Book proceeds to fund children's hospice in Kuwait
Published Date: March 18, 2009
By Sarah Alzouman, Staff writer
KUWAIT: Children sat on their parents' laps, nestled in plush leather sofa chairs at Caribou Coffee in Salhiya Plaza yesterday for the launch of "My Life is Feelings" - a book for children living with terminal illnesses written by a 10-year-old leukemia patient. The book, packaged with a teddy bear, is in English and Arabic and will be sold at Caribou Coffee locations throughout Kuwait and the Gulf region. All proceeds from the books' sale will go to the Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospi
tal (KACCH) and Bayt Abdullah's Children's Hospice (BACCH).
My Life is Feelings" was authored by Karen Josephson during her fight with leukemia with the help of her psychologist, Dr Barbara Sourkes. Like many children dealing with serious illnesses, Josephson found it difficult to express her feelings during the painful period of treatment and became emotionally withdrawn.
The story is about Poly the Polar Bear coming to terms with his terminal illness. Through his voice, Josephson was able to articulate her fears and emotions, making it possible for her to get the help and support she needed.
This book can help prepare parents and encourage them to listen to their children and acknowledge their fears while validating their feelings," explained Dr Hilal Al-Sayer, President of KACCH, a non-governmental organization that has been helping children and families deal with the stress of hospitalization since 1989. When completed, Bayt Abdullah's Children Hospice - KACCH's newest project in the offing - will be a place that aims to improve the quality of life for children living with terminal illnesse
s through pain and symptom management. Bayt Abdullah also seeks to a create a warm and supportive environment for patients and their families and will be the first of its kind in the Gulf region.
Margaret Al-Sayer, Director of KACCH, was first introduced to "My Life is Feelings" at KACCH's international pediatric pain management conference. "I loved the book from the first time I saw it," she said. Sourkes, who was a participant at the conference, brought the book with her and presented it at the conference. KACCH has since been using the book in their home care team program. The best way to get a child to open up was to give them opportunities to express themselves that do not feel threatening, Ma
rgaret Al-Sayer said. "It's very important that children's emotional states are cared for as well as their physical states.
Caribou Coffee CEO Hamad Musaed Al-Sayer said that their involvement with KACCH and other charitable organizations is a natural extension of their corporation, which he considers an indivisible part of the community. Hamad Al-Sayer said that Caribou had a vision for social service since its inception. Opening its fiftieth franchise allowed for the solid platform needed to launch their significant charitable projects.
Margaret Al-Sayer praised Caribou's involvement as "the best kind" of charity work because "They took the idea and just ran with it," arranging not only for the translation of the story, but also the packaging with a teddy bear and the expansion of the fundraising beyond Kuwait to the entire Gulf. At the end of the reading, Hamad Al-Sayer announced that Caribou would be buying the first hundred copies of "My Life is Feelings," which were distributed to the attendees as a souvenir of the book's launch.
Social service and involvement is more important because at the end of the day, money comes and goes, but work that is done for God is what lasts, and that is what we were thinking about," Al-Sayer concluded.
