McKenzie Madison, Child Life Specialist

✨Child life specialist, she/her, 24, pan✨ ✨ I love kiddos and helping them feel better💖✨

[child-life-charm]

90% of my job is convincing kids to take their meds or not pull out their IV. I caught myself asking a 16 year old today if she had remembered not to pull on her 'special medicine straw'. 🤦🏽‍♀

[child-life-charm]

So...it's not broken! But it is very very badly sprained and swollen. This brace is my new best friend for the next two weeks. My job is about to get very interesting...

[child-life-charm]

What’s the last dream you remember having?

Oh, that's a tough one! Probably the one I had last week. I dreamed I went to space and fell in love with an alien girl from another planet.

[child-life-charm]

Quick question for my doctor friends: how would a person know if their wrist was broken or sprained? There might have been an incident while playing Twister with a patient...

[child-life-charm]

OOC below the cut:

Hi! Kya here! Just wanted to let everyone know that I may not have as much time for role play or may be less consistent with responses for the next little while. I don't want to get into too many details but my mom is really sick and we aren't the closest but I've had to step into a bit of a caregiving role sometimes. This has made my schedule unpredictable, so some days I have lots of unexpected free time and other days I have none. I'm also looking for a new job right now and my classes start back soon, so that may also change my availability.

Please still interact as usual! Just know that I may be a little less active at times. Please be patient with me if I suddenly 'disappear'; as I said my schedule is unpredictable right now but I promise I will respond when I can!

[child-life-charm]

hello miss I have a request please

@little-bird-speaks

Hi honey! What might this request be? I'm listening...

[little-bird-speaks]

Um I forgot sorry

[child-life-charm]

Oh that's okay! Just let me know if you think of anything you need.

[little-bird-speaks]

Um um I’m a bit hungry maybe?

[child-life-charm]

Sure! Anything specific you'd like? We have a lot of options.

[little-bird-speaks]

Noodles

[child-life-charm]

Perfect! I'll bring those right to you.

[little-bird-speaks]

thank

[child-life-charm]

You're welcome honey! Just let me know if you need anything else.

[little-bird-speaks]

um uh um a momma and daddy

[child-life-charm]

Oh sweetheart...I promise you, everyone in this hospital wants to help you find a safe and loving home. We have some very wonderful social workers who are great at helping with that. But I know the waiting must be really hard, yeah?

[little-bird-speaks]

uh huh. the hospital is bad. even thogh i have friends now

[child-life-charm]

I know honey. Hospitals are no fun. Like I said, the social workers are doing their best to find you a safe and loving family, but sometimes it takes time. I know it sucks, and I'm more than happy to talk about those things with you if it helps. Would you maybe also like to talk to someone else about how you're feeling? We have some special helpers here called psychologists who are really good at talking to people about their feelings and helping them feel better. I could ask one of them to talk to you if you'd like, but there's no pressure.

[little-bird-speaks]

mm maybe later. can i have a sleepover with @little-ghost-lani if she wants and mayve @dinosaurs-and-wristbands if he dint go home

[child-life-charm]

That sounds like a great idea! You can all set up in the playroom; there's plenty of space in there and that way the doctors and nurses can keep an eye on all of you. Do you want any help setting up?

[little-bird-speaks]

uh huh please please

[child-life-charm]

Okay I can do that. I'll get some things gathered up and meet all of you there!

[child-life-charm]

Don't mind me, I'm DEFINITELY not helping children break hospital rules...

(If you're a hospital administrator, you did not see this!)

[child-life-charm]

hello miss I have a request please

@little-bird-speaks

Hi honey! What might this request be? I'm listening...

[little-bird-speaks]

Um I forgot sorry

[child-life-charm]

Oh that's okay! Just let me know if you think of anything you need.

[little-bird-speaks]

Um um I’m a bit hungry maybe?

[child-life-charm]

Sure! Anything specific you'd like? We have a lot of options.

[little-bird-speaks]

Noodles

[child-life-charm]

Perfect! I'll bring those right to you.

[little-bird-speaks]

thank

[child-life-charm]

You're welcome honey! Just let me know if you need anything else.

[little-bird-speaks]

um uh um a momma and daddy

[child-life-charm]

Oh sweetheart...I promise you, everyone in this hospital wants to help you find a safe and loving home. We have some very wonderful social workers who are great at helping with that. But I know the waiting must be really hard, yeah?

[little-bird-speaks]

uh huh. the hospital is bad. even thogh i have friends now

[child-life-charm]

I know honey. Hospitals are no fun. Like I said, the social workers are doing their best to find you a safe and loving family, but sometimes it takes time. I know it sucks, and I'm more than happy to talk about those things with you if it helps. Would you maybe also like to talk to someone else about how you're feeling? We have some special helpers here called psychologists who are really good at talking to people about their feelings and helping them feel better. I could ask one of them to talk to you if you'd like, but there's no pressure.

[little-bird-speaks]

mm maybe later. can i have a sleepover with @little-ghost-lani if she wants and mayve @dinosaurs-and-wristbands if he dint go home

[child-life-charm]

That sounds like a great idea! You can all set up in the playroom; there's plenty of space in there and that way the doctors and nurses can keep an eye on all of you. Do you want any help setting up?

[child-life-charm]

hello miss I have a request please

@little-bird-speaks

Hi honey! What might this request be? I'm listening...

[little-bird-speaks]

Um I forgot sorry

[child-life-charm]

Oh that's okay! Just let me know if you think of anything you need.

[little-bird-speaks]

Um um I’m a bit hungry maybe?

[child-life-charm]

Sure! Anything specific you'd like? We have a lot of options.

[little-bird-speaks]

Noodles

[child-life-charm]

Perfect! I'll bring those right to you.

