Meet Jarett Poliner

Jarett Poliner has joined Team EKF for the first time to run in the TCS New York City Marathon this year! We are thrilled to introduce our amazing runners, including Jarett, to our community., We hope you enjoy getting to know them during their journey to 26.2 miles around NYC and as they raise funds to support our mission!

What inspired you to run the TCS New York City Marathon this year?
It has always been a dream of mine to run the New York Marathon, and after researching different charity organizations I could run it with, I felt even more excited at the prospect of running with team EKF.

Have you ever run in a marathon before?

I have actually run an Ultra Marathon (100 miles in 24 hours) but have never run an official Marathon. I was registered for the Big Sur marathon in 2020 but it was canceled due to COVID- 19.

Why do you want to run with Team EKF and raise funds for our mission? 

After doing my research into different charity organizations, I believe the mission of Team EKF is worth committing to as I feel strongly about the cause of aiding impact-driven pediatric programs and supporting the child life community. I’ve seen how harsh healthcare can be for a child, and I’m honored to be able to play a small role in correcting that truth.

What is a fun fact about you?

A fun fact is that I used to be a Division I NCAA Fencer in college!

If you had to give people one piece of advice, related to anything, what would it be?
The most widely applicable advice I can think of is: You can’t get to point B before knowing where point A is, and baby steps turn into huge leaps.

We are so grateful to Jarett for his dedication to enCourage Kids and we cannot wait to cheer him on during the marathon on November 7^th! If you want to support Jarett in his fundraising, you can visit: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/fundraisers/038777b082326eb2486a

We last left Teddy helping his new friend, Luke, through an IV needle insertion. But with Teddy’s reassurance, the procedure was a breeze and the little boy was a lot less nervous. The doctors are still not 100% sure what is causing Luke’s pain, so he is having a CAT scan today.

CAT scans are intimidating. The machines seem huge for a little patient, and they can make pretty scary and unfamiliar noises. They also require the patient to stay very still, something that can even be difficult for an adult. Luckily, Luke has his friend, Teddy, to provide him with comfort and to ease his nerves. While Teddy cannot go into the machine with Luke, he is close by, sitting on a chair near the machine. When the test is over, Teddy is waiting with open arms to give Luke a big hug.

Many times, when the diagnosis is unknown, a young patient will need to visit the hospital numerous times. Now that Luke has Teddy, going back to the hospital does not scare him nearly as much. He walks out of the hospital, holding Teddy, and knows that he will be able to take on anything during his next visit.

Thanks for following along with Teddy’s adventures. He has many more pediatric patients to help, and you can support him. Donate today to send a pair of Bears to pediatric patients around the country.

Teddy receives another call. A little boy, Luke, just checked into the hospital, but no one is quite sure what is causing his pain. His doctors are using a lot of words he doesn’t know and he’s afraid of going through some intimidating procedures. Teddy is on a mission to help make it better!

Luke has to get blood drawn and receive an IV for fluids. Needles and cords can be frightening if you don’t know what they do and how they help. Teddy works with the Child Life Specialist to explain to Luke exactly how they work and that they aren’t so scary after all. Teddy then volunteers to get his blood drawn and receive an IV to show his friend everything that will happen. In the process, Luke gets to help the Child Life Specialist with the needle and fluid bag, learning all about the equipment that surrounds him in his room.

When it is time for the Luke’s IV, Teddy is right there with him, holding his hand, with a matching IV in his arm. Thanks to Teddy’s preparation, he is no longer scared or nervous about his IV. Rather, he feels confident that he can do anything with the encouragement of his new friend.

One test is under his belt, but a bigger one is coming up. Check out our next blog to see how Teddy helps Luke through a CAT scan.

We last left Teddy helping his new friend, Hope, overcome her fear of getting an IV. It is almost time for her surgery, but first, Teddy wants to also show her what her bandages will look like after the operation. With the help of a Child Life Specialist, Teddy has bandages wrapped around his head to mimic what Hope’s will look like when she comes out of surgery. This helps her understand a little bit more of what her recovery will entail.

The time for her surgery has come. The nurses bring Hope to the operating room. She cuddles with Teddy for the entire ride over and says good-bye with confidence and a smile. She feels ready thanks to her preparation with Teddy and the Child Life Specialist.

Teddy goes back to Hope’s hospital room and waits to greet her with a smile and cuddles.

Hope’s surgery is successful, and she gives Teddy a big hug as soon as she wakes up. She and Teddy spend time together while she recovers, playing games and learning more about medical terms, equipment, and what happens in the hospital. By the time she is discharged to go home, she has found a new best friend in Teddy and they walk out of the hospital, hand-in-paw, to face their next adventure together.

But there are more kids that need Teddy’s comfort and love! Check out our next blog post to read about Teddy’s newest adventure.

Being in the hospital can be scary, especially for kids. enCourage Kids Foundation understands this and works to make hospitals a better place to get better. We do this by helping humanize healthcare for children and their families by resourcing impact-driven pediatric programs and supporting the Child Life Community. One of these programs is our Send a Smile, Send a Bear Program. We work with pediatric facilities to send cuddly Bears into the arms of the young patients in their care. Pediatric patients see a friend in the enCourage Kids’ Bear’s smiling face while Child Life Specialists, nurses, and doctors use the Bear for medical play to help young patients learn what to expect during a hospital visit. Each Bear is individually wrapped and meets hospital protocols for health standards.

Monday, September 9^th is National Teddy Bear Day. It is an opportunity to spread awareness for our Bear Program, as well as for the Child Life Community and the important role they play in a patient’s hospital experience. In honor of this day, we send hundreds of Teddy Bears to hospitals around the country to provide comfort and joy to pediatric patients. The Bear is instrumental in in reducing anxiety and fear in children while in a clinical environment.

To celebrate National Teddy Bear Day, we are sharing the adventures of Teddy as he travels to help two young patients through a scary hospital experience. You can follow Teddy’s journey on here and on social media (Facebook & Instagram).

Teddy’s adventure begins with a call to alert him that a little girl, Hope, is in the hospital and is in need of comfort. He immediately rushes off to see how he can help. Once he arrives, he learns Hope is about to undergo brain surgery. She has lots of questions, like what is a neurosurgeon, and she looks a little worried. But have no fear! Teddy knows exactly how to make her feel better.

Hope needs to get an IV before surgery, but that can be a frightening procedure for a child. To calm her nerves and show her that she will be okay, Teddy volunteers to get the IV first. The Child Life Specialist uses a technique called “medical play” by demonstrating on Teddy what happens when receiving an IV. With a smile on his face, Teddy shows her there is nothing to be afraid of. Hope is able to see the needle and understand exactly what will happen when she gets her IV. Teddy helps her feel relieved from the fear and anxiety she had been experiencing.

Next up, it is surgery time. See how Teddy helps Hope through her surgery on our next blog post.