The Lessons Children Teach
This story begins with a 10-year-old boy named Eric Anderson. Eric – a pediatric oncology patient at EMMC—had been identified as the focus of a video story to be televised during the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. CMN coordinator Nancy Dysart called Eric prior to the taping to ask him where he’d be most comfortable filming his story. She expected his answer to be "my home," “my school,” or “a playground.” The answer she got instead surprised her and filled her with pride. “Let’s film my story at the hospital,” he said. When Nancy questioned if he really wanted to do that, Eric responded. “Yes, Chemotherapy is scary for any kid, but if I show other kids what it’s like, maybe they won’t be so scared if ever they have to go through it.” While some kids who had gone through the experience of cancer might want to stay as far away as they could from the hospital, Eric was willing to back if it meant possibly helping another child in his situation.
They filmed Eric’s story on Webber 3 in the Outpatient Pediatric Clinics. It proved to be one of the most compelling patient stories we’d ever done. To this day, he continues to challenge and inspire those of us who work with him. And five years later, Eric joined us as a student host on the annual CMN Telethon.
The Moral of the Story:
- Lessons can be taught in unexpected places.
- We learn from our patients.
- The more you think you know, the more you can learn.
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