[little-bird-speaks]

thank

[child-life-charm]

You're welcome honey! Just let me know if you need anything else.

[little-bird-speaks]

um uh um a momma and daddy

[child-life-charm]

Oh sweetheart...I promise you, everyone in this hospital wants to help you find a safe and loving home. We have some very wonderful social workers who are great at helping with that. But I know the waiting must be really hard, yeah?

[little-bird-speaks]

uh huh. the hospital is bad. even thogh i have friends now

[child-life-charm]

I know honey. Hospitals are no fun. Like I said, the social workers are doing their best to find you a safe and loving family, but sometimes it takes time. I know it sucks, and I'm more than happy to talk about those things with you if it helps. Would you maybe also like to talk to someone else about how you're feeling? We have some special helpers here called psychologists who are really good at talking to people about their feelings and helping them feel better. I could ask one of them to talk to you if you'd like, but there's no pressure.

[child-life-charm]

hello miss I have a request please

@little-bird-speaks

Hi honey! What might this request be? I'm listening...

[little-bird-speaks]

Um I forgot sorry

[child-life-charm]

Oh that's okay! Just let me know if you think of anything you need.

[little-bird-speaks]

Um um I’m a bit hungry maybe?

[child-life-charm]

Sure! Anything specific you'd like? We have a lot of options.

[little-bird-speaks]

Noodles

[child-life-charm]

Perfect! I'll bring those right to you.

[little-bird-speaks]

thank

[child-life-charm]

You're welcome honey! Just let me know if you need anything else.

[little-bird-speaks]

um uh um a momma and daddy

[child-life-charm]

Oh sweetheart...I promise you, everyone in this hospital wants to help you find a safe and loving home. We have some very wonderful social workers who are great at helping with that. But I know the waiting must be really hard, yeah?

[child-life-charm]

hello miss I have a request please

@little-bird-speaks

Hi honey! What might this request be? I'm listening...

[little-bird-speaks]

Um I forgot sorry

[child-life-charm]

Oh that's okay! Just let me know if you think of anything you need.

[little-bird-speaks]

Um um I’m a bit hungry maybe?

[child-life-charm]

Sure! Anything specific you'd like? We have a lot of options.

[little-bird-speaks]

Noodles

[child-life-charm]

Perfect! I'll bring those right to you.

[little-bird-speaks]

thank

[child-life-charm]

You're welcome honey! Just let me know if you need anything else.

[child-life-charm]

Being a child life specialist is actually like having twelve different jobs in a trench coat masquerading as one job. I think today alone I've been a nurse, a psychologist, a child care worker, a teacher, a hair stylist, an occupational therapist, and a pest control expert (don't ask...).

[child-life-charm]

hello miss I have a request please

@little-bird-speaks

Hi honey! What might this request be? I'm listening...

[little-bird-speaks]

Um I forgot sorry

[child-life-charm]

Oh that's okay! Just let me know if you think of anything you need.

[little-bird-speaks]

Um um I’m a bit hungry maybe?

[child-life-charm]

Sure! Anything specific you'd like? We have a lot of options.

[little-bird-speaks]

Noodles

[child-life-charm]

Perfect! I'll bring those right to you.

[child-life-charm]

hello miss I have a request please

@little-bird-speaks

Hi honey! What might this request be? I'm listening...

[little-bird-speaks]

Um I forgot sorry

[child-life-charm]

Oh that's okay! Just let me know if you think of anything you need.

[little-bird-speaks]

Um um I’m a bit hungry maybe?

[child-life-charm]

Sure! Anything specific you'd like? We have a lot of options.

[child-life-charm]

Why does nobody believe me when I say I slept last night??? I promise I did...for thirty minutes...in a supply closet...because I stayed here all night...and I'm running on three Alanis...

See? I slept!

[child-life-charm]

do you have juice?

@dinosaurs-and-wristbands

Hi honey! Yes, I have juice. Would you like me to bring you some? What kind? I also have other snacks and drinks if you want anything else.

[dinosaurs-and-wristbands]

Can I have apple juice, it’s magic didya know that?!

[child-life-charm]

Oh wow, magic juice? I had no idea! One apple juice coming right up, kiddo.

[dinosaurs-and-wristbands]

uh huh, because whenever I feel shaky and yucky mommy gives me apple juice and I feel better!!!

[child-life-charm]

Oh wow, that's super cool! Here's your juice, honey!

[dinosaurs-and-wristbands]

THANK YOU!!!

[child-life-charm]

You're welcome buddy. Let me know if you need anything else. I've got all sorts of toys and snacks and other fun stuff.

[dinosaurs-and-wristbands]

...do you have food I can have, im hungry :(

[child-life-charm]

Absolutely! Anything specific you want? I have plenty of snacks, but the hospital also has a pretty good kids menu with a lot of options.

[dinosaurs-and-wristbands]

My mommy says I haveta eat anything I can get cause we don’t have lotsa money

[child-life-charm]

I see. You don't have to worry about money today though, kiddo. I promise; you can let me and the other grownup helpers at the hospital worry about that. I think we have pizza or chicken nuggets or mac and cheese on the menu today. Does any of that sound good?

[dinosaurs-and-wristbands]

Can I have Mac and cheese and chicken nuggets?!

[child-life-charm]

Of course you can! I'll have someone bring you some right now. Anything else you need?

[dinosaurs-and-wristbands]

Um I dunno, don’t think so

[child-life-charm]

Okay buddy, just let me know if you need anything else.

[child-life-charm]

hello miss I have a request please

@little-bird-speaks

Hi honey! What might this request be? I'm listening...

[little-bird-speaks]

Um I forgot sorry

[child-life-charm]

Oh that's okay! Just let me know if you think of anything you need.