition and their families living in Acton, Arlington, Ashburnham, Ashby, Ashland, Auburn, Ayer, Barre, Bedford, Bellingham, Belmont, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boxborough, Boylston, Brookfield, Burlington, Cambridge, Charlton, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Clinton, Concord, Douglas, Dudley, Dunstable, East Brookfield, Everett, Fitchburg, Framingham, Gardner, Grafton, Groton, Hardwick, Harvard, Holden, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hubbardston, Hudson, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lunenburg, Malden, Marlborough, Maynard, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Mendon, Millbury, Milford, Millis, Millville, Milton, Natick, Needham, New Braintree, Newton, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Pepperell, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Revere, Rutland, Sherborn, Shirley, Shrewsbury, Somerville, Southborough, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Stoneham, Stow, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Sutton, Templeton, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Upton, Uxbridge, Wakefield, Waltham, Ware, Warren, Watertown, Wayland, Webster, Wellesley, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westborough, Westford, Westminster, Weston, Wilmington, Winchendon, Winchester, Woburn, and Worcester.

Posted: Oct. 1, 2008