Discretion is my business
At Dynamo, doctors and nurses manage a wide variety of complex pathologies in each session. But nobody notices them because they are without their white coats. The goal is to allow everyone to experience their stay at the Campus safely and without worries.
«We must anticipate a child's needs and do everything possible to accommodate them. Our attention should not be focused exclusively on the illness, but on the needs that arise from it». Daniele Bertin, medical director of the Campus and a specialist in pediatric oncohematology at Regina Margherita in Turin, explains Dynamo's approach to managing the many pathologies hosted in each session. Children (6-12 years old) and adolescents (13-17 years old) with serious and chronic illnesses are the primary recipients of the Therapeutic Recreation programs. The young guests come from all over Italy, through a recruitment process that follows medical criteria shared with the main hospitals in the country.
Since its opening, the Campus has welcomed an increasing number of children and adolescents, reaching 1,238 in 2019. In particular, from 2017 to 2019, approximately 200 more campers were hosted. The growth, equal to 33%, was also possible thanks to structural modifications to the Club Med (the internal medical center) and the cabins which, through effective control tools, allow for the management of increasingly complex situations, paying meticulous attention to new needs. «The selection criteria do not only concern the type of illness, but also the degree of autonomy of the individual», Bertin specifies. «These are benchmarks that shift from year to year. Not to exclude anyone, but to ensure that everyone we welcome can enjoy their vacation without taking risks».
The Campus, medically-scientifically supported by a partnership with Meyer Hospital in Florence, is designed to be as inclusive as possible. Accessibility is not only facilitated by the absence of physical barriers. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), introduced in 2016, allows, for example, communication even with children who are unable to use verbal language. Dynamo's philosophy dictates that specialized doctors and nurses are always present and ready to intervene, 24 hours a day, but "hidden" and discreet, in order to allow children to have a special experience in total safety and serenity, without the impression of being in a medical facility. Doctors and nurses are, therefore, dressed like the staff: «We only have the lanyard around our neck with our white name tag instead of green, so that new volunteers can recognize us». Another very important rule is that only doctors and nurses have access to the campers' medical records. Staff and volunteers, on the other hand, are limited to knowing what the campers can or cannot do.
In addition to protecting the privacy of the young guests, this allows Dynamo staff to interact with them, avoiding seeing their illness alongside the child. The management of the most disparate pathologies is not only the prerogative of doctors, but also of the staff, who must organize activities to allow everyone to have fun. «Welcoming children with different illnesses in the same session means letting them experience sharing», explains Vito Nigro, Camp director. «To achieve this goal, our preparation is essential. Parents fill out a detailed questionnaire, which varies depending on the pathology, which helps us understand the severity, but also the child's character. In the case of tetraplegia, for example, we ask if the child can move their hands, if they can grip an object, how high they can raise their arms. All this information is very useful for planning activities. If we arrive at the session prepared, we can immediately focus on the campers' needs». It can happen, however, that parents take some essential details for granted, so it is crucial for staff to observe the children as soon as they arrive. «The watchword is adapt. We must be able to rethink activities at all times. As soon as we become aware of a need, we must act promptly. For this reason, we never stop discussing, always ready to get involved and face any need».
For some years now, young people who need a night ventilator have also been able to access the Camp, thanks to the collaboration with the Respirando association of Pisa and the doctors of Bambin Gesù, including Professor Renato Cutrera, who follows young patients with these needs. «To make this leap, we intensified night nursing care and made some changes in the cabins», explains Bertin. «Glass dividers were created, which dampen the noise of the ventilator, thus allowing these young people to sleep with other campers, without disturbing their sleep». «For the first time, they were able to spend a vacation away from their family», says Dr. Serena Caggiano, who accompanied some girls to the Campus with the Respirando association. «As the days went by, they learned to manage masks and ventilators; a first step towards independence. The most beautiful image we take home is the smile of these girls, grateful for having understood that they too can claim the right to be happy».
Source: DYBC MAGAZINE
