A nurse's ability to recognize the needs of kids with autism and other sensory issues has led to a new tool to bring comfort to pediatric patients and their families.
Fox 47 News got a look Sparrow Hospital's Sensory Cart, which is filled with items to help keep kids calm and happy during their visit to the hospital.
It was the brain child of a nurse who has a son with autism, who realized it's the little things that can make a big difference, like a special blanket or some noise-cancelling headphones.
Not only does it help a child cope during their stay, but brings relief to the parents as well.
"While everyone is rushing around, it's a lot of stimulation," says Kellye Youngs, RN. "So, I'll pull the cart out outside their room and let the parents cherry pick what they want out of the cart to help their child and their response has been, well, usually tears. They say to me 'I can't believe you thought of this', or 'It was an emergency, so I wasn't able to grab his weighted blanket or i wasn't able to grab oral sensation tools.'"
Youngs' 16-year-old son, who helped inspire the idea for the cart, also spoke to us about the difference it makes.
"Having these small things just to make us feel comfortable and happy really does a number on helping us improve our health," says Sebastian.
Sparrow was able to apply for a grant to help pay for the cart and all the tools--- after numerous suggestions from Kellye to her co-workers made such a difference in their patients.
