Photo captions, L-R:
Adelaide Vienneau, Director, Junior League Family Resource Center at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, accepts new children’s book from Nashville author Judith Wolf Mandell.
“When pigs fly” was a favorite saying of Judy Rodenhauser Crawford, in whose memory The Flying Pig Library was established.
Nashville author Judith Wolf Mandell places donated copy of her new book, Sammy’s Broken Leg (Oh, No!) and the Amazing Cast That Fixed It, on the shelves of The Flying Pig Library.
FLYING PIG LIBRARY AT MONROE CARELL JR. CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL RECEIVES NEW BOOK FROM NASHVILLE AUTHOR
NASHVILLE, TN – Judith Wolf Mandell has donated copies of her new book, Sammy’s Broken Leg (Oh, No!) and the Amazing Cast That Fixed It, to the Flying Pig Library at the Junior League Family Resource Center at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
A whimsical book for glum, grumpy kids in clunky casts to heal a broken arm or leg, or for hip dysplasia, Mandell’s book was inspired by an accident in her family. Her granddaughter, then 2, had an “oh, no!” fall that broke her leg. Rushed to Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, she was expertly diagnosed with a fractured femur, and then encased in a spica (chest-to-ankle) fiberglass cast. Sidelined from favorite activities for a mostly miserable month, the child became wan and sad.
A professional writer, Mandell searched for a book to buoy the child’s spirits. She found only stories that gloss over the realities of a prolonged recovery. Mandell vowed to write a book that gives children and their families realistic expectations about recovery from a broken arm or leg, or hip dysplasia…and gives youngsters a secret source of patience and power, a whoosh of kisses who cheer them on and inspire patience. Her book is now available in hardback, paperback and as an EBook.
Sammy’s Broken Leg (Oh, No!) and the Amazing Cast That Fixed It has earned experts’ recommendations for young children recovering from the physical and emotional upset of life interrupted by a cast.
Pediatrician Nicholas Ettinger, M.D., calls it “a loving, sweet story of a little girl’s broken leg and recovery that is informative and medically accurate.”
The Flying Pig Children’s Library, a unique place for children and teens to learn about their medical condition or disability, houses 3,000 books, DVDs and other materials. Families using the hospital’s services, as well as members of the public, can borrow these items for several weeks.
The Flying Pig was established in memory of Judy Rodenhauser Crawford, a long-time volunteer at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and an advocate for children who believed in the power of hope in overcoming even the most difficult obstacles. She inspired others to believe that “pigs could fly” and instilled her sense of optimism and dedication in her family.
For more information about The Flying Pig Library, contact Adelaide Vienneau, Director, Junior League Family Resource Center, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, (615) 936-1428.
Sammy’s Broken Leg and the Amazing Cast That Fixed It is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and bookstores nationwide and in Kindle and iBook editions. For more information, visit www.sammysbrokenleg.com.
Donation Aftermath: Thrilled
Months after I donated several copies of Sammy’s Broken Leg (Oh, No!) and the Amazing Cast That Fixed It to the Flying Pig Library at Vanderbilt Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital Family Resource Center (FRC), I was thrilled to receive this message…forwarded from an Orthopedic Child Life Specialist at the hospital:
I had a family come in last week and I supported their little one for a spica cast. I shared with them my role as the Child Life Specialist and what all I did in the clinic. They shared how they prepped their little guy for his cast removal after reading Sammy’s Broken Leg (Oh, No!) and Amazing Cast and shared with me how much that booked HELPED them and their little one cope and also be prepared for what was to come. I had never seen a child at his age do that well when it was time for the cast removal believe it or not. I shared with the family about the Family Resource Center (FRC) and if they had any future questions or wanted information about the aftermath of having a spica on to come check the FRC out. The mother was very grateful! You’ll have to share with the author how this book greatly helped our patient with their experience and helped make it so positive for him.