“The Friends and Angels Foundation, founded by Tracy Vicere, have been both friends and angels to our childhood cancer programs. They have consistently worked to make the care we provide to our patients kinder, happier, and more accessible, whether they be on active treatment or off-treatment and moving forward in their lives. Our bone marrow transplant patients are soothed with comforters and bed linens to provide color, personal themes as well as comfort during hospitalizations of a month or longer. Patients in the Survivors Facing Forward Program have ready access to vital medical and psychosocial support programs in an organized binder addressing all their needs. As an educator, Tracy understands the importance of well-organized information that is usable to patients regardless of their stage of development! These are only two of many examples of how our patients have benefited from The Friends and Angels Foundation, for which we are sincerely grateful."
Nancy Barbach, Social Worker “The Friends and Angels Foundation is invaluable to the child life department and the patients and families we serve. We are so grateful for the generous donations that buoy the spirits of families as we endeavor to make the medical journey more manageable. As child life specialists, we have come to depend upon the surgi doll donation in our work helping educate patients about their diagnosis and familiarize them with the medical procedures and care they receive. The window makers allow the children to personalize their space and make a potentially sterile hospital environment as unique as they are. The ability to decorate the rooms of the patients receiving bone marrow transplants has been vital to the healing process. The children are allowed something to look forward to and a sense of control as they choose their bedding and how to make their space their own. The parent bags allow caregivers to feel cared for as well. As sick walk-ins on PACT turn into unexpected admissions, families appreciate having their basic hygienic needs considered and addressed. The celebrations at the end of treatment are made more special by the addition of a gift card. The smiles we see can’t be adequately captured here. But, you make a difference and allow us to make a bigger, more tangible impact. Your donations are vital to ensuring our provision of quality, patient and family-centered care; your gifts allow us to support pediatric patients and families from diagnosis to end of treatment. We can’t thank you enough.” Sami Sherman, Child Life Specialist |
We support patients in the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center (“CCMC”) Hematology/ Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and Survivors Facing Forward Program by:
To date, we have raised over $140,000 to support the patients receiving treatment in the Division of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation at Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of NY. The Friends and Angels Foundation brings such joy and comfort to patients and their families during such a difficult time in their lives. By providing families with admission bags, they don't have to worry if they forgot something at home- all the necessities are right there for them. When a patient is first admitted for a bone marrow transplant, it is a time of much anxiety and stress. When they go into their room for the first time and see bedding specific to their interests or taste, it makes them feel special. The foundation is absolutely wonderful and here at Cohen Children's Medical Center we really appreciate all that the foundation provides to our patients and their families.
Parent of Patient |