Shriners Children’s Patients Past and Present Connect Through Support Groups

The late, great Bill Withers once sang, “We all need somebody to lean on,” and Shriners Children’s couldn’t agree more.

Our team members understand that when a family brings their child to one of our facilities, it’s
serious. Whether we’re treating them for burns, orthopedic conditions, sports injuries, spine or spinal cord issues (like scoliosis), or craniofacial issues, we understand the gravity of the situation. This is a traumatizing time, both physically and emotionally, for the patient, and the family can feel the repercussions just as strongly.

That is why Shriners Children’s believes it’s imperative to offer support in every way possible to the patients and families who walk through our doors via our signature wrap-around care. It seeks to treat the overall health and well-being of the child and provide much-needed resources to families. Support groups form one pillar of that care.

Sometimes, when you’re going through something difficult, it can be lonely. You feel like nobody else on the planet could possibly understand your pain, anxiety, fear and other complex emotions. But patients and families discover they’re not alone through complimentary in-person and online support groups offered throughout our facilities, each tailored to a different condition and sometimes to a select age range.

The goal: To provide patients and families with a support system of peers, as well as tools and coping mechanisms from group leaders who understand the condition from a professional level. Often, these groups are organized by individuals who have experienced the condition firsthand, providing an extra level of understanding.

We talked to the leaders and members of support groups at Shriners Children’s locations across the country for an inside look at these circles of connection and healing – and to discover why they’re so crucial.