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FINALIST: Non-Physician
Melissa Sexton, CCLS, CMT
Child Life Special Events Coordinator, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health
As child life special events coordinator at Riley Hospital for Children, Melissa Sexton trades text messages with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. She rubs elbows with IndyCar drivers. And she gets to plan parties for kids.
Sexton, 37, knows her job isn’t normal, yet she measures her success by the extent to which she can make life commonplace for those she serves.
(IBJ photo/Eric Learned)“My goal is to give every patient and family an opportunity to do something normal,” said Sexton, a Plainfield native who became a child life specialist at Riley immediately after graduating from Purdue University 14 years ago.
Sexton wears many hats at Riley, but her primary job is to plan regular activities and special events that bring joy into the lives of the hospital’s young patients and their families.
“They’re only patients when they’re inside our four walls,” she said. “Most of the time they’re just kids.”
That’s what she always tries to keep top of mind as she works with the many people in the community she hears from on a regular basis who want to interact with patients. She gets dozens of inquiries every week from youth groups, religious organizations, sports teams, local celebrities and others who want to do something to help Riley kids. Last year, Riley welcomed 1,200 so-called “special visitors,” who helped with almost 100 events, from summer-camp-themed parties to holiday celebrations.
A perennial favorite is the Indy 500 party, where drivers sign autographs and pass out gifts and 500 Festival princesses help kids with craft projects.
“The kids love it because they get a chance to meet someone famous. The kids who don’t know anything about IndyCar are happy because they get to meet a princess,” Sexton said.
Such events have benefits beyond the sheer fun the kids have. Coming together with other patients at a big event like a party shows the kids they’re not the only ones attached to an IV pole or sitting in a wheelchair, Sexton said. And it gives parents an opportunity to see their children having fun doing something any child would enjoy.
Some of the activities Sexton plans are considered “medical play,” specifically designed to introduce kids to medical situations in a non-threatening way. It puts the children at ease and helps them know what to expect from a surgery, for example. And it helps staff develop an understanding of how a patient is coping with his or her situation.
In the course of her job, Sexton gets to meet some famous people. Luck visits regularly and without fanfare. And in April, she’ll welcome country singer Garth Brooks to the grand opening of Riley’s Child Life Zone, a dedicated space where kids can play air hockey, shoot pool, play Xbox, paint or bake.
But the biggest rewards come from helping Riley patients and their families.
Count Riley President and CEO Jeff Sperring, Sexton’s Health Care Heroes nominator, among her biggest fans. “In the face of competing demands during long, busy days, Melissa Sexton remains steadfast and committed to her first priority—bringing joy and comfort to the young patients at Riley.”•
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