Highs and lows
That bond is nowhere more evident than in the clinic playroom and Lisa Scher-ber's adjoining office. Among the toys, videos, and snacks crammed into her space is a huge stuffed frog named Yum-Yum, a favorite toy of a child who passed away several years ago. The frog is a reminder of all the kids who have touched Scherber's heart over the years — and of the highs and lows experienced by all who spend time in the Jimmy Fund Clinic.
Lisa Scherber (center) shares a moment with Yum-Yum the frog and (left to right) Madison Marasco, Matthew Kennedy, and Bennett O'Brien.
"We love to watch our patients as they grow and achieve milestones, so tears are shed when we hear bad news," says longtime clinic nurse practitioner Arlene "Andy" Androkites, RN, PNP. "We do our best to support the families — as well as our own clinic family."
To help with grieving, the staff holds bimonthy bereavement meetings to celebrate the life of each patient and discuss how they can learn from the case. The sessions are organized by the Pediatric Advanced Care Team led by Joanne Wolfe, MD, which aims to lessen pain and suffering for terminally ill children through consultations and research.
Despite the challenges, numerous employees say it's a privilege to work at the clinic. "Many of us feel the days are long and hard, but there is not another job in the world that we would rather be doing," observes Androkites.
Says Grier, "It's remarkable coming to work every day and seeing how much our staff cares about what they do. It never ceases to bring me joy."
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