Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center- Boston

This post was sponsored by Floating Hospital for Children as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. Thank you for supporting brands that support my blog.

These past 4 years have been brilliant. The light that Addie shines made us want to become parents again- to her baby sister, Camille. Her charisma and zest for life have always made the hard times not so hard… but regardless of the severity, caring for a child with a physical disability requires patience, time, and energy- especially with hospital stays, which for us have been plentiful. Addie’s confusion, fear and, ultimately, her pain during her stays have been hard for us to watch, essentially leaving us feeling helpless as to give her the comfort she needed. Fortunately for families like us, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center cares, and works each and every day to make a positive difference in our girl’s hospital experiences.

The Floating Hospital for Children is committed to creating a child-friendly environment to help kids feel strong even in times of fear and uncertainty. Their programs offer children courage by way of entertainment during clinic and admission to the hospital, giving parents confidence in both physical and emotional care of their children.

A family favorite are The Toughlings – a group of animals who are small but mighty, reminding patients that they’re big and strong. Buff – a badger, Elbo – an octopus, Mica – an ant, Cozi – a turtle, and Sage – an owl are found in the elevator banks throughout the hospital and stickers are available for patients in clinics. Seeing favorite animals encourages and distracts kids, no matter what they’re going through.

Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center also has mini-horse visits to the inpatient floors monthly and pet therapy dogs!

As I’ve discussed in the past, play is a vital component of children’s lives- it is how they communicate, learn, rehearse, relax, and have fun. Floating Hospital’s Child Life Services is dedicated to helping children deal with the stress of hospitalization through the very important life-skill: play.

Floating Hospital pioneered the concept of integrating play into recovery in 1948 to help patients and their families cope with the stress of illness, injury, disability, and hospitalization. Through a range of services including tutoring, overnight privileges for parents, support groups, and play, children gain a sense of mastery and control, which increases their ability to cope with stress, and to express their feelings.

The Floating Hospital is operational around the clock, as a child-centered environment, complete with a play area, waiting room and five dedicated rooms that are soothing, healing and suited for a child. It’s staffed with a pediatric emergency nurse and a pediatric technician. Child Life specialists’ (hours are 10 am–2 am) provide support to a child and his/her family- completely unique to most ED’s, especially in major cities! Also incredibly special is the tool InQuicker. If a child has a non-life-threatening emergency, Floating Hospital for Children offers a new tool called InQuicker allowing parents to check-in for an estimated treatment time so that patients and their families can wait at home instead of in a Boston ER waiting room. How amazing is that?!

When parents are staring hospitals in the face, we often feel overwhelmed and afraid, projecting those same emotions to our children. Floating Hospital gives our children the tools, and us the confidence, to focus on the best care and outcomes during the hardest times in our lives. We want to thank them for all they’ve done, and continue to do, to care for our sweet girl and others in our community with Achondroplasia- and several other forms of dwarfism! What has made hospitalizations stand out [in a wonderful way] for you and your family?