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Nov. 7 - Nov.14, 2004 |
Clown therapy at Sick Kids
Christy the Clown of Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus entertains children
By Mariella Policheni
With their eyes riveted on Christy the Clown, sitting for almost an hour in the reading room of the Hospital for Sick Children, a group of young patients was treated to tricks, jokes, and two stories.
Other children were able to watch Christy from their wards via closed circuit TV. It's not every day that one can see a circus clown perform within the walls of a hospital, normally housing only doctors, nurses, sick children and worried parents.
Manuel, Alessandro, Kaeleigh, Derek, Kelsi, and other kids between the ages of four and eight were charmed by the games, magic tricks, and contagious laughter of Christy the Clown. For a few more days, Christy will bring her small show in schools, kindergartens and pediatric wards.
Illness, hospitalization and even the cure often rob severely ill children of their carefree youth. "Alessandro will turn three in December, and in April he was diagnosed with a form of leukemia, thankfully at an initial stage," says his mom Sharon Cicciarella. Alessandro, his beautiful face framed by his blond hair, watched the clown's show with keen attention. "My son still needs two years and a half of therapy, but the prognosis is favourable and we hope that everything will be fine."
Alessandro, of course, does not realize the severity of his condition. "He was just two years old when we began coming to the hospital one day each week," explains Sharon, who still continues her weekly visits, together with her husband Roberto. "We live in Newmarket, but we're glad that Alessandro is being treated in this hospital, where the doctors and staff are magnificent, really prepared and caring."
Sharon spoke openly, while Roberto looked at their child with sad eyes. "It was very hard at first," she said, as if baring her soul. "We wondered about what we might have done wrong, why had Alessandro contracted this illness; however, we tried to react. Things appear to be going well, Alessandro is improving and his relation with doctors and needles has become a little easier, he accepts the cures he needs. For sure, it's not easy."
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