{"id":96373,"date":"2019-03-20T15:35:20","date_gmt":"2019-03-20T14:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=96373"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:14","slug":"your-story-theres-more-to-child-patients-than-just-their-illnesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2019\/03\/20\/your-story-theres-more-to-child-patients-than-just-their-illnesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Your story: \u2018There\u2019s more to child patients than just their illnesses\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a volunteer at Sophia TV & Evenementen, Christiaan hosts a children\u2019s programme once every two weeks. Besides that, together with the whole team, he organises activities for children in the Erasmus MC-Sophia Hospital. \u201cThe broadcast is similar to the children\u2019s news programme Jeugdjournaal,<\/em>\u201d explains Christiaan. \u201cBesides the TV programme, we also organise events for children, for example a talent contest where the kids can sing and dance on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Christiaan at EM's editorial office<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\t

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EM has moved! Our editorial office can now be found in HB-108, between the Theil lecture hall and the Tinbergen Building canteen. To introduce our new location, we\u2019re inviting everyone to pitch their story on Monday and Tuesday and we\u2019ll immediately do a write-up based on the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Christiaan has worked since 2013 at Sophia TV, a multimedia project\u00a0 of Sophia Children Hospital in cooperation with the Stichting Vrienden van het Sophia. At the time he wanted to broaden his horizons, he says. \u201cMedical students are mainly trained to concentrate on the illness,\u201d says Christiaan. \u201cBut when I started volunteering, I discovered that a patient is so much more than just his or her illness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sophia TV\u2019s activities involve both the children and their families. \u201cFor example, we\u2019ll organise a party or an excursion for the whole family,\u201d says Christiaan. \u201cPeople often forget that the whole family\u2019s life is also turned upside-down by the illness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Special moments<\/h2>

In addition to parties and events, the volunteers also give personal attention to the children. \u201cWe usually do a round of the hospital. We ask each child what they would really like to do here and now and we try to fulfil their wish.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Erasmus MC-Sophia Hospital admits terminally ill children who stay as patients for months at a time. \u201cThere was a child who had to spend a long time in an isolation chamber and she really wanted to see her dog. Technically, she can\u2019t leave the isolation area, but in the end we were able to arrange for her to briefly play with her dog in the hospital garden,\u201d recounts Christiaan. \u201cI think it\u2019s moments like this that really make a difference and give children strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

Change<\/h2>

Christiaan hopes that in the future, medical professionals will change how they deal with their patients. \u201cI feel that the medical establishment doesn\u2019t pay enough attention to the social aspects of the profession,\u201d explains Christiaan. \u201cI understand that doctors don\u2019t always have time to give personal attention because their schedules are full of appointments they have to keep. But still, I hope that more consideration will be given to the patient\u2019s mental state and social life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christiaan plays his part by imparting a positive attitude to the children in the hospital. \u201cChildren love it when you spend time with them and give them your attention,\u201d Christiaan says. \u201cFor a brief moment they completely forget that they\u2019re ill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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