Carnival games, prizes and activities brought a little fun to Children’s Hospital in London on Thursday, but the event had a much more serious purpose: raising awareness about chronic pain in children. The Pain Awareness Carnival, held as part of Canadian National Pain Awareness Week, brought together patients, families and hospital staff to highlight the challenges faced by children living with ongoing pain. London Health Sciences Center says chronic pain affects an estimated one in five children and adolescents. Because pain is not always visible, young patients can struggle to have their experiences understood while dealing with impacts on their sleep, education, activities and family life. “We wanted to turn it over and make it fun. We want to really punch out the pain monsters and bring in the fun and joy for all children and staff and families here at the hospital,” said Fatima Di Valentin, a social worker with the Pediatric Chronic Pain Team at London Health Sciences Centre. The carnival featured games, prizes and opportunities for children and families to learn more about pain management in an interactive setting. Di Valentin said families often arrive at the hospital exhausted after trying numerous ways to manage their child’s pain. The hospital’s specialized chronic pain team provides support, education and treatment strategies, including both medication-based and non-medication approaches. The goal is to help children develop tools to manage their pain and return to the activities they enjoy. “We provide help. We provide hope. We assist them in learning new ways of addressing the pain, providing new strategies, new treatments, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies that parents themselves can initiate right away in their home,” Di Valentin said. The Children’s Health Foundation supports the hospital’s pain team through donor funding, helping provide equipment, programs and activities for young patients. Foundation CEO Scott Fortnum said the issue is also personal for him, having experienced the challenges of chronic pain through his son’s journey. “I’ve lived it with my son. He experiences chronic pain or has and it’s a very difficult thing because it affects them so, so much,” Fortnum said. He said donor support helps make resources available to children and families who need them. For patient Logan Pennings, the carnival offered an opportunity to enjoy some activities while connecting with others facing similar challenges. “It’s fun to have a Carnival to just help patients who are going through lots of pain. It helps cheer us up,” Pennings said. Organizers say the message extends beyond the carnival: children’s pain should be taken seriously, even when it cannot be seen.
