Last year, I found a competition that I really wanted to do, but ran out of time. This year, I’m excited to see they’re hosting another competition for a Family-Centered Cancer Care Environment.

Patient-Centered Design Call for Proposals.

I hope to compete this year. You should to.

Today’s Writing101 prompt asks you to travel to a room, so I figured I’d start wondering what a cancer care space, inpatient or outpatient might look like for a child or a teen. I’ve never had the kind of life-changing illness as a child that cancer patients have to live through, but I can imagine a few things, and these are things outside of the standard hospital issue.

First, I think I’d want space for my family to stay with me, my parents and maybe my sibling. I’d need a pull-out bed for that if I’m staying overnight.

Second, I think I’d want some escape from the day-to-day life of a cancer patient. As a kid, I loved to read, so I think I’d want a pretty serious library. As a musician, I’d probably want to have a music player, or even an instrument. No wind instruments, but maybe a guitar, violin, or a keyboard. Or some drums for when I’m really angry. I might want a craft to do, like knitting or bracelets. And if I’m in to video games, then a console that plays my favorite games and TV shows. This would be perfect if I became friends with other patients, or was part of an outpatient program.

Third, I think I’d want rest and comfort, which means good blinds (to shelter out the sun at naps) and good sound-proofing.

What do you think?

Have you been through this before? What would you want to see in a youth / child / family oncology center? Let me know in a comment below, or find me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Writing 101

This post is inspired by a competition and as I’m participating in WordPress’ Writing 101 challenge I imagined this room in Day 2.