Issue Overview: Comforting the Sick

The Facts

• 36+ million Americans go to the hospital each year

• 3+ million of the 36 million are children

• Every 20 minutes, a child is ​diagnosed with a critical illness

• Grief and depression are common in people with life-threatening illnesses.

• You don’t have to be a doctor to help a sick person feel better

Ask Questions: Help Kids Imagine What Homelessness Would Feel Like

• How would you feel if you had to spend the night at the hospital, or had to be separated from your parents for some reason? What would help you feel better?

• Do you have a blanket or something soft and cuddly that you love? How do you feel when you hold it?

• Why would a blanket bring comfort to a child who is scared or having a difficult time?