Resource Details

Opening Day for Cardinals Kids Cancer Center

at St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital

More patients will be hitting home runs than striking out when they begin treatment at the new Cardinals Kids Cancer Center at St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital, which opened in April. With Cardinals-themed therapy rooms, pediatric cancer and hematology patients of all ages - infants through young adults - are now receiving care in an environment that provides a little more fun and excitement than a traditional medical setting. 

The $2.5 million expansion was made possible entirely through philanthropy starting with a $1 million challenge grant from Mr. David C. Pratt and the St. Louis Cardinals. Pratt's ownership and love for the St. Louis Cardinals provided the momentum for bringing the Cardinals theme to the Pediatric Cancer and Hematology Center.

The expansion focuses on a renovated reception area and the addition of four distinct therapy rooms.

-          The Box Office: a reception area that sets the stage for a healing environment

-          The Bullpen: a room for physical reconditioning of motor skills and sensory awareness

-          Mudville: a room for self exploration and expression through textural and tactile interactions

-          Fredbird's Roost: a room for large organized motor activities and group interaction

-          Cardinals Cottage: a room for curiosity-building activities, identity and cultural exploration, and "cause and effect" play.

"Our patients are really enjoying the new spaces," Bob Bergamini, MD, pediatric oncologist, said. "We treat all ages, infants to young adults, and want to make sure we treat them all in a comfortable environment. The theme works well because the Cardinals are popular for a wide range of ages."

From early childhood to adolescence, children are motivated by play. Drs. Bergamini and Rob Hanson, along with education specialist Jill Turec, utilize therapeutic play as a primary strategy in their holistic approach to cancer and hematology treatment. This serves to engage patients and ease their anxiety during rigorous and painful treatments.

Drs. Bergamini and Hanson offer comprehensive care of pediatric cancer and hematologic diseases from infancy through young adulthood providing more than 4,000 treatments each year. Their focus is maintaining the child's participation in social and educational life to the greatest extent possible. 

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About St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital: St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital is a "hospital-within-a-hospital" at St. John's Mercy Medical Center. St. John's Mercy works with physicians who are specially trained in caring for infants and children in a wide spectrum of pediatric specialties. For more information about St. John's Mercy please click the link: http://www.stjohnsmercychildrenshospital.org.

About St. John's Mercy Foundation: St. John's Mercy Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that is dependent on the support of generous individuals, corporations and foundations to provide superior health care in a faith-based environment. St. John's Mercy Medical Center is committed to serving more than 1.5 million residents of St. Louis County and 12 surrounding counties, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information or to contact the Foundation, please call 314-251-1800 or visitwww.stjohnsmercyfoundation.org.