At the Transamazon Hospital, ICU children enjoy a garden outing with their families
Project aids in recovery, provides leisure, and will be held once a week
Ten months ago, João Miguel, who is just over a year old, has been living at the Regional Public Hospital of Transamazônica (HRPT) in Altamira, southwest of Pará. The baby was born strong and healthy but acquired pneumonia that changed the daily life of the entire family. “The initial condition came with respiratory failure; I noticed he was always tired,” says his mother, Lívia de Jesus.
João is hospitalized in the pediatric wing of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the same sector where 8 months ago Stella Manuela has been relying on machines and the HRPT teams in her fight for life. The baby was also born healthy but suffered from viral infections and thrombosis. “Here, the teams take good care, they do the treatment properly, and thank God it is working,” praises her mother, Maristela Sousa.
Both cases are examples of when a patient needs to stay in the hospital for a predetermined period or without a forecast for discharge. To meet this demand, the unit offers all the necessary infrastructure for accommodation, and at HRPT, a new tool has been implemented that seeks to provide a stay that is closer, albeit on a smaller scale, to the reality outside the hospital walls.
The ‘Garden Outing’ project is carried out by the teams of Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Psychology, Nursing, Medicine, and Social Services. The idea is that, once a week, preferably on Sundays, patients like João and Stella go down to the garden to enjoy fresh air and natural light. “Being inside an ICU, the patient feels isolated and even loses track of time, which is common due to the hospitalization that requires isolation. With the project, the hospital is providing a humanized service in the recovery of these patients,” says the coordinator of Physiotherapy and Speech Therapy at the Transamazon Hospital, Alex Bernardo.
The launch took place on a symbolic and special date: August 10, the second Sunday of the month, Father’s Day. João Miguel is the first child of farmer Nadison Alves. “I’m from the countryside; I never thought I would go through this,” he laments, before reflecting on being able, even in the hospital, to celebrate the day of the year dedicated to him, alongside his living son. “I sincerely thank all the competent professionals who care about the well-being of those who are hospitalized and their parents.”
Paulo Danilo, Stella’s father, couldn’t hold back tears as he held his daughter in his arms and was able to take the first outing since her hospitalization in the ICU. “I thought it was important for them to have contact with natural air because out here they can see more and even receive more relatives,” he observes, happy to know that soon he will be able to take another outing with his daughter.
The ‘Garden Outing’ project reinforces the humanization employed by the Transamazon Hospital in all sectors of the unit. HRPT is a reference in pediatric care and, in the case of actions like the one launched last Sunday, follows strict safety protocols. “We want to provide an environment for interaction with the outside world, even while in the ICU, for children who are preparing to return home,” emphasizes the coordinator of Physiotherapy and Speech Therapy, Alex Bernardo.
Outing preferably on Sundays
A particular detail draws attention to the care that the ‘Garden Outing’ project took in choosing the day for the activity. The choice of Sunday is not by chance and has a very direct justification: to take advantage of the fact that the movement in the corridors and external areas is lower, in order to make the child as comfortable as possible and not have their attention diverted when receiving affection from their parents. Other family members, such as siblings, grandparents, uncles, and cousins, can also visit, provided that it is previously requested by the child’s direct guardians and authorized by the team coordinating the project.
Daily therapy assists before, during, and after the outing
With national recognition and a level of excellence in caring for premature babies, newborns, and children in the Pediatric ICU, the Transamazon Hospital has an important differential in the work developed by a multiprofessional team, responsible for monitoring patients according to each one’s needs.
Among the specialties, one is fundamental in maintaining daily motor functions, breathing, and even exercises that prevent the atrophy of the chewing system. Physiotherapy is applied integrally when the patient participates in activities that require a change in the hospital routine, such as the garden outing launched on the 10th.
Specialist in the field, Nathacha Marreiros assures that the therapies allow ICU children “to have better breathing, maintain good saturation, and stay stable.” Hoping that João, Stella, and other children can be discharged soon and return home, Nathacha admits pride in being part of activities that will make all the difference when these patients are discharged. “It will help a lot with movements, development, crawling, and allow them to have the chance to be independent just like other children.”
Text: Rômulo D'Castro (HRPT)
