Nashville, Tenn. – Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program®, a nonprofit organization providing education and comfort to children with cancer, will host a red carpet event featuring the new Chemo Duck cartoon on Saturday, Jan. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt for their former and current pediatric cancer patients. The event, presented by BL Harbert International, is free and will feature red carpet makeovers, pictures, celebrity goody bags, snacks and more! Guests are required to RSVP with the number of children in their party by emailing info@chemoduck.org or calling (615) 830-0126.
“Chemo Duck’s presence at the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is an invaluable service that offers education, preparation and comfort for the children we serve,” explains Julie Isbell, manager of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Service Line. “We are so excited to share this new video that will continue to help us support children and soothe any anxiety that our pediatric patients may be experiencing.”
The “Making Friends with Chemo Duck” cartoon was created to help teach children about chemotherapy and to provide comfort in a child-friendly manner. The video sheds light on some of the struggles children go through and reiterates the fact that they haven’t done anything wrong and that they are still the same kid on the inside. The cartoon appeals to children of all ages and helps them understand that they are not alone.
Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program
Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program® is a program of the Nashville-based nonprofit organization, Gabe’s My Heart. Established in 2004 to provide education and comfort to children living with cancer through medical play using therapeutic tools, Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program has provided more than 20,000 ducks to children around the world. The goal of the program is to enable hospital staff and parents to prepare children for chemotherapy treatment and eliminate the fear of the unknown. Chemo Duck is a stuffed yellow duck dressed in blue hospital scrubs with a bandana around its head, a chemotherapy port on its chest and an immobilizer on his arm. In a gentle, age-appropriate manner, children learn what to expect during cancer treatment and have a friend to share the experience. In turn, children can use Chemo Duck to help friends, siblings and classmates to understand and empathize with their experience. In addition to providing Chemo Ducks, this comprehensive program has developed tools and resources for parents and caregivers, games and educational materials for children, tips for healthcare professionals, and much more. For more information, visit www.chemoduck.org.