Keanna Gordon.

#IamMGH Black Voices – Meet Keanna Gordon

#IamMGH tells the stories of our people. In honour of Black History Month, we’re centring the voices and lived experiences of our Black staff and physicians throughout February. Meet Keanna Gordon, Certified Child Life Specialist at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH).

"As a child, I had an accident that impacted my everyday life. After being really sick for more than two years, I found a fabulous doctor who was able to diagnose and take my condition seriously, which resulted in surgeries, a hospital stay and recovery period of more than a year and a half. Although I eventually got better, this experience was very traumatic for me.

Years later, while I was in high school, my friend’s 11-year-old brother also had health issues. They told me about their experiences at a local hospital with a Child Life Specialist, who listened to their story, made them feel safe and advocated for their family. Before this, I did not know about Child Life Specialists and what they did, but I remember thinking if I had someone like that involved in my care, my own health experience may have been different.

In November 2021 I started working as a Certified Child Life Specialist at MGH and ETHP’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics, when COVID-19 vaccines were approved for children aged 5 to 11. We were one of the first dedicated paediatric COVID-19 vaccination sites in Ontario. At the time, there were not yet any COVID-19 vaccine clinics in East Toronto dedicated to serving children, so it provided us an opportunity to collaborate with our vaccine team colleagues to build this program from scratch and lead by example to ensure that the clinics were safe and child-friendly.

These efforts included incorporating child-friendly distraction items at the clinics, like Pop-its, iPads and I Spy distraction cards; developing posters that outline comfort positions; creating resources that help caregivers prepare their children for vaccination; and training fellow healthcare professionals to share best practices when it comes to providing care for children during their vaccination experience. We also had coping cards at the clinics, which empowered children to share with us how they would like to be vaccinated. For example, do they want to sit with their caregivers? Do they want to have their eyes closed or open? Our goal was to provide child- and family-centred care by encouraging coping strategies and ensuring children felt safe.

Child Life Specialists wear so many hats. We provide diagnoses education, assist with procedures and support children and families during high-stress healthcare situations. There was a period when we were supporting the vaccine team in administrating 425 paediatric vaccines per day at our Thorncliffe Park Community Hub clinic. At times, we were surrounded by children who were crying or screaming, which can be challenging. Some children are very afraid of needles and may find it difficult to calm their bodies during the vaccination process, so it really is about meeting children and families where they are at and recognizing that this is their journey. As Child Life Specialists, it’s our job to use the tools, knowledge and resources we have at our disposal to help.

During some of these shifts, children and families have shared with us that the child-friendly strategies at our clinic made a world of difference, especially for those who have had poor vaccination experiences in the past. It’s so rewarding to hear that our efforts have helped these families have a better experience. This makes me want to continue learning and honing my skills, so I can continue improving care for children and their families.

Child Life Specialties are often unknown and unrecognized healthcare professions. At MGH, it is amazing to see our leaders and teams advocate for professions like Child Life Specialists to be part of multi-disciplinary health teams. This was my first professional role in this field and I am thankful to all my colleagues for their constant support and their recognition of our profession and its value. I am living my dream right now because MGH has been receptive of our work as Child Life Specialists and has provided us an opportunity to make a difference.

During the pandemic, which many of us will remember for the rest of our lives, I am grateful to be a part of a team that constantly strives to improve experiences for children and their families."

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