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At night before they drift off to sleep, pediatric patients at MD Anderson Children¡¯s Cancer Hospital can snuggle up in bed with a laptop or tablet and listen to the soothing sounds of Laura Rodriguez reading them a bedtime story. 

Rodriguez, who leads the early childhood education program at the hospital¡¯s accredited K-12 school, uses Zoom to read favorites such as ¡°Bedtime for Peppa Pig,¡± ¡°Llama, Lama Red Pajama,¡± and ¡°Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.¡±

¡°Children who are seriously ill need all the love and attention we can give,¡± says Rodriguez, who teaches 3- to 6-year-olds. ¡°Going through cancer treatment is isolating enough, but now COVID-19 is forcing young patients to give up even more of their regular visitors and activities.¡±

Fueling children¡¯s imaginations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Before the pandemic, a steady stream of the littlest learners visited the hospital¡¯s schoolroom, where Rodriguez was always ready with a story. Some were hospitalized; others were simply dropping by after a doctor¡¯s appointment. Visiting the schoolroom for story time was a treat.

¡°Their faces lit up when I acted out book characters and showed them pictures,¡± Rodriguez recalls. ¡°They were 100% engaged.¡±

Then the pandemic arrived, and for the safety of patients, the schoolroom began permitting only one school-aged child at a time. The once lively schoolroom became quiet, and preschool books sat on shelves like old forgotten friends.

Rodriguez worried that her young patients¡¯ love of reading might dwindle.

Then she had an idea: ¡°I could still read to them,¡± she says, ¡°not in person, but virtually.¡±

She messaged parents and invited them to sign their children up for 45 minutes of bedtime stories, three nights a week.

The response was overwhelming. Since the program began in March, Rodriguez has hosted more than 75 bedtime story sessions. Some kids return again and again. Some are first-timers. Rodriguez welcomes them all.

A magical escape from cancer treatment

Instead of reading to a group of children all at once, Rodriguez reads to one child at a time.

¡°I want each child to view this as a special time meant just for them,¡± she says.

For 45 minutes, she reads three books, in English or Spanish. Some are special requests. Others she chooses based on the child¡¯s personality.

As story time begins, Rodriguez sinks into a pink bean bag chair in her study. A children¡¯s bookshelf belonging to her 7-year-old daughter, Ava, is beside her. A floor lamp illuminates walls decorated with children¡¯s art. Lullabies play softly as children log onto Zoom, each waiting for their session to begin.

When Rodriguez appears on screen, they¡¯re delighted to see her. The feeling is mutual.

¡°I miss them,¡± Rodriguez says. ¡°This is my way of showing how much I care, and that I haven¡¯t forgotten them.¡±

Some books use a mobile phone app that projects story images onto the ceiling or wall, and plays  music and sound effects.

¡°High-tech, low-tech, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Rodriguez says. ¡°The children love them all.¡±

Parents, too, are grateful.

Hannah Alshalabi¡¯s 5-year-old son, Adam, is among Rodriguez¡¯s biggest fans. The preschooler was diagnosed two years ago with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer that forms in nerve cells. Storytime offers him a magical escape from chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments.

¡°He¡¯s so happy during that 45 minutes,¡± Hannah says, ¡°when cancer takes a backseat.¡±

After every session, Rodriguez gifts each child with one of the books she read. She wraps it and includes a personal note encouraging them to ¡°keep reading.¡± Some books are delivered in the hospital. Others are mailed to the child¡¯s home.

Normalizing cancer and COVID-19

When children seem sad or scared, Rodriguez uses books to broach topics that may be troubling them.

¡°COVID-19 and cancer are frightening for small children who don¡¯t always understand what¡¯s happening in the world,¡± she says. ¡°Reading is one of those activities that can help normalize an experience that is anything but ²Ô´Ç°ù³¾²¹±ô.¡±

She encourages parents to include books in their children¡¯s bedtime routines. But she knows it¡¯s not always easy.

¡°Parenting during a pandemic is tough,¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯m here to offer support, the best way I know how.¡±

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789.