Starting tomorrow, the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) will be hosting a weeklong series of free events that encourages parents who’ve lost a child to embrace their memory.

The series is part of Re-imagine End of Life, a citywide initiative that aims to help families who have struggled with the loss of a child, and offer guidance in dealing with the complexities of life, death, and remembering lost loved ones.

CHAM opens the series on Oct. 27 with an art installation event honoring children who have passed away. For every child, a star will be added to the artwork in their memory.

CHAM’s Quality in Life Team (QUILT) is part of the hospital’s pediatric palliative care team, and supports families who are experiencing serious life-threatening illnesses, assisting them during difficult medical decisions and emotional experiences.

“Families lose children every year, and those parents wonder do we, as a hospital, remember that their children were alive, that they taught us something, that we felt something because we cared for them,” said Dr. Sarah Norris, director of pediatric palliative care and QUILT, who organized the even for CHAM.  “I think engaging in this week is a chance to show those families that, even though their children have died, our care continues.”

CHAM is the only pediatric hospital in the city to join the week-long program.

While Reimagine End of Life focuses on social, emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of those experiencing grief, they are also promoting organ donation. During one of the events, the parents of Taylor Storch, a 13-year-old who passed in a skiing accident, will be discussing a book about her life, and how they wanted their daughter to live on through organ donation.

“By participating in Re-imagine Week, we can have open and honest conversations about why we are here and how we want to be remembered when we are not,” Dr. Norris said.

A list of events can be found below:

Saturday, October 27: In the Montefiore Moses courtyard at 2:30pm we are creating an interactive art installation honoring children who have died by placing stars in their memory. Together with Bronx artist Lady K-fever and the students of Academy of Mt. St. Ursula, we are celebrating children’s lives. To secure a ticket, click here.

Monday, October 29: We are partnering with the Mosholu branch of the New York Public Library, Connect Lives and Live On New York to host two special events in one day. From 3:30-4:30pm there will be a family story hour reading When Dinosaurs Die, A Guide to Understanding Death. Children and families often struggle for words and this book helps young readers learn that death is a natural part of life.

In the evening from 5:30-6:30pm we will be hosting a book discussion with the author about the moving story of Taylor Storch who at 13 years old died in a ski accident. Her parents wanted Taylor to live on through others as an organ donor. Join us in hearing more from Taylor’s mom Tara Storch. To secure a ticket for either of these events, click here.

Tuesday, October 30: We are collaborating with the students at Academy of Mt. St. Ursula all-women’s Catholic high school in an interactive educational event aimed at exploring culture, values and faith. We will work together to gain knowledge to make informed choices about organ donation as a potential way to “live on.” Event starts at 12pm at Academy of Mt. St. Ursula. To secure a ticket, click here.

Tuesday, October 30: Story Slam is being hosted at Albert Einstein College of Medicine – students, faculty and the community will gather to share experiences of remembrance through organ donation. Do you have a story to tell? Drop in anytime between 6-7:30pm to join us on stage at Robbins Auditorium. In partnership with Live On New York. To secure a ticket, click here.

Thursday, November 1: We are partnering with the Kingsbridge branch of the New York Public Library, Connect Lives and Live On New York to host a family story hour at 10:30am, reading When Dinosaurs Die, A Guide to Understanding Death. Children and families often struggle for words and this book helps young readers learn that death is a natural part of life. To secure a ticket, click here.

Thursday, November 1:  Join us for a special night with singer-songwriter Emily Cavanagh as she helps parents whose children have died share stories and turn them into the beginnings of a song. No experience is needed, only a desire to remember. Event starts at 6pm at CHAM’s Family Learning Place. To secure a ticket, click here.

For more information about Reimagine Week and the events sponsored by CHAM, click here. For more information about the overall Reimagine Week, event details and tickets, visit: www.letsreimagine.org/new-york

admin

Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.