Meet Victoria, Certified Child Life Specialist at the University of New Mexico Children's Hospital

Starlight knows that every member of a Child Life team plays an important role in delivering moments of happiness to patients and their families. March is Child Life Month and we are celebrating by spotlighting some of the incredible Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) we work with, like Victoria at the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital in Albuquerque.  

Victoria plays a key role in helping sick children and their families cope with their extended stays in the hospital. Through her work as a CCLS, Victoria loves getting to know all of the families who come in from all different walks of life as it helps shape her perspective and outlook on life. 

When a child is in the hospital, no matter what their diagnosis may be – they are often nervous and anxious about what is going on. This is why Victoria loves being able to play with her patients, because even if it is just for a moment in time, she is able to help them escape from the medical aspects of their hospital stay.

Starlight programs, like Starlight Gaming and Deliveries, help Victoria do this by providing resources and tools for her to identify what program will have the largest impact on her patients. Whether she can roll in a Starlight Gaming Station to provide hours of game play or surprise them with a hospital gown featuring their favorite character on it, Starlight programs are there to comfort sick kids during a vulnerable time. 

Victoria explains that “there are so many details put into the Starlight Gaming Stations, Gowns, Hero Wagons, and other programs. You can tell that Starlight truly understands the hospital settings with the features of each of their programs.”  

You can support healthcare heroes, like Victoria, by donating today to deliver more Starlight programs and happiness to their patients.