HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s and Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation just unveiled its new Teen Lounge—a dedicated space for teenagers and young adults to gather, connect with other young patients, and unwind from the stress of being in the hospital.
The Teen Lounge was inspired in part by a young man named Ryan Austin and the Child Life Team at Rocky Mountain Children’s. Ryan battled Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive pediatric cancer, and spent the last year of his life in and out of the hospital. He longed for a place outside his hospital room where he could connect with other teenagers and young adults, but there wasn’t a dedicated space at the hospital for that. Recognizing the importance of connection in the healing journey, the Child Life Team identified an opportunity to create such a space and partnered with Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation to bring the vision to life.
For the generous founders of Shea’s Village Foundation, it wasn’t a hard sell. Dawn and Brian Kelly, along with their family, created Shea’s Village Foundation to enhance the quality of life and care for families battling critical childhood illness, and this project does just that.
“We are honored as a family to support the creation of the Teen Lounge at Rocky Mountain Children’s,” said Brian and Dawn Kelly of Shea’s Village Foundation. “This age group doesn’t always have a lot of support, and we are excited to give them a space of their own in the hospital.”
“Our Foundation is dedicated to supporting pediatric patients and their families, and this project reflects that commitment,” said Cathy Sandoval, executive director of Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation. “We understand the unique challenges of being a teenager in a children’s hospital, and we recognize that by supporting these young people, giving them a place to build community and resilience, we can contribute to better outcomes. At the end of the day, that’s what we’re all about.”
The Teen Lounge aims to provide a room that feels separate from the clinical environment, a place where young patients can connect with others going through similar experiences. The space will feature comfy chairs, a gaming corner, a screen for movie nights, and a quiet area to decompress after a difficult day or challenging news.
“For younger children in a children’s hospital, there are spaces designed to distract and promote play. However, these spaces aren’t always appropriate for older kids, teenagers, and young adults receiving care here,” said Kara Hellums, Child Life specialist at HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s. “The Teen Lounge will help fill that gap, giving these young people a place to connect with others going through similar experiences, unwind after treatment, and find some relief after hard days in the hospital.”
For more information about Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation and how you can support its mission, please visit www.rmchildren.org.
