Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital announced the latest phase of construction on its new therapeutic garden, built and designed expressly for children with special physical needs and developmental delay. When completed, the garden will allow these children the opportunity to be outdoors, to plant, to help take care of the garden, and to harvest fruits and vegetables.
Currently, construction workers are framing garden paths; and work crews are pouring the concrete. “When the project is complete, these walkways will allow our patients, guests and staff to enjoy the different areas of our beautiful new garden,” said Pauline Hennessey, vice president of child development, education and rehabilitation services at Totally Kids. “We are calling it our ‘Garden of Fun’; but we know that, in reality, it will be so much more than that.”
Hennessey says that the new therapeutic garden “will give our patients a positive experience during their care and will foster their ability to interact with nature and work on functional activities in a safe environment. Just as a stroll outside on a sunny day is a great pick-me-up, many healthcare researchers and practitioners are finding that ecotherapy (also known as green therapy, nature therapy and earth-centered therapy) can have a positive effect in the rehab process.”
The new garden at Totally Kids will serve as a destination for patients to enjoy the outside with both staff as well as their parents. Some patients may receive therapy in this setting to help improve their balance, walking and other life skills. The garden will also serve as a place where employees can take their own children, can grow fruits and vegetables for healthy lunches, and simply go to rest and relax.
The garden is the fulfillment of the vision of Don Nydam, longtime community leader and chairman of the board of Totally Kids who passed away earlier this month, and his wife and current board member Ruth Ann. Built on the Totally Kids campus in Loma Linda, it is a collaborative community effort that to date has included master gardeners along with many other people from the community who have donated their time, energy and money to this project. Other partners are anticipated to come on board to support both the building of the garden as well as its ongoing upkeep. Totally Kids donated the land, and in-kind donations are expected to support its ongoing operation.
Serving children and their families for nearly 50 years, Totally Kids is regarded as a national leader in providing personalized rehabilitation and habilitation services for children with a family-centered emphasis. Totally Kids offers a full array of resources for children who are recovering from physical trauma or surgery or have suffered catastrophic illness, and those dependent on technology through a portfolio of acclaimed programs and services that includes acute pediatric rehabilitation (both inpatient and outpatient), subacute, pediatric day health and residential intermediate care.
Find out more about Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital at TotallyKids.com, or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/totallykidsrehab.