John Jr.’s mom, Jodi, said the decision to become involved was an easy one. “There is simply not enough we can do to give back to Shriners Children’s Boston for what they did for our son.”
John Jr. was injured on an ATV outing with his family and initially seen at a wound care clinic near his home. When clinicians there examined John Jr.’s injuries, they immediately recommended Shriners Children’s Boston. “Doctors at the clinic said they would send photos of John Jr.’s injury directly to the hospital. Within 20 minutes we had an appointment and were seen that afternoon,” Jodi said.
During the ATV excursion, John Jr.’s sister, Rachel, rode to the top of a mountain and called for her brother to join her. As John Jr. navigated the incline, the ATV flipped over and he landed in between his and his sister’s ATVs. His arm came to rest on her exhaust pipe, resulting in severe burns from his wrist to his elbow. John also broke two forearm bones. He needed a skin graft on his arm, followed by almost a year of physical and occupational therapy. Over the course of the first four months, John Jr. and his family traveled weekly from their home in New Hampshire to Shriners Children’s Boston for burn care.
Child life specialist Brooke Allen, MS, CCLS was an integral part of John Jr.’s healing journey. Jodi said the two bonded from the start. noted that she “John didn’t want to look at his wound until after it healed and he and Brooke would talk about that,” Jodi said.
Brooke explained that it is common for patients to decide they don’t want to look at their injuries. “I find it refreshing when a patient states they don’t want to look because this shows how self-aware they are with their own coping process and gives them control at a time when most of the decisions are not up to them. Children do best when they are in control of choices like this and when they can be an active participant in their healthcare experience,” she said.
John Jr.’s appointments were scheduled for the same day and time every week, 2 p.m. on Tuesdays. “We always tried to arrive early because we were coming from a distance and didn’t want to be late. Nurse Jeanne (MacDonald) noticed, and she would try and take us right in,” said Jodi. Describing her as “the family savior,” Jodi said John Jr. felt comfortable under Jeanne’s care.
Jeanne explained that patients and families often experience anxiety as they begin treatment for a burn injury. “We always want our patients and their families to feel safe, heard and seen. It’s important to build trust early on, which can help with feelings of anxiety. Reducing their appointment wait time when possible was a small thing I could do for them,” Jeanne said.
There is simply not enough we can do to give back to Shriners Children’s Boston for what they did for our son.
A chance encounter at Shriners Children’s Boston led to the family’s deeper involvement with the organization. A young boy had the same weekly visit schedule as John Jr. One day, as John Jr. and his mom were waiting in the lobby for his father to arrive, this young boy approached them, expressing concern that John Jr. would be late for his appointment. He said, “You’re not supposed to be waiting here, you’re supposed to be going to the clinic with me for our appointments,” Jodi said. She said it struck her how “other patients are more concerned about the other children they see in the hospital than they are with themselves.” After that day, John Jr. and the little boy met up regularly to play video games together while they were in the clinic.
This interaction inspired the family’s first act of giving to Shriners Children’s Boston. They donated some Nintendo Switch gaming consoles, which can connect to a television or be used as hand-held devices to play video games.
Jodi said they consulted with the child life team when exploring gaming console options. “The child life staff explained that patients with injuries to their hands have an easier time using hand-held devices. They can even be incorporated into kids’ occupational therapy sessions.”
John Jr. is now in his first year of high school and loves math. At home, he is the family joker, always displaying a witty sense of humor. Jodi shared that once John Jr. was medically cleared after his accident, he decided the time was right to open himself up to new opportunities and joined his school’s soccer team. He also got right back on the ATV shortly after the accident, guided by his father John Sr., who rode on the vehicle with him.
By co-chairing the Boston Haunted Walk, the family is building an even stronger connection to Shriners Children’s Boston. “We are looking forward to honoring the care John Jr. received for his injury and connecting with other patient families who have had similar experiences,” Jodi said.
John Jr. is joined by his family in their home.
