Why Was There A “Little Door” Installed At Essentia Health’s Erick Peter Person Children’s Cancer Center?

I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Perko who is trained to work in Pediatric Oncology and Pediatric Hematology and get the answer to that question.  I also want to share information you and your family might not be aware of that will keep you at your job, in your community, with family and friends if your child should become sick.  All while still benefiting from the incredible research done at St. Jude!

Dr. Perko's name may sound familiar to you.  That's because he was gracious enough to give us some of his valuable time to be interviewed during our St. Jude Radiothon.  He conducted his fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on 2013 and was able to explain, in detail, how the cancer research information from St. Jude is shared with our local hospitals and worldwide.  Much of the work done at St. Jude is used to help patients here in Duluth at The Erick Peter Person Children's Cancer Center, you and your family have the best care with the latest research and all without traveling out of the area.

Traveling with children is hard enough and when your child is sick it makes it harder on families.  Why not utilize a children's cancer center locally that supports families in need.  When I say support it goes so much further than just medically.  They have a school liaison that will help your child stay at the learning level of his or her classmates while undergoing treatment and Child Life Specialists.  I didn't even know what that was!

A Child Life Specialist provides psychosocial support to both the child and the families in a health care setting.  Addressing their concerns and worries over their children’s health and outcomes and understanding a new diagnosis.  For the children they help them regain the sense of control they may have lost and even provide siblings of the ill child with emotional support.

Dr. Perko suggested the "little door" be installed because the Erick Peter Person Children's Cancer Center is all about the child, why shouldn't they have their own door?  While the child will think it's cool to have a door just their size, it's truly the doorway to the complete care the entire family will benefit from and in our own backyard.  Why would you travel long distances to get exactly what you need right here?

If you find yourself in a dire situation and have questions, please contact me and I'll help get you to those that can help.  It's all part of a caring community that will be here for you if you need us.

~Cathy Kates 218.279.0022