Populations Served

Adolescents have been called the "Forgotten Tribe" of cancer. This fall we will begin to work with the organization "I'm Too Young For This" [i2y] which is becoming a popular internet voice for the young adult with cancer.

Interact with Streetlight Team members, learn more about the program, and become a fan of our Facebook page.

Our cancer youth need peer companions through their long treatment, and a celebration at the End of Chemo with a party and a printed biography of their experience. As funds come in we are developing a TEENZONE on each pediatric wing; rooms customized with teen themes. We want to maintain better contact with them as they move out of the hospital as cancer survivors. Better follow up work would be possible with improved infrastructure, personnel, and outreach . Young adults who survive cancer are not "out of the woods'" yet, and need support and encouragement to follow through on a regular heath care regimen, so that relapse or other complications do not sneak up on them.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited life-limiting illness. The average survival rate is 35 years, but the some of the adolescents we serve at Shands live much shorter lives, many dying between 18 and 25 years of age - because some of the very sickest teens seek treatment here. CF-ers are most infectious to each other, which makes community impossible except through internet connections. There has never been a teenage CF website, and we are working to create one; a type of CF only social network, so that friendships and support can be maintained.

Learn more about our CF social network site

Unlike the cancer youth that is blindsided with a diagnosis in high school, these adolescents have known all along that they would die young. Depression and despair are epidemic in this population. It's not so much that their life is full of pain. Rather, it is the cumbersome daily treatments four hours a day, the complex dietary demands, the restricted activities, and the knowledge that even doing all this 'right' will not save their life.

Their greatest challenge is finding and creating meaning for themselves in a shortened and overly burdensome life. There are some courageous CF heroes that could be examples and inspirations to others, but it is difficult to pull together a group of youth when they cannot even be in the same room with each other. The obvious answer is media: video, internet, cell phones, texting and YouTube. We are living in an age where the solution is very accessible - with increased funding and resources.

The Sickle Cell youth is born through a recessive gene from each parent - almost always unknowingly. It is primarily a disease carried in the African American population, and it is characterized by bouts of excruciating pain that can occur in any part of their body and last as long as several weeks. Awareness, testing, and support is slow in coming.

"Be Sickle Cell Smart" - Read the Article

One of our early experiences with Sickle Cell patients was with a 19-year-old young man, doubled over in pain, and trying not to cry. He said, "Ms. Rebecca, we've got to do something about this. We people with sickle cell have got to come together and support each other. We've got to have a march, or a basketball benefit, or something! I don't know anybody with Sickle Cell, but I know they're out there. And that just ain't right."

Watch videos on the Stop the Sickle Cell Cycle YouTube channel

We knew they were "out there." In fact, several other teens with SCD were just down the hall from him, but because of confidentiality rules we could only assure him that he was not alone. Our goals with Sickle Cell are to help get them together outside the hospital in support groups, and raise awareness in the community so school teachers, employers, and family members become more sensitive and supportive. Keeping pace in school, holding down a job, and just living a normal life can seem almost impossible because of their frequent hospitalizations. Failure can seem like their constant companion.

How We Serve our Patient Populations

Choose a patient population from the drop down menu:

Patients ages 13 - 22 years - We will try to find and offer you movies, video games, magazines, and an invitation to Teen Lounge (Monday through Thursday) regardless of your reason for being at Shands.

Room Bound Patients - We will take the necessary gowning precautions and offer you movies, video games, and some companionship if you want it.

Beyond movies and video games, we have books, magazines, beading & crafts, CDs, CD players, Puzzles, Sudoku, journals, posters, and Streetlight tee shirts.

Patients Who Make More Than Four Return Visits to Shands - We consider you a Frequent Flyer, and make a special effort to get to know you, make a ShandsSpace with you (identity profile), and provide whatever support you need at the time.

Patients Treated for Cancer - We hope you will find a few team members with whom you make a connection. It is great to have friends you look forward to seeing when you come in for chemo.

At the end of your chemotherapy treatments, you have the option of having an END OF CHEMO party where nurses, doctors, friends and family are invited to celebrate this marker in your health care journey. We also help you write a bio that tells your own story with cancer and has pictures you wish to include. Some EOC parties are all about playing Rock Band. Others are all about the food and cake. It is whatever you want it to be. We are beginning an association with the organization i2y - which will provide added support for teens 15-years-old and older with cancer.

Patients with a Sickle Cell Pain Crisis -We will make sure you are visited by some Streetlight members on our Sickle Cell Team. This team has a greater understanding of and empathy for the Sickle Cell young person and the obstacles they encounter.

This team is headed by Fariza Alendy, who works closely with Dr. Levette Dunbar, to raise awareness, to assist in Sickle Cell transition to adult care and to help provide a supportive outpatient community for get-togethers. Our vision for supporting Sickle Cell patients is just beginning. We know we need to raise awareness, but also to raise hopes and spirit in the SCD population. We're working on it.

We encourage Sickle Cell patients to visit the Stop the Sickle Cell Cycle YouTube channel to view inspirational videos.

Cystic Fibrosis Patients at the Hospital for a "Tune-Up" - We know this can sometimes mean a couple of weeks being room bound. We feel for you and will make every effort to visit you and help make the time pass faster. We will, of course, observe the precautions for infection control. With your doctors permission you are welcome in the Teen Lounge with a mask/gown. We also have created a special invitation only CF website to allow CF teens to interact while room bound or at home.

Cystic Fibrosis Patients Transitioning to Adult Care - You will want to be a part of our CF transition program. Thanks to a generous donor, we are developing a transition program that celebrates the move from pediatrics to adult care, with a graduation dinner, a yearbook and a personal video that walks you through the adult care system at Shands. This donation also enabled us to develop the CF website, which will feature transition patients, among other things.

Transplant Patients - Sometimes transplant patients wait a long time for their transplant to come through and then more time for post transplant recovery. We usually have a few team members that focus on our transplant patients, so you get used to just a few team members.

Patients in the Hospital for Long Term Care - We will be sure to support you. Long term admissions can lead to depression and despair. We will help keep your spirits up, and provide company and diversion - whatever it is you need.

Patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit - We will visit you if we have known you from previous visits, or if we are asked to see you by a doctor, nurse ,or social worker.

Patients on Other Floors - If you are located on other floors because there is not room on the pediatric floor, or because you are in the process of transitioning to adult care, you can call us, or we may find you and will provide what we can to make your stay better. Some of the TVs on the adult floor do not take movies or video games. But hey, we can always watch American idol with you!

CALL US FROM ANY HOSPITAL PHONE 50917, or if you are on your way into the hospital call us at 352-265-0917.

NOTE: Because the Streetlight team is made up of UF students there are times in the year when the team is too small to operate Lounge or do much visitation. If you don't see us, that may be the reason!