Transforming Moments

Bradford’s Story

Playing His Song

Seventeen-year-old Bradford loves music, noise and most anything loud. Although he can’t tell you with words, Bradford, a resident of the hospital’s Transitional Care Unit (TCU) is clear about his likes and dislikes. His brown eyes light up, his elbow starts tapping and his entire body comes alive when he’s doing something he likes, especially listening to music. If he’s not interested though, he has no problem falling asleep, even with drums beating in his ear.

Bradford’s mom, Tanya, had a typical pregnancy, but complications during birth resulted in Bradford experiencing a lack of oxygen to his brain. This led to diagnoses of cerebral palsy, mental retardation and a seizure disorder. Bradford also requires a tracheotomy for breathing and a gastrostomy tube for feeding.

Tanya took care of her son at her Chesterfield County home, with occasional help from nursing assistants, for eight years until the demands of Bradford’s care and the needs of her two young daughters became overwhelming. Unable to find local care, Tanya and her husband moved their son to St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk, Va. In Aug. 2002 space became available in Richmond, and the family transferred Bradford to Children’s Hospital’s TCU.

Skilled Nursing Care

Open since 1999, the TCU offers round-the-clock skilled nursing care for infants, children and adolescents who are technology dependent and require routine use of a medical device. First opened with 12 beds, the TCU expanded to 23 beds in June 2002 and is currently undergoing a second expansion and renovation that will add another 24 beds by this fall.

The new Carolyn Bennett Arnold TCU, funded by a substantial bequest from Mrs. Arnold’s estate, includes design elements and patient room renovations intended to be child and family-friendly and promote a therapeutic environment. To maximize space, each child’s room has custom built-in cabinets for personal item storage. To reduce energy use, rooms are equipped with features like motion-sensor sinks and towel dispensers, overhead lights on dimmer switches and task lighting for overnight care. And to enhance care efficiency, medical monitoring connected to a display at the nurses’ station is available at each bedside.

To be child and family-friendly, color is used to identify different spaces on the TCU with green defining personal space, orange symbolizing activity areas and blue identifying bedroom entrances.  In addition, architectural elements like brightly colored arches, circles on the walls and wave-patterned floor tiles provide visual breaks to long hallways and walls. Patient rooms are grouped into two neighborhoods, Brook and Sherwood, with dedicated nursing stations and medication preparation rooms.

“It’s all about safety and our ability to take care of kids well,” said Pat Anderson, RN, MS, CRRN, Director of Inpatient Services.

Customized wheelchair parking and storage alcoves are located outside of patient rooms to keep each child’s equipment nearby. When the expansion is complete, the central corridor will house two activity rooms, four shower rooms and one deluxe bathroom with a whirlpool bathtub and beautician-style sink for washing hair as well as nursing and medication stations. Laundry facilities, clinician offices, a family conference room and staff lounge also have been added.

The Neighborhood Team

Tanya describes the TCU staff as “my extended family.” The family visits often and participate in monthly team conferences and Family Days, but

Tanya appreciates that she never worries about Bradford when she leaves.

“You want the best for your children,” remarked Tanya. “The TCU staff care for the children like their own.”

Bradford’s team includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, teachers and recreational therapists. A typical weekday includes attending school in the morning and early afternoon as well as receiving daily therapeutic play. On weekends, TCU residents receive therapeutic play through participation in one-on-one visits, group games and special events.

As part of his school day, Ellen Griggs-Drane, MM, MT-BC, Music Therapist with the Hospital Education Program, has been working with Bradford for four years. “When I first started working with him, I exposed him to a variety of music.”

By incorporating music into his educational program, playing live music with an upbeat tempo, and placing a wave drum under his right arm, Ellen noticed Bradford responded by playing with his elbow.  He’s been a drummer ever since, playing simple beats and other rhythms in his individual and group music therapy sessions.

“When he plays the drums or is listening to music, he just comes alive,” said Ellen. “His whole face lights up.”

Because Bradford responds well to auditory stimulation, including voices, sound effects from games and music, Vernita Easley, CTRS, Recreation Therapy Manager and Bradford’s therapist, said he enjoys going on outings to the movies, musical events and outdoor activities. He shows his excitement by smiling, vocalizing or moving his arms or entire body. Bradford is also a member of the TCU Rollers, the hospital’s bowling team, an activity Tanya calls “one of the loudest things you can do.”

Group Support

Two years ago Bradford’s family spoke to the Capital Area Health Advisory Council as part of Children’s Hospital’s Certificate of Need process to gain approval to expand the TCU. They talked about how the TCU has helped their family and how many other families have the same need.

“When you have a child like Bradford,” said Tanya, “you’re in your own world. When you first get into it, you think you’re the only one. It can be a miserable world when you don’t know what to do or where to go.”

Through support groups, monthly dinners and other TCU events, the family has met other families and learned they’re not alone.

“A place like this is just wonderful,” said Tanya. “You don’t have to do it by yourself.”

Phase II of the three-phase TCU expansion project is currently underway to renovate 15 resident bed spaces and additional staff support space. Phase II is scheduled to run through April 2008, and the entire project is expected to be complete in the fall 2008. The expanded TCU will include one isolation room, 20 double rooms and two triple rooms. New residents will begin moving in during summer 2008.

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