Helping Kids Walk the Road He Once Did
When child life specialist Carson was 16, he was diagnosed with t-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
For the next three and a half years, Carson’s childhood cancer journey consisted of multiple procedures and chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Carson’s Backbone of Care
He remembers feeling tired during his hospital stays but also feeling happy because of the strong support system around him.
“My mom was my rock through my entire journey and still is today,” Carson shares. “She never missed a clinic appointment and spent every night with me in the hospital.”
Another steady support was the Child Life team at his oncology clinic. Carson remembers how his child life specialist advocated and cared for him during his treatment. "She was able to be that listening ear when my family and I needed her the most,” says Carson.
Carson’s backbone of community care helped him stay resilient through tough days.
“There was a saying that went around my hospital room. I might be backed up into a corner, but I will always get back up and fight. I was allowed to have bad days but not two in a row. I would not let myself get defeated.”
- Carson Barnes, CCLS
Becoming Like His Child Life Specialist
As Carson grew up, he was inspired by his child life specialist to help provide support to kids and families.
Currently, Carson is a Child Life Specialist at Driscoll Children’s Hospital where he provides coping strategies for kids during their hospital stays.
“Distraction and play are some of the most helpful coping strategies,” Carson shares. He relies on donated programs like Starlight Toy Deliveries and Starlight Nintendo Switch Gaming to help kids play in the hospital and find normalcy in an unfamiliar and stressful place.
“I felt rewarded because I was able to hear how brave and powerful these patients are. I get to see them in the hospital but hearing the stories of how cancer affects them outside the hospital was remarkable … I felt like I had a dream job because I was able to walk beside these patients in their journeys.”
- Carson Barnes, CCLS
With these tools, Carson helps kids find resilience. That’s what is most rewarding for him - seeing his patients' bravery as he walks alongside them in their medical journey.
Help Child Life Specialists Make a Difference
March is Child Life Month. Child life specialists are child development experts who work in hospitals to support kids and families as they navigate stress from hospital stays. They rely on organizations like Starlight to receive the tools they need free of cost.
Help make sure child life specialists are fully stocked with the tools and programs needed to make a child’s hospital stay better.
You have the power to strengthen a child’s resilience and bravery.
