Smarty SHARE: Rohr Rockstars
In case you missed it, here's one of our popular (in fact, it was the most popular!) Smarty Sunday SHARE posts from April:
- I need my children to know that life is beautiful in the face of adversity and, no matter what, we get up. – Trish Rohr
The story of Rohr Rockstars and its founder Trish Rohr are inexorably linked. Trish is a teacher by profession, with a unique and personal understanding of the impact that a frightening medical diagnosis can have on a family (you can read her story here).a Rohr Rockstars
The sum of her experiences led her to create a nonprofit dedicated to serving chronically ill students – a surprisingly underserved group of kids. Schools and healthcare organizations focus on transitioning kids back into the classroom after an extended medical absence. But after more than four years working with student-patients Trish and her team know the academic, emotional and social needs of chronically ill students are highly complex, starting long before and continuing well beyond a student’s return to school.
The impact of a chronic illness certainly includes academic difficulties, but can also include sometimes unexpected effects on cognitive abilities and even social isolation. In fact, children facing an extended illness are twice as likely to consider suicide and 3.5 times more likely to attempt suicide.
Trish and her team, led by executive director Martha Anne Krisko, have a goal to stay with kids from diagnosis through treatment and even through high school graduation. That means the families they work with can rely on their support and encouragement throughout the students’ journey, no matter how difficult and extended that path may be.
Sound interesting? This is the perfect time to get involved as Rohr Rockstars expands their programming in several Novant Health locations. Get details below or visit SHARE Charlotte for more info.
Clinic Waiting Room Volunteer (variety of shifts available) – Volunteer shifts are available the Novant Health Blume Hematology & Oncology Clinic every morning, Monday through Thursday, as well as some afternoons. Interact with the children in the clinic waiting room as they wait for their treatment appointments. Specific projects (art, simple science experiments, etc.) will be provided for you to use.
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This post by Kimberly originally appeared in the Smarty Sunday SHARE column on the Charlotte Smarty Pants blog.