NMCP’s Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics Clinic Recognizes Patients with Superstar Celebration

Photo By Rebecca Perron | 170520-N-GM597-038 Portsmouth, Va. (May 20, 2017) Sammy, 7, gives a final tug on the fishing line while Jan Henderson, a pediatric physical therapist, assists at the fishing game during the inaugural Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics Clinic superstar celebration at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Dozens of patients, siblings and parents attended the event that recognized the importance of the accomplishments of their patients and included balloon animals, face painting, an art gallery and games that offered prizes. (U.S. Navy photo by Rebecca A. Perron/released)  

PORSTMOUTH, VA, UNITED STATES

05.20.2017

Story by Rebecca Perron 

Naval Medical Center - Portsmouth

Dozens of patients, siblings and parents attended the inaugural Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics Clinic superstar celebration at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth May 20, an event that recognized the importance of the accomplishments of this patient population.
The Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics Clinic cares for children with a variety of developmental delays or disabilities and helps connect families to resources within the military system and the civilian community. With about 6,000 children in the region enrolled to the Exceptional Family Member Program, about half of these patients are seen at the NMCP clinic.
As each child arrived, they were given a passport to help track their participation at each station. The event included games, face painting and an art gallery, but more importantly, provided a place for the families to get together with the staff outside of a clinical environment and give patients and their siblings something they could do together.
“It’s nice to have something where patients and siblings can come together and be able to enjoy activities and there’s no stress,” said Air Force Capt. William Crosby, a developmental nurse at U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley, who is father to Finn, 9, and Tatumn, 6. “Tatumn really loved the ring toss, the face painting and the balloon animals. Finn had a lot of fun tossing the beanbag and with the fishing game – he loved the prize.”
The idea for the celebration came from Cmdr. Marilisa Elrod, division head of the Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics Clinic, who has been assigned to other military treatment facilities where the clinics had a similar annual event.
“We thought that our kids, because they have challenges and their families have challenges that they overcome, are superstars and they deserve a celebration,” Elrod said. “We plan to make this an annual event. For the first one, we decided to start small with the idea that we will grow it.”
Elrod said that some of her staff has worked in the clinic for more than 25 years and have watched the children grow throughout their years of treatment.
“So the team is very excited about the event because we feel very strongly that having an event to celebrate them and to recognize their accomplishments is important,” Elrod said. “Everyone brought their own ideas to put the event together. And some of their children are helping out. I’m hoping that this will provide a networking opportunity for the parents as well, because that’s very supportive to make connections.”
Brian Baggott, the father of Nicholas, 8, was thankful for the efforts of the staff.
“Nicholas loved the activities, and he especially loved seeing Miss Jan and Miss Donna,” Baggott said. “I appreciate the staff’s sacrifice of coming in on a weekend to give even more back to my child than they do when he’s here as a patient.”
“The ring toss was the most fun,” Nicholas chimed in, whose prize was a kaleidoscope.
Brandy Mousel, mother of seven-year-old twins Christian and Chase, described the event as heartwarming.
“It shows the love the staff has for our kids,” Mousel said. “It shows their level of dedication for them. It means everything in the world when you have not one special needs child, but two, that my kids love coming to see them. It’s an amazing feeling knowing they are doing this for my kids and for others.”
Mousel said that Chase’s favorite part was the balloons, while Christian’s favorite was the ring toss and fishing. Mousel then praised the care the doctors and other staff members offer to her family.
“The care here is top notch and stellar,” she said. “If we were not in the military, I think we could get good care in the civilian sector, but I don’t think we could get as much quality care as we get at NMCP. The staff has gotten to know us and our children. The doctors are knowledgeable about our children and do everything they can to help us and give us resources. For what we have here, I can honestly say I prefer to have their providers here because I trust them and they’re brilliant.”
Donna Gaines, a pediatric occupational therapist, explained the services the clinic provides.
“We provide great services to our families,” Gaines said. “We help identify children who may have or who are at risk for any of a variety of developmental delays or disabilities. Some of our patients have autistic spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, or where born prematurely. They may have learning disorders, spina bifida, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Because we are one of the EFMP Category 5 sites, we have many patients who have complex medical conditions, such as cardiac conditions, differences in their nervous systems or problems breathing, and can have developmental delays associated with that.”
At the end of the celebration, members of the staff said goodbye to each patient and family member and watched them leave with a handful of prizes and big smiles.

• Date Taken: 05.20.2017
• Date Posted: 05.23.2017 14:56
• Story ID: 234941
• Location: PORSTMOUTH, VA, US