Child Life Month feature: CCLS Rosemarie Lauck
March is Child Life Month and marks the 40th anniversary of the Child Life Program at Geisinger. We look at facts about the program while featuring members of the staff.
In 2006, Child Life services were expanded to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Along with this growth came some change as the team worked to initiate new services by adding weekend and evening hours of coverage.
Today we feature Certified Child Life Specialists in Pediatric Sedation RoseMarie Lauck.
Hometown: Bloomsburg
College: Boston University
Family: Parents, 3 siblings, and 2 cat babies
Favorite food: Extra Crispy Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese
Favorite book: I Stop Somewhere – T.E Carter
Favorite movie: Anything with Adam Sandler
Favorite game: Kingdom Hearts or Sims
When you aren’t working, how do you like to spend your time?
Gaming, reading books, trying new foods
Special talent or stupid human trick you may possess?
“I can cross one eye and can text at a disgustingly fast rate.”
What is the last text you sent? (completely out of context, if you can share)
“Ayyyy, that’s my boooooy.”
What made you want to be involved with the Child Life Department?
“When my youngest sister was 2, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I was 16 at the time which meant I was able to understand what was going on with her. There was a lot of questions and unknowns during this time. While being treated here at Geisinger our family met the Child Life Specialist Katie Riese. Katie helped not only my sister understand and cope with her diagnosis, but she also helped me and my siblings. Ten years later, I wanted to give back to this child life department and provide comfort to more children from my hometown.”
What is your favorite part of what you do?
“Empowering children to do things they never thought they could.”
What is a unique story that was very touching for you personally while performing your job?
“One of my patients that I see frequently is diagnosed with a developmental delay. They are non-verbal and do not communicate in a way other children would. This patient in particular does not show much affection. After working with them a few different times, the family came to know more about me. They said they would talk to the patient at home and include me when bringing Geisinger up. At one appointment, the patient actually pulled me onto their stretcher to lay on my shoulder. They stayed that way for some time. The patients mother stated this patient does not do this with people unless they trust them.”
How do donations to Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger help you perform your job?
“Donations help fund our beanie baby system in pediatric sedation. In my unit, nearly every single child must receive an IV to have sedation. We use the beanies to build trust and rapport with the kids as our time with them is not very long. Having something to help take away from an unfamiliar, and sometimes scary, hospital environment is essential to us. Thank you for this opportunity to connect with our patients faster and a way to bring smiles to their faces!”
