COLE’S TOUR OF THE CHILDREN’S MERCY HOSPITAL HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY UNIT ON 4 HENSON TOWER

Welcome to 4 Henson Tower – the Hematology and Oncology Unit. I’m Cole and I am here to stay for a few days to get my scheduled chemotherapy. I’ll press the button to let the nurses know we’re here, and I’ll show you around.

It’s important that everyone who comes in the unit signs in at the nurses’ station. If you’re a kid and visiting, you’ll also get your temperature taken.

This is the main station. There is always lots of activity here – nurses, doctors, residents, volunteers! The Unit Secretary also sits here and answers phone calls and patient call lights.

Here’s the room I’ll be staying in while I’m here. Each room is for only one kid. I also have my own bathroom with either a tub or shower. There also is a bed so an adult can stay with me.

When I am not feeling well I can just hang out in my room and rest. If I am feeling well enough, I like to get out of my room and walk around.

One cool thing is that even if I feel like staying in my room, I have my own, tv, vcr, boom box, and Nintendo! I can either bring games from home or use what they have here!

I can even choose what I want to eat while I am at the hospital. I just use the room service menu and let the kitchen know when and what I want to eat!

The playroom on the floor is a place to come to do activities with the volunteers and staff. I can also borrow things from their collection of games and videos!

This is the Parent Room where my mom and dad can go for a break. Oops! I better go! No kids allowed!

Annie is one of our Child Life workers. She knows a lot of great games and is always around to help kids have a better time while they have to be in the hospital.

This is one of the rooms on the floor where I can go to have smaller procedures done. It is a lot nicer than having to go to the operating room.

I usually have one nurse take care of me during the day and a new one at night. They give me my medicines, check to see how I am doing, and talk to me when I want to talk. They are always available when my parents have questions.

I won’t say that coming to the hospital is a favorite thing, but the Hematology Oncology floor at Children’s Mercy sure makes it a whole lot easier!