Kids' Health Links Foundation (KHLF), McMaster Children's Hospital (MCH) and TELUS today announced the launch of Upopolis.com, the first secure online social network for kids in hospital care.
Upopolis.com is powered by TELUS and provides the best features of social networking for young patients who often feel isolated when they're in the hospital.
The site will provide a personal profile, secure mail, instant chat, discussion boards, personal blogs and links to child-friendly games.
It also provides unique features to kids in hospital like a homework site to stay up-to-date with their schoolwork, links to kid-friendly health and wellness information, and connections to other children with the same condition.
The online support network was inspired by the hospital experiences of two teenage friends, Christina Papaevangelou and Katy McDonald.
In February 2002, Christina was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at McMaster Children's Hospital with a life-threatening illness. Shortly after, Katy was diagnosed with cancer and had to be hospitalized for a long period of time, feeling disconnected from friends, family and keeping up with schoolwork.
Sadly, Katy lost her battle with cancer.
However, their friendship and common experiences inspired Christina to explore ways to help kids in care stay connected.
"Christina and I established Kids' Health Links Foundation to make a difference in the lives of hospitalized children," said Christina's father, Basile Papaevangelou, who is the chairman and founder of KHLF.
Mr. Papaevangelou appreciated the care Christina received so much that he wanted to make a lasting contribution to health care for kids.
"With our partners, McMaster Children's Hospital and TELUS, we are taking the first step in what we committed to accomplish: the launch of Upopolis, a Canada-wide program that enhances the lives of hospitalized children."
Source: announcement CNW Group
Editor:
"I think this is a wonderful project and monitored and secure access to the web is a necessity nowadays. This is another great example of how online communities are no longer the future, but the present. It will take these kids mind off their illness and they can connect with their peers whithout having to leave their beds or other confinements to take part in 'normal' society. Way to go!"
Upopolis.com is powered by TELUS and provides the best features of social networking for young patients who often feel isolated when they're in the hospital.
The site will provide a personal profile, secure mail, instant chat, discussion boards, personal blogs and links to child-friendly games.
It also provides unique features to kids in hospital like a homework site to stay up-to-date with their schoolwork, links to kid-friendly health and wellness information, and connections to other children with the same condition.
The online support network was inspired by the hospital experiences of two teenage friends, Christina Papaevangelou and Katy McDonald.
In February 2002, Christina was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at McMaster Children's Hospital with a life-threatening illness. Shortly after, Katy was diagnosed with cancer and had to be hospitalized for a long period of time, feeling disconnected from friends, family and keeping up with schoolwork.
Sadly, Katy lost her battle with cancer.
However, their friendship and common experiences inspired Christina to explore ways to help kids in care stay connected.
"Christina and I established Kids' Health Links Foundation to make a difference in the lives of hospitalized children," said Christina's father, Basile Papaevangelou, who is the chairman and founder of KHLF.
Mr. Papaevangelou appreciated the care Christina received so much that he wanted to make a lasting contribution to health care for kids.
"With our partners, McMaster Children's Hospital and TELUS, we are taking the first step in what we committed to accomplish: the launch of Upopolis, a Canada-wide program that enhances the lives of hospitalized children."
Source: announcement CNW Group
Editor:
"I think this is a wonderful project and monitored and secure access to the web is a necessity nowadays. This is another great example of how online communities are no longer the future, but the present. It will take these kids mind off their illness and they can connect with their peers whithout having to leave their beds or other confinements to take part in 'normal' society. Way to go!"
2 comments:
I think it's a pretty wonderful idea. When Katy was in hospital, it was very important that she stay connected to her family and friends. Phone calls from Toronto Sick Kids to Burlington were long distance so we purchased a laptop for her to use, then would unplug the phone in her room and plug in the laptop to connect with a dial-up service... slow but serviceable.
Upopolis also allows the kids to connect with each other because a lot of the time they are confined to their room and never meet the kid next door. When other hospitals come online, there will be even more children to connect with. They certainly won't feel alone in their illness.
Being able to connect with teachers and keep up with school work will be a big help. Katy thought it was bad enough getting ill and not fair that she was falling behind in school. Only a few teachers were posting lessons and homework online.
Last but not least is the medical content on the site that explains illnesses, tests and procedures in easily understood terms. Googling your particular illness can bring up all kinds of information that is very frightening and not very helpful.
Hope you don't mind me blathering on but I really am a supporter of Upopolis.
Glyn Ganong
(Katy McDonald's mother)
Dear Glyn,
Thank you so much for your reply.
I feel honoured that Katy's own mom left me a comment.
It must be tough for you without your little girl, especially around the holidays.
I can't imagine what it would be like without my little girl who's 5.
Thank you for sharing the experiences of Katy and Upopolis.
A friend of mine is building an online community for health care professionals, one of the reasons I started this blog.
His goal is to ultimately make health care better in Canada and in the GTA in particular.
Everything hinges on communication, especially in health care.
You have not been blathering at all and I appreciate your time to comment on my blog very much.
Just let me know if I can help telling your daughters story.
I can publish whatever I want and if I can help you I don't have to think twice.
All the best and hopefully I'll "see" you back here.
Guy
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