As a child, a cancer diagnosis can be scary, but members of the Colonie Police Benevolent Association and the Happy Hats and More Inc. are doing their best to help kids deal with those concerns.
Colonie PBA President Investigator Bob Cazastas and Vice President Michael Torrey gave Geraldine Cristo-DePaul, president of Happy Hats and More, Inc., money to purchase 18 Gabe’s Chemo Ducks, devices meant to ease the stress surrounding chemotherapy infusions. The ducks were unveiled April 14.
Mahler said having the ducks is immensely beneficial for the children having to face treatments for childhood cancer.
The duck basically is a therapeutic tool to go through treatment with, said Natalie Mahler, a Certified Child Life Specialist at Albany Medical Center. `It makes them feel like something they can relate with.`
The duck is the size of a stuffed animal and comes equipped with a portacath, which is a tiny plastic round piece placed in a child’s chest near their heart with a central line that connects to the veins around the heart. Mahler said this is the most potent way to receive the medicine.
Having this installed in the duck allows kids to feel more comfortable with getting one. The duck also wears a bandanna matching one given to the kid who owns it.
Mahler said it is more of a visual tool for preschool-aged children. So when a nurse needs to perform a procedure, they can test it on the duck first to help ease the patient.
`The nurse is able to access the duck with needles, the same as they [the patient] get,` Mahler said. `It is something with them that they can practice with to relieve anxiety.`
The ducks can also be used as a teaching tool for school aged kids to explain what a port is and the importance of having one.
Cristo-DePaul, whose organization provides hats to children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments, also works for the New York State Criminal Justice Department. She said she began talking with Mahler about getting donations for the hospital, and the suggestion of Gabe’s Chemo Ducks came up, so she went to the Colonie PBA to see if they were willing to help.
`They had a meeting and said, ‘We’re sending you a check,’ and they paid for 18 ducks,` she said. `They gave a $500 donation.`
She originally had asked for a $250 donation from the organization, but she said she was thrilled to find out her request had been doubled.
`It has never been that much,` she said. `All everybody wants to do is help the children. … I really cried. This is a really big thing.`
Cazastas said that when they were approached by Cristo-DePaul for donations for funding, he said it was something he didn’t believe the organization could say no to.
`She asked for a certain amount of money, and I spoke with Torrey and we decided to double what she originally asked for,` he said. `Both Mike and I felt great and we were able to help out the kids.`
Cazastas said he is used to the PBA giving away money to less worthy causes in the past. So when it was presented with the opportunity to help out kids suffering with cancer, he said it was a no-brainer.
`We give away a lot of money for stupid stuff, why not donate money to kids with cancer?` he said. `How could we say no to that. No kid should suffer from cancer.`
It is a disease that has most likely touched everyone in some way, Cazastas said, adding that his niece had a scare and he has lost several members of his family to it. He said he sees a relationship with Happy Hats and More, Inc. to continue down the line, as well as with the cancer center.
`I think it will be long lasting,` he said. `We’ll have a great relationship, and it will continue beyond me.`
For Cristo-DePaul, giving these ducks to the children adds to the many acts of kindness she does for the children. With her therapy dog, Goldilocks, she visits the children at least once a month and every Easter.
`The kids just go crazy over the dog,` she said. `And I’m able to pass out toys, huggable pillows and hats.`
Now with the ducks, she said she is able to bring them more happiness. So through the joy of music and covering their heads with hats when the kids lose their hair, she hopes the ducks bring them happiness until they are cured.
`Hopefully we have enough ducks until they get rid of cancer,` she said.“