March is National Social Work Month - a time to honor the commitment of social workers to individuals in need. Social workers join the list of medical professionals, who connect the dots between Make-A-Wish and children faced with critical illness, taking the wish journey right along with them.

To further share the significance of the pediatric social workers we rely on, we sat down with Kristen Fix, LCSW of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Oishei Children’s Hospital, and Jen Tillou, LMSW of Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong, who are longtime wish referral sources and advocates for our wish kids.

Kristen, how long have you been working for pediatrics at Roswell Park and what does that career mean to you?

I can proudly say that I have been with Roswell for 17 years; I love working in a hospital setting because it brings different opportunities each day. I appreciate and love the change of pace and variety of experiences I encounter, and of course, the families I have the privilege of meeting and working so closely with.

Talk about the emotional impact of working as a pediatric social worker, specifically with children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders.

I look at it this way – children will go through rough journeys and get sick whether I am here or not. So if I can provide a day’s worth of support and help connect them to resources that help them in some small or even big way, that is extremely rewarding for me. I see children as tiny as newborns, up through 21-years-old, and it’s my sincere honor to let families know that they have a community of support behind them. They are not alone.

How is a wish brought into your conversations with families who are up against the diagnosis of a critical illness?

Oh, Make-A-Wish… I’m smiling right now just thinking about it! A wish, simply put, is a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s something to look forward to and it takes a family’s mindset into a positive direction when everything else can be so dark. It’s not just about happiness, it’s about critical healing. It is the conversation I look forward to. When a child receives a critical diagnosis, it’s unimaginable, but then I get to turn it around to the conversation of Make-A-Wish and “If you could have a wish, start thinking about what that might be.”

March is also a time to honor strong women. Where do you garner your strength from?

You haven’t seen strength until you have watched a child battle cancer. It’s nothing like you can even imagine. It’s inspiring to watch these young warriors battle back against their illnesses. I pull all my strength from them.

Jen, how long have you been with Golisano Children’s and what department do you work under?

I have proudly been with Golisano since 2003, in pediatric cardiology, and have been referring children to Make-A-Wish since my start nearly two decades ago. 

Talk about the opportunities you have on a daily basis to serve children with a critical diagnosis.

Medical social work offers diverse opportunities and diverse populations, which allows for the ability to be hands on and really have one-on-one experiences with children and their families. I am constantly learning and constantly growing, and for me, it’s working with children that is my reason. With all they have to endure, they remain strong and they inspire everyone around them.

How does Make-A-Wish contribute to overall healing in a child’s medical journey?

First and foremost, you see a child shine when a wish is brought up. I will never forget a young boy who came in for heart surgery and who qualified for a wish. He kept saying that he wanted to meet his favorite wrestler. During admission for that surgery that is all he talked about. He went into surgery with that joy, not fear, and it really helped him recover because he had the positivity to look forward to on the other side. I will never forget his unstoppable joy and how that wish changed his mindset and his willingness to fight harder. Wishes make kids’ eyes twinkle and their brains swirl with endless ideas of what their wish could be when given the chance to dream.

We are recognizing strong women, as well, during the month of March. What would you say makes you strong and empowered?

Without a doubt, it comes back to the families I get to meet. Seeing the strength of each family and working with them through their most challenging days, it’s a tremendous honor. I draw my strength from it all. Also, the team I work with – they are remarkable, amazing, and it’s hard to put into exact words how special it all is