Our Programs

Starlight brings together experts from pediatric health care, technology, and entertainment to create programs that educate, entertain and inspire seriously ill children. Whether it's finding friends online, learning more about a disease, or just spending time together as a family, Starlight's programs help children and families cope with the challenges they face daily. Research studies on select Starlight programs have shown the following benefits:

Reduced pain and distress
A reduction in the fear and isolation of a prolonged illness
A greater willingness to return for treatment
An increased sense of peer support
Increased knowledge and sense of responsibility for managing disease
Much needed distraction from the challenges that accompany their illness
Increased ability to cope with their disease

Browse all programs below. For programs arranged by medical condition, see the right column.

Programs

	Back to School This MTV style DVD features teens sharing stories and advice for overcoming their fears about returning to school after an extended absence due to a chronic illness or injury. Also includes segments on coping with frequent hospitalizations and improving communication with the medical team.

	Blood Tests: Exploring Our Incredible Blood Using a virtual microscope, children and teens discover the fascinating facts that a single blood test can reveal about the body.

	Uncovering the Mysteries of Bone Marrow This interactive online game helps children discover the role that bone marrow plays in the body and why bone marrow aspirations and biopsies are important.

	Coping With Chemo™ A series of online animated stories called webisodes that help children and teens with cancer learn how to cope with the challenges of having cancer and undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments.

	Fitting Cystic Fibrosis Into Your Life Everyday™ An interactive online game that teaches children and teens with cystic fibrosis the importance of airway clearance, exercise, diet, and taking enzymes and medications.

	Fun Centers Mobile entertainment units containing a DVD player and the latest Nintendo game system that roll bedside in hospitals to provide fun and distraction for pediatric patients.

	Get Fit, Get Right Get Fit, Get Right is an interactive, web-based intervention designed to help overweight and obese teens learn to adopt healthier, sustainable behaviors. Get Fit, Get Right is currently in production and is expected to launch in early 2007.

	Great Escapes Relaxing, fun-filled events provided for Starlight families, including ball games, picnics, cruises, spa days and movie premiers, that provide time to connect with other families, make new friends, and spend family time together. (Available in select areas.)

	Hospital Happenings Fun-filled parties and entertainers designed to offer hospitalized kids comfort, companionship and a welcome break from medical treatment.

	Hospital Pals® An innovative tool for healthcare providers designed to reduce anxiety and the need for anesthesia in preschool-age children undergoing radiation therapy.

	Living With Kidney Disease™ An interactive online magazine that offers children and teens diagnosed with kidney disease real advice from other young people. Kids get an inside look at how the kidneys work, see how medications and proper diet can help, and find out what to expect from treatments.

	PC Pals Laptop computers that provide pediatric patients with a variety of entertaining and educational software, Starlight's media programs, and filtered Internet access that allows hospitalized kids to email and instant message their friends and family.

	Quest for the Code® An online asthma game that helps children and teens ages 7-15 learn how to manage their asthma, find coping tips and get advice.

	Medical Imaging: Welcome to the Radiology Center Take a closer look at tests like X-Rays, MRIs and CT Scans. Explore machines, hear actual sounds and see real images produced from these tests, and learn how to prepare and what to wear in order to be more comfortable during the procedures.

	Spinal Tap: Discovering the Secrets of Spinal Fluid An interactive online program that helps children discover why spinal fluid holds an important key to diagnosis and treatment and provides tips for coping with a spinal tap procedure.

	Sickle Cell Slime-O-Rama™CD-ROM An interactive online game for children with sickle cell disease that teaches pain management and prevention strategies, and provide tips for communicating to adults about pain.

	Spotlight on IV's In this interactive game for children, nurse Ima Helpa explains what it’s like to get an IV and offers tips for making the medical procedure a little easier.

	Starbright World® The premier online social network for teens with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions, and their siblings. Sick teens and their brothers and sisters are able to connect with other teens that are at home or in the hospital. Users post pictures, chat, post blogs and bulletins and find new friends in similar situations.

	Starlight Sites Beautifully designed and inviting hospital environments where pediatric patients can relax, play and interact with other children during their hospital stay.

	UC and Crohn's A website designed to help teenagers with UC and Crohn's meet other teens with IBD. The site provides tips and strategies for coping with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s and the treatments associated with the conditions.

	The X-Men® in: Life Lessons An authentic X-Men® comic book that helps teens and pre-teens recover emotionally from a serious burn injury and cope with teasing, staring and ridicule as they re-enter society.