Posted:Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center, Chicago, Ill., is an accredited human services organization with a 140-year history of bringing hope and healing to children and families during their times of greatest need. Maryville’s direct-service programs operate on ten sites in the Chicago metropolitan area and include family support services, healthcare programs, educational and youth development programs, residential care, and community outreach.
Maryville opened its Children’s Healthcare Center on the northwest side of Chicago in 2007 to provide highly skilled nursing care to medically fragile children in transition from hospital to home. A medically fragile child has one or more chronic illnesses or health conditions that require ongoing medical attention; has one or more manageable health conditions that are not managed well; has sustained a debilitating injury; or depends on technology for life or physiological/health sustaining functions.
Maryville is grateful for the grant received from the Massage Therapy Foundation. Maryville contracts with Debra Jonathas, LMT, BCTMB, to provide massage therapy services to the pediatric patients admitted to our Children’s Healthcare Center. The grant funding has enabled our massage therapist to continue working with deserving children facing complex health challenges and to make meaningful differences in their lives.
Debra began her journey in working with children facing health adversities when her two-year-old grandson spent several months on the heart transplant list before his battle tragically ended. During those months spent by his side in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Debra found solace in using massage therapy to provide comfort to her grandson during his most trying times. She believes that massage therapy provides comfort and support to vulnerable children, addressing their physical and emotional needs. She states that each child she works with brings a unique story, and it is fulfilling to be able to make a positive impact on a child’s well-being through the power of therapeutic touch. As a dedicated massage therapist, Debra stresses the importance of being fully present and attuned to each child’s needs, especially when working with children who struggle to verbalize their thoughts. In such situations, body language and monitoring equipment serve as crucial guides, helping tailor the approach to provide the most effective care possible.
Recognizing the reciprocal nature of massage therapy, both the recipient and the therapist can benefit from the profound connection forged during treatment. Debra reports that the joy that emanates from assisting those in vulnerable states leaves a lasting imprint on both parties involved, enriching the healing process for the child as well as those providing the care.
Funding is limited for massage therapy services. If more funding was available, Maryville would expand massage therapy to children in other Maryville programs. Debra envisions creating parental guides and support resources aimed at empowering parents to engage in comfort touch with their medically fragile children. Establishing confidence and connection between parent and child in such situations is crucial; and providing the necessary resources and guidance can help alleviate fears and enhance the bond between family members.
The Massage Therapy Foundation grant has allowed the Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center to provide massage therapy to children with complicated medical conditions and has highlighted the transformative power of massage therapy in providing comfort and support to those in need. Debra states, “Through compassion, mindfulness, and dedication, I strive to make a positive impact on the lives of these children and their families, fostering a sense of hope and healing in the midst of difficult circumstances.” Maryville thanks the Massage Therapy Foundation for the grant funding that enabled us to provide massage therapy to some of the most vulnerable children imaginable